In Memory of Neil Graham Roberts: 14th December 1957 – 19th February 2011

We knew that Neil was terminally ill, but it still came as a great shock of course when we heard the news that he had indeed passed away.

Although Neil had resided in Kent for many years, Dale Matthews told me that they had both attended Flora Gardens Primary School and he was fairly sure that Neil had grown up in Nasmyth Street which is by the Thatched House pub in Hammersmith.

When he arrived at the Springbok for the very last time, I said to him (or words to that effect): Neil, sometimes you look at people and think whether they had made a difference, and you most definitely did make a difference mate.‚Where there had previously been discord amongst some R’s fans following the Fulham Park Rangers protests, Neil built bridges and instigated lots of new ideas. The Official Supporters Club motto became: ‘Always There’.

roberts

His funeral took place on Monday 7th March 2011 at Barham Crematorium, which is near Canterbury in Kent.

Last June, over 400 runners took part in the annual ‘Man on the Run Race for Life’ at Hampton, Herne Bay. Amongst the runners were a number of R’s fans including Dave Robinson, Justin Stone and Joe Hylton. They were competing in memory of Neil. Poignantly, Neil’s young son, Charlie, started the race which provoked a loud rendition of ‘UR’s’. The event helps promote awareness of male cancers.

God Bless you Neil.

Steve Russell

7 thoughts on “In Memory of Neil Graham Roberts: 14th December 1957 – 19th February 2011

  1. Very sad to hear this news. He will be greatly missed by the fans and his friends and family but he will always live on at QPR. RIP Neil.

  2. so sad, similar age to me, just heard of another ex white city lad passed away this week (r i p Paul)

  3. Nice Memorial…I only knew Robbo from his posts on the Report Messageboard for less than a year prior to his death. But what was amazing how he kept going…even as he and we knew the end was shortly arriving. very sad.

  4. i was neils milk boy when he worked for unigate and we had some great times following rangers all over the place. he made me the rangers fan i am today and although i hadn’t seen him for years i cried my eyes out when i found out he died. rest in peace mate, you were one of the best.

  5. A year since QPR lost a great fan and man in Neil some people make a difference and Neil was one of them helped me out many a time back in the day when he worked on the OSC.
    RIP Neil you are still missed

  6. I have just re read this. I did not know Neil Roberts myself but on this read through I notice that he possibly grew up in Nasmyth Street.

    I lived at No 47 Nasmyth St as a baby/toddler from 1948 to 1952 and My Aunt occupied the upstairs part of the premises till circa 1985..What No. did Neil live at?

    Bernard Lambert

Comments are closed.