Major Roger Sidney Brocksom (9 November 1919 – 26 May 2001) was an English engineer and soldier. He became well-known as the husband of the actress June Spencer, whom he married during World War II.

Early life

Roger Sidney Brocksom was born in Grimsby, Humberside, England on 9 November 1919,^[1] as the elder of two children to Gertrude Mary^[2] (née Benton;^[3] 1890–1970)^[4] and Sidney John Brocksom (1981–1962),^[5][6] a schoolmaster.^[7] His younger sister was Beryl Mary Everett^[8] (née Brocksom;^[9] 1924–1996).^[10]

Brocksom attended the University of Nottingham.^[7][11]

Brocksom had "other girlfriends" in his youth.^[12]

Career

1937–1940; Early work

Brocksom began his career as an engineer.^[13]

1941–1947; with the British Army

Brocksom was drafted to the British Army on 23 November 1941. His military regiment number was 217493.^[14] He held the rank of a Second Lieutenant.^[7] He served in Northern Ireland.^[15] He was posted to India and Burma for three year and four months in February 1943, where he was upgraded to a Major.^[16] He would frequently write to his new bride.^[17] He returned home at the end of May 1946. He remained in the Army for another year, stationed at Devizes.^[18] He was demobbed after six years of service.^[19]

1948–1991; Later work

Brocksom found work at the London office of Palmers Hepburn, with six months training in Newcastle.^[19]

Personal life

Brocksom met June Spencer, an actress, while on holiday in Chapel-St-Leonards, Lincolnshire in 1936, both aged 17.^[7] The couple got engaged with their banns being read in Armagh Cathedral, while he was on leave from serving in Northern Ireland, and were married in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire on 27 May 1942,^[20] by Bishop Neville Talbolt.^[15] He proposed to her by asking: "How would you feel about being married to a Second Lieutenant?", to which she replied: "I wouldn't mind if it was you".^[7] They adopted^[21] two children through the Surrey County Council;^[22] a son David, a dancer, in 1952, and a daughter Rosalind "Ros", a council worker, two-and-a-half years later.^[23]

Brocksom resided in a bungalow in Leatherhead, Surrey until his death.^[24] His first marital home was in Worcester Park.^[25] He previously lived in Sutton, Cheam^[26] and Esher.^[27] He owned a second home, named Casa Ruisenor, in Menorca, Spain, which he purchased in April 1972.^[28]

Brocksom joined the Round Table - the under-40s part of Rotary - in 1954.^[29]

Health

Brocksom was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 1992.^[30] Eventually, his only memories were of his wartime service in Burma. He had a series of transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) one day and was taken to the hospital.^[31] He had a stroke and was admitted to hospital while on holiday in Menorca on 7 November 2000.^[32][33] 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!".^[34][33]

Death

Brocksom died from a stroke with complications from Alzheimer's disease in Leatherhead, Surrey on 26 May 2001, the day before his 59th wedding anniversary. He was 81.^{[35][36][34][33]} His obituary was published by The Daily Telegraph on 28 May.^[37] He was buried in the churchyard in his back garden.^[38]

Brocksom's son, David, died from a massive internal hemorrhage with complications from alcoholism in Nuremberg, Germany on 2 November 2006. He was 55.^[38] He was cremated in Germany, bought back to England and was buried in their churchyard beside his father.^[38]

In popular culture

Brocksom's battle with Alzheimer's disease was the semi-inspiration behind the early 2000s The Archers storyline which saw Jack Archer, the husband of his wife's character, Peggy, showing the symptoms and eventually being diagnosed.^{[30][39][40][41][42]}

Brocksom's churchyard grave was the location for an episode of the BBC Television religious programme Songs of Praise.^[43]