Long-serving Roger is given honorary position with trust

As one of 12 board members he has been a key contributor over that time to the trust’s policy of managing a wildflower and wildlife rich estate for the benefit of the community.

Roger recently decided to resign from his trustee position to concentrate on his other passions of heritage, river improvement and woodlands.

Elected in 1979, he has made a substantial contribution as a board member and past chairman during times of great change.

In that period the trust’s lands have doubled in size providing public access to wonderful open spaces such as Westbrook Hay and Bovingdon Brickworks.

Roger worked extremely hard during the 1990s in helping to bring the original Box Moor Act of 1809 into a Charitable Scheme (2000) more appropriate to the modern day. Since then the trust has become well known for its important outdoor education work, including forest schools, and for the pastoral scene provided by the Belted Galloway cattle and the Norfolk Horn sheep.

Along with his interest in annual outdoor events, making regular grant contributions to local organisations, support to sports clubs and work towards River Bulbourne improvements, his contribution has been considerable.

He will be particularly remembered along with his late wife Joan, for years of research and dedication leading to the publication of the trust history book, From Royalty to Commoners.

Trust chairman David Kirk said: “Roger and Joan’s huge efforts in piecing together the 400 year history of the trust will provide the cornerstone for updates in what we all hope will be future centuries for the trust. The board, the staff team and our many volunteers wish Roger the best for the future.”

In recognition of his outstanding contribution to the trust and his unstinting efforts on behalf of the residents of Hemel Hempstead and Bovingdon, Roger has been awarded the honorary position of the trust’s first ever Emeritus Trustee.

Although he will no longer be a board member, he has kindly agreed to continue to provide advice on heritage, rivers and woodland management when required.