Roger Brocksom

Major Roger Brocksom
Born	Roger Sidney Brocksom (1919-11-09)9 November 1919 Grimsby,Humberside,England
Died	26 May 2001(2001-05-26)(aged 81) Leatherhead,Surrey,England
Cause of death	Strokewith complications fromAlzheimer's disease
Nationality	English
Alma mater	University of Nottingham
Occupation(s)	Engineer, soldier
Years active	1941–1947
Organization	British Army
Spouse	June Spencer ​ (m.1942)​
Children	2

MajorRoger Sidney Brocksom(9 November 1919 – 26 May 2001) was an English engineer and soldier. He became well-known as the husband of the actressJune Spencer,whom he married duringWorld War II.

Early life

Roger Sidney Brocksom was born inGrimsby,Humberside,England on 9 November 1919,as the elder of two children to Gertrude Mary(néeBenton;1890–1970)and Sidney John Brocksom (1981–1962),aschoolmaster.His younger sister was Beryl Mary Everett(née Brocksom;1924–1996).

Brocksom attended theUniversity of Nottingham.

Brocksom had "other girlfriends" in his youth.

Career

1937–1940; Early work

Brocksom began his career as anengineer.

1941–1947; with the British Army

Brocksom was drafted to theBritish Armyon 23 November 1941. His military regiment number was 217493.He held the rank of aSecond Lieutenant.He served inNorthern Ireland.He was posted toIndiaandBurmafor three year and four months in February 1943, where he was upgraded to aMajor.He would frequently write to his newbride.He returned home at the end of May 1946. He remained in theArmyfor another year, stationed atDevizes.He wasdemobbedafter six years of service.

1948–1991; Later work

Brocksom found work at theLondonoffice ofPalmers Hepburn,with six months training inNewcastle.

Personal life

Brocksom metJune Spencer,anactress,while on holiday inChapel-St-Leonards,Lincolnshirein 1936, both aged 17.The couple gotengagedwith theirbannsbeing read inArmagh Cathedral,while he was on leave from serving inNorthern Ireland,and weremarriedinNottingham,Nottinghamshireon 27 May 1942,byBishopNeville Talbolt.Heproposedto her by asking: "How would you feel about being married to aSecond Lieutenant?",to which she replied:" I wouldn't mind if it was you ".Theyadoptedtwo children through theSurrey County Council;a son David, a dancer, in 1952, and a daughter Rosalind "Ros", a council worker, two-and-a-half years later.

Brocksom resided in abungalowinLeatherhead,Surreyuntil his death.His first marital home was inWorcester Park.He previously lived inSutton,CheamandEsher.He owned a second home, named Casa Ruisenor, inMenorca,Spain,which he purchased in April 1972.

Brocksom joined theRound Table- the under-40s part of Rotary - in 1954.

Health

Brocksom was diagnosed withAlzheimer's diseasein 1992.Eventually, his only memories were of his wartime service inBurma.He had a series oftransient ischemic attacks(TIAs) one day and was taken to the hospital.He had astrokeand was admitted to hospital while on holiday in Menorca on 7 November 2000.The couple enjoyed an afternoon in their back garden on 25 May 2001, two days prior to their 59th wedding anniversary, his wife said: "It's such a lovely day, let's have lunch in the garden!", he kept repeating: "Isn't this lovely? What a lovely lunch!".

Death

Brocksom died from astrokewith complications fromAlzheimer's diseaseinLeatherhead,Surreyon 26 May 2001, the day before his 59th wedding anniversary. He was 81.Hisobituarywas published byThe Daily Telegraphon 28 May.He was buried in the churchyard in his back garden.

Brocksom's son, David, died from a massiveinternal hemorrhagewith complications fromalcoholisminNuremberg,Germany on 2 November 2006. He was 55.He wascrematedinGermany,bought back toEnglandand was buried in their churchyard beside his father.

In popular culture

Brocksom's battle withAlzheimer's diseasewas the semi-inspiration behind the early 2000sThe Archersstorylinewhich sawJack Archer,the husband of his wife's character,Peggy,showing the symptoms and eventually being diagnosed.

Brocksom's churchyard grave was the location for an episode of theBBC Televisionreligious programmeSongs of Praise.