Absolute commitment
101% out of 100%

Roy Clough, was head of Barnardo's After Care section for 35 years until his retirement on 24th October 1986 sadly died on 28 November 2001. He was 75 years old and had spent 39 of those years working for Barnardo's. Here is a special tribute for all he did to assist those who were brought up in Barnardo's care.

ROY JOINED Barnardo's as a general clerk when he was a young man in 1948. It would have been impossible for him to have realised then what a huge impact Barnardo's would have on him and how involved he would be with the charity for the rest of his working life.

Within three years of starting work, he moved to working directly with young people in the After Care department. At the time the department focused on supporting young people leaving Barnardo's care, finding them suitable work and lodgings and helping them make the difficult transition to independent living. From then on until he retired in October 1986, Roy was to make a major contribution to the welfare of these young people as they left care and into adulthood.

From the 1970s onwards, especially after the last children's homes closed, After Care's responsibilities shifted to its current work of supporting adults who were in Barnardo's as children. Collette Bradford took over from Roy as Head of After Care on his retirement. Barnardo's chief executive Roger Singleton, talking at Roy's funeral, said: 'Roy's commitment to his responsibilities was absolute. He predated the era when welfare work with children and young people required formal training and qualifications. But his insight, his understanding of young people and his commitment to work in their interest was, in every sense, highly professional. But for Roy, his work was much more than the application of skill and experience: it was truly vocational. Even his annual leave would include visits to two or three Old Boys, who happened to live in the area where he was holidaying!' he said.

On the 17th February 1987 Roy was call to Buckingham Palace to be awarded an MBE, the Guild Messenger ran a special tribute to Roy, which included thoughts and memories from many Old Boys and Girls. Roger Singleton, then senior director of Barnardo's and now chief executive, said at the time: 'This is a very fitting conclusion to a long career of committed service to the men and women who grew up in Barnardo's care.'

The following year he was honoured again, this time by the Royal Borough of Kingston, with a special award to mark his outstanding work for the community'.

Old Boy George Roberts, said: 'when I first met Roy he took me to my new home which was to be at East Ham. At that time I was young and quite a handful. Being of small size, I had quite a chip on my shoulder. But my friend Roy was always there whenever I needed him. He was indeed the only friend I had in London but a better friend I could never have had.' My greatest moment is when I went to Buckingham Palace to see Roy get his MBE

Another Old Boy, Dave Walsh, Wrote: 'Roy has become my confidant and in a way my teacher He has inspired me on many occasions by debate and argument and I know not what would have happened to me if he had not been there to guide me. There is no doubt in my mind that I owe a great deal to him,'

Even after his retirement Roy continued to work for Barnardo’s as a volunteer, travelling the length and breadth of the country to visit Old Boys and Girls.

On hearing of his death, many former residents wrote in with their tributes to Roy. They included Errol Heibner, who wrote: 'What I liked about Roy, and I knew him for 40 years, was his meekness. He was uncomplicated and listened intently to what one had to say and if he could help he would do so with his heart. Truly a wonderful man. I shall miss him.'

Roy's funeral service in Maiden, included some Old Boys and Girls many of whom were in poor health but made a great deal of effort to be there. A total of 250 people attended the service.

'Roy was a genuine and good man,' said Roger Singleton at the service. 'His work influenced for the good the lives of thousands of young men and on their behalf I add my thanks for his life and example.'

Johnny Leach old boy met with Roy at the Barnardo's AGM in the October 2001 and even though he did not look that well he still attended the meeting. This gave him a sort of record, that in his time at Barnardo's he never missed a meeting in 40 years. Plus Johnny said if any old Boy or Girl turned up at After Care Roy would stop what he was doing and take time to talk even if it was to say he was busy. He was never in a meeting or on the phone when Old Boys or Girls called. The mould was broken when Roy passed over.

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