News and Events
John Roffey
14th Oct 2010
Funeral Details
Wednesday 3rd November, 7.30pm - Requiem Eucharist at St Edmund's Dartford - This will include using the Lighting installation of art work that John helped install.
Thursday 4th November, 2 pm - The funeral will take place at Eltham Crematorium
Obituary
John Roffey, who died on Wednesday 13 October 2010, was a theatre electrician who was born in Camberwell.� � He was a member of the crew at Sadler's Wells Opera during its heyday and worked on the legendary Flying Dutchman production.� He shared chief touring electrician roles with Roger Frith, and had a fund of stories on driving his three wheeler between dates in the snows of the late 1960s. Whilst still with Sadler's Wells, John worked on the electricial installation at the new Greenwich Theatre, before moving to become chief, and probably only, electrician at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama at its old theatre just off Fleet Street.� He moved with the School to the new premises in the Barbican where he remained until his retirement.� John moved to Dartford and continued his association with theatre lighting, assisting Peter Moore with installations in schools and churches. � John was a devout Christian and a member of the Worshipful Company of Parish Clerks, in his role as Parish Clerk for his church in Southwark. � As a boy of nine, John was evacuated from London to a Sussex village during WW2. The experience left a lasting impression on him and he subsequently became a leading figure in the Evacuees Reunion Association and featured in a number of radio programmes and press articles at the time of the 70th. Anniversary of the evacuation. � John was an early canal enthusiast and travelled the system until the 1980s in a narrowboat.
