Cliff Rogers
Died January 2004
It is with the utmost sadness that we have to report that Cliff Rogers died in January 2004, aged 69. He had a stroke last year, which prevented treatment for cancer, to which he succumbed after a very brave fight.
Cliff was a former Vice Principal of Southampton Institute, having previously been the Head of the Mathematics and Computing Department. Prior to that he was the instigator of digital computing (computing as we know it) here, designed and ran the first postgraduate course and was one of the small team who got the first degree course (validated by CNAA) underway. Cliff was recognised for the way in which he contributed to the progress of the Institute, by gaining promotion to Head of Department, where he was highly thought of by his staff, and then Vice Principal.
Originally a physicist, he joined Southampton College of Technology in 1969 after working for a few years at Woomera. He became a Head of Department in 1979 and was VP from 1982 to 1992, when he retired.
He was a very strong man, both physically and mentally. His former colleagues and students will always remember the sight of him walking down the corridor, very tall and with a mop of ginger hair, wearing a white lab coat to signify he was about to give a lecture. He had immense respect from his students, one of whom presented him with a very expensive Swiss watch, just moments after Cliff had told this student of his failure on his course and that there was no reprieve (how times have changed!).
A squash, tennis and occasional golf player, he took up the less energetic clarinet on retirement, progressing from zero to Grade 7 in very little time.
Cliff leaves his wife Dawn, two daughters and several grandchildren. Our sympathies and thoughts go out to them all at this sad time.