Roy Church died on 18 March, 2015. He had suffered illness for some years and required regular hospital treatment. It was during one of his regular visits to hospital that his condition worsened and he lost his battle.

Roy was the subject of a feature story in The Mover in January.   I am grateful that I had that opportunity and, in meeting him was able to record his life and contribution to the moving industry in some detail.  Despite his position as one of the moving industry’s innovators, I didn’t know him well.  However, when I arrived as his smart house in Cambridgeshire, to conduct the interview with him, it was as if we had known each other forever.  He was very warm and welcoming, a feature of his personality that I am sure he shared with everyone he met.

After the story was published Roy sent me a hand-made card saying how much he had enjoyed our chat and featuring a photograph of flowers from his garden.  What a lovely thing to do.  No wonder he had so many loyal friends in the industry.

Being a fastidious man, and knowing that his health wasn’t good, Roy planned every detail of his funeral himself.  The ceremony was attended by many of his closest friends from the industry who paid testimony to his loyalty to his wife, June, who died 12 years ago; his resourcefulness at coping without her; his determination to make the most of life despite the hardships; and his bravery in facing his illnesses without complaint, frequently shrugging them off with his sharp wit. 

He kept his spirits high by taking solace in his friendships which he treasured greatly.  His loss was described by one close friend as “Like going to London and finding Buckingham Palace had disappeared”.  He was, indeed, an extraordinary man.

May he rest in peace.