Diamond Geezer

[Dave G]

Just heard about this earlier on Whatsapp. Another sad loss, with another original forum stalwart now taken from us. Condolences to Roger's family, friends and the forum members who knew him best.

[Desperate Dan]

What sad news. Always came across as a gent you`d be privileges to know. His contribution to this forum was immense. Rest in peace, Roger.

[moehat]

Oh no. I’m so sorry to hear this. I’ve lost so many dear friends over the past couple of years and losing someone I only know via the internet upsets me just as much. I,too, have shielded throughout the pandemic and it saddens me that so many people spent the last part of their lives not going places or meeting people. He’s a great loss to the forum. My condolences to his family.

[moehat]

Oh no. I’m so sorry to hear this. I’ve lost so many dear friends over the past couple of years and losing someone I only know via the internet upsets me just as much. I,too, have shielded throughout the pandemic and it saddens me that so many people spent the last part of their lives not going places or meeting people. He’s a great loss to the forum. My condolences to his family.

[Grey]

Very sad news. I never met Roger, but we were in frequent contact regarding the various competitions. He was very conscientious and efficient, and between them he and Faye (NewApproach) have made a great success of running the main Ante Post and Ten To Follow competitions, and also some smaller ones marking the bigger meetings. He also initiated a Caption Please thread that provided a lot of entertainment. It goes without saying that he will be a big loss here.

Regarding this year's Ten To Follow competition, it has run aground owing to Roger's illness. As a tribute to him I will take on to calculate the final scores, of the main contenders at least, and get the job finished. I think it is what he would want.

Rest In Peace, Roger

[Perpetual]

So very very sad to hear this news. Roger was the lifeblood of comps on here and I had lots of lovely interaction with him over the years. Rest in peace Diamond Geezer

[PlaceBacker]

[swedishchef]

Condolences to Rogers family. Rest In Peace Diamond Geezer.

[Anadin]

My deepest sympathies to his family & friends.
He shall surely be missed by all.
RIP Roger

[NewApproach]

So sad to hear this. Although I never met Roger in person I often exchanged emails and messages with him about the various competitions on here, he seemed a lovely man and gave a lot of his time to this forum - he will be sadly missed.

My thoughts are with his friends and family. Rest In Peace, Roger

[tiggers1972]

Very sad indeed.

RIP

[jinnyj]

Very sad news. I never met Roger, but we were in frequent contact regarding the various competitions. He was very conscientious and efficient, and between them he and Faye (NewApproach) have made a great success of running the main Ante Post and Ten To Follow competitions, and also some smaller ones marking the bigger meetings. He also initiated a Caption Please thread that provided a lot of entertainment. It goes without saying that he will be a big loss here.

Regarding this year's Ten To Follow competition, it has run aground owing to Roger's illness. As a tribute to him I will take on to calculate the final scores, of the main contenders at least, and get the job finished. I think it is what he would want.

Rest In Peace, Roger

Thank you, that’s a really kind gesture. I was actually thinking that we should name any future competition in his name and maybe have some sort of trophy which could be engraved? I invariably get a couple of trophies organised every year for the Wessex Point to Point Awards and they’ not expensive. But it would be a nice lasting memory. The Diamond Geezer NH Ten to Follow.

[jinnyj]

This is a trophy I have bought for this years Lifetime Achievement award

[Maruco]

Roger and I go back more than 20 years. Our paths first crossed when he took over the tipping competition I used to run on the long since gone 'Neigh' website.

He has been an absolute stalwart on here for a lot of years, and his competitions kept us entertained year after year. He put so much hard work and effort into them, all for our benefit. He gave us all so much, wanting nothing in return.

The remarkable thing with Roger was he never gambled. He never had a single penny on any horse. His involvement was simply for the love of the sport. He loved every part of it.

It's so sad that for the last two years he and his wife had been shielding, and weren't able to do the things they always used to do. If you ever wanted to find Roger up until then you could pretty much wander up to Cheltenham Racecourse and he wouldn't be far away. He lost the first-hand involvement with his first love because of the pandemic.

As Jinny says he had a fall and a few complications, and sadly they found and inoperable brain tumour. His passing wasn't unexpected, but for these last few months he was already leaving a big hole in the Forum because he was unable to contribute.

He was a lovely man that I'll miss a lot. And I feel so sad that he's gone.

[chaumi]

I did not know Roger. We never spoke. But I can get a true measure of the man - someone who was well-loved and deeply respected - from the comments from those on this forum that knew him.

RIP

[barjon]

I did not know Roger. We never spoke. But I can get a true measure of the man - someone who was well-loved and deeply respected - from the comments from those on this forum that knew him.

RIP

Yes, it really is lovely seeing the tributes from all those here who knew him in life or via the forum. It is a pleasure to belong to such a caring and friendly community and it’s clear that Roger was a prime mover in moulding it to be so.

[trefflich]

Sorry to hear this, Diamond Geezer was a very active forumite over the years. He was the mortar between the bricks on here and will be missed.

[NewApproach]

Thank you, that’s a really kind gesture. I was actually thinking that we should name any future competition in his name and maybe have some sort of trophy which could be engraved? I invariably get a couple of trophies organised every year for the Wessex Point to Point Awards and they’ not expensive. But it would be a nice lasting memory. The Diamond Geezer NH Ten to Follow.

I think that's a lovely idea, I'd be happy to contribute to a trophy (and could help to do the competition)

[bbailey]

It is with the biggest regret that I have to report that Roger sadly passed away yesterday morning aged 72. As many of you know from his last post, he had suffered a fall and further issues were found.

He was the most wonderful contributor to this forum organising the best competitions. I did have the pleasure of meeting him and he was as nice in person as on here. A wealth of racing knowledge and just an all round good guy. DG the place will miss you more than you will ever know.

This is very sad news. I may be a newbie to this forum, but I know how important and ingrained he was here. It is always tough losing a member of a community - especially one so dear. My heartfelt condolences to his family and friends.

[G-G]

I am so sad to hear this. I never met him either but we communicated off forum for many years. He was a huge help in a personal situation I had going on a few years ago, as well as going out of his way to get a pic of my beloved mare, before I owned her , when she came over from Ireland. I was so grateful to him.
All thoughts with his wife, family and friends. He will be sorely missed here too.