In loving memory of his father, John Arthur Rogers, one of our regular customers, Robert Rogers, gave a donation to the Brick Lane Music Hall Charity which enabled us to take out a show to the Royal Star and Garter Home for Ex-servicemen and women.

As a young Royal Engineer, John Arthur Rogers took part in the D-Day landings, Operation Overlord. Pictured below, second on the left, his unit were sent over to construct the Mulberry Harbour – which Robert’s grandfather had helped to make in the local Blackwall Docks. In fact, the Rogers family contributed much locally to the war effort. John Arthur served in Europe until 1947, dying in 1986 of complications arising from his service. Robert’s Uncle Jack, John Edward Cowan, served in the RAF, while his other grandfather served as ARP Warden on the home front in Canning Town. Killed by enemy action, Rogers Road is named in his honour.

Staff and residents at the Star and Garter were very moved to hear about Robert’s father, having lost their last survivor of D-Day only last week. By co-incidence, both he and John Arthur had been deployed on “Gold Beach” during the landings, so there was a great sense of connection in the room and appreciation of Robert’s kind gesture in sending the Brick Lane Music Hall team along.

The show was led by Brian Walker, with Michael Topping as MD, and starred Lowri Ann Richards and Bill Byrne who have recently both appeared at Brick Lane Music Hall in our Seaside Special. It was an afternoon that will be remembered for a very long time.