Cedric Parker

I only met Rory through our 50th reunion in 2016. He made a lasting impression on me. His gentle caring manner endeared him to most who knew him. He will certainly be missed.

Cedric Parker

Kevin Gazzard's further comments:

Rory was one of those people who always saw the funny side of situations. Those of us who know the Tony Hancock radio shows and especially "The Blood Donor" episode will appreciate this.

We were (trying) to surf at North Beach and a sidewash wave lifted the board into Rory’s eyebrow, splitting it open. With blood pouring out of his wound, Rory quipped, “Blood Mr Hancock, blood”. He then passed out.

Rory was a pacifist. I never saw him lose his temper or raise his voice in anger.  After school he joined the S.A. P. to avoid conscription. The thought of warfare was an anathema to him. This was the way out.

Unfortunately, Rory’s life was not an easy one. He was not able to settle and his last years were difficult, but if anyone met with him, there was always a laugh and some humorous anecdote.

Rory was one of a kind.

Geoff Caruth

Echo your words Cedric an Kevin. I spent some time with Rory over the last months getting reacquainted. My  memory of him from school days was of the"Jiving Juves". He had a huge general knowledge including a photographic memory for music facts and was an intelligent and well read man. Few knew that he suffered from congenital physical problems all his life including increasing deafness and internal problems and over the last year in particular these impacted his health. He contacted both Graham and I a short while before he died but I never had a chance to speak to him being caught up in my own hectic life. I feel sad and guilty about this and wish I could tell him how sorry I was for my neglect but..too late so there you have it.

RIP old friend