Final Chapter 2024 - 2025

This blog was last updated on February 7th, 2024, but Roger Leonard Biddle, my father and author of this website passed away on June 20th, 2024, aged 83 years after his long battle with Myeloma. I will refer to him as Roger for his regular readers but to me he was ‘Dad’ and would tell me off if I called him Roger!

Roger stopped blogging initially not because of the Myeloma but his failing vision where he had developed cataracts in both eyes. Consequently, he could not see to type or drive until these were corrected. Roger underwent laser surgery on May 28th 2024 in Exeter, which he declared very straightforward, but after this his physical condition began to really deteriorate and he was admitted to Musgrove Park Hospital on the June 9th for further tests and treatment. His consultant Jackie Ruell had told him in January that there were no further treatments to keep the Myeloma in remission. Sadly, he did not ever get discharged from hospital and after transferring to Bridgwater Hospital he passed away at just after midnight in the early morning of June 20th 2024.

While in hospital he was visited by his friends Mike Palmer, Stuart (Mac) McManus, Chris and Carol Hockey as well as his family. It was hard to see such a proud man completely incapacitated in the last few days of his life and I did not think either of us expected it to go the way it did and for him to go downhill so quickly. As a result, although he had a will there was a lot left to try to figure out.

The Funeral

We held a funeral for Roger at Yeovil Crematorium on the 18th of July 2024 due to its proximity to South Petherton where Roger and Sue had run their delicatessen Provender and enjoyed their local pub The Brewers Arms.

Many of Roger's lifelong caving friends made the journey to say goodbye to him and Michael Palmer gave a speech having known Roger since their youth. Roger's love of classical music was reflected in most of the musical choices, but we concluded the service with some caving songs. The celebrant Emma Britton did a great job and struck just the right tone but "had never heard the word rectum so many times at a funeral service".

Money was collected for Macmillan as Roger had fund raised extensively for them after Sue's passing, the funeral attendees raised £254. At The Brewers Arms for the wake Chris Hockey gave a speech and we all raised a glass to Roger and Sue.

Memorial Event 9th November 2024 - Shepton Mallet Caving Club Hut - Priddy

The cavers led by Michael Palmer who with others organised a memorial event at the Shepton Mallet Caving Club hut in Priddy, located on the Mendip hills to which me, and my family were also invited. We met up initially at the "centre of the the caving worlds universe", The Hunter's Lodge Inn, where there were many cavers already assembled. The beer, from Cheddar Ales, was organised by Martin Grass, and the food by Stuart (Mac) McManus. The hut was full of family and friends talking over old times, looking at photographs Roger had taken over his lifetime, and many shown in this blog. All whilst downing a few pints - Thank's Roger!

Martin (Milch) Mills from the Shepton Mallet Caving Club, who had known Roger since their early days in the Scouts and Quantock Seniors and Alan (Goon) Jeffreys from The Grampian Speleological Group, the two caving clubs Roger had been a member, wrote obituaries in their respective club newsletters.

Click on the highlighed names in the text above to read or download a copy.

Here is a link to the next page, where Roger's story went next.

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