INSPIRED by ‘a very full life’ Redditch man Roger Henry Lippett has written a book on his life which began living on the Batchley Estate. He went on to serve in the Royal Navy and wants to share his story.
He was born on January 30 1939 on the council estate, with his dad’s name Henry, being given to him as his middle name.
Here he sheds light on his life family and friends as a social record of sorts that may be of interest to his children, grandchildren and the people of Redditch.
Although he said he had never achieved great wealth or fame he felt his life had moments worth recounting.
In his words: “I now live in the beautiful city of Plymouth in Devon but I will always be a Batchley boy.
“Far have I traveled, and much have I seen and this is my story, serialised in the Redditch Standard.”
Part 10
After completion of the Iceland patrol we would then return to Devonport prior to deployment on the West Indies station with the Royal Navy.
We would be on station for one year.
It dawned on me that my girlfriend Rose and I would be parted for a long time, well over a year.
We had been going out together for about two years now and I knew I would miss her. She was 18 years old and pretty and I could hardly expect her to wait for me without commitment from me.
I am writing this with the knowledge I am not particularly skilled at putting my thoughts into words.
I had never studied a language or literature or any artistic subjects – always maths, science, and engineering with the aim of becoming a marine engineer.
I was romantic enough to know, however, that I could not let Rose go out of my life.
I was very much in love with her and had no intention of losing her.
Now that I understood what I wanted I asked her to marry me – but, on reflection, even that wasn’t the most romantic of proposals.
Rose was in the back garden at 20 Ash Tree Road playing with the family dog, a golden Labrador called Candy.
I called to her and when she came I asked her if she fancied going shopping? When she asked ‘what for?’ I said: “I’d like to buy you an engagement ring if you will marry me.”
Fortunately for me she said ‘yes’ and it has proved to be the best decision I have ever made. As I write this that question was popped 58 years ago and I still love her and know I could never have found a better wife.
We bought the ring at Hopkins the jewellers in Redditch and agreed we would get married when my ship returned from the West Indies.
Rose said her goodbyes to my family and we said our sad farewells on the platform of New Street Station in Birmingham as I saw Rose off on her journey back to Edinburgh. So began our first long parting. There would be many to follow in the years ahead.
A few days later I left home with some feelings of trepidation to begin a new life with the fleet.
I knew I would miss Rose and all my friends at the navy’s training base at HMS Caledonia and its familiar surrounds and routines but this, after all, was what my training had been leading to.
