As much as anything history is about people, and Corsham has been associated with a number of families who have had longstanding connections with the Town. At Hartham, the Goddard's and the Duckett's co-existed within 200 yards for over 400 years. Latterly Hartham Park was the home of Sir John Dickson-Poynder, the MP for Chippenham who became Governor of New Zealand and was created Lord Islington.  At the heart of the Town have been the Methuen's, and at Neston the great brewing family the Fullers. The Hungerford's are commemorated as the original benefactors of the Almshouses and still retain a close relationship with Corsham through Guyers House. The Goldney's once owned much of Pickwick (the lion's share of the estate was sold in 1948) and the Hulbert's ran Pickwick Brewery. The Spackman's contributed a magnificent early photographic legacy, the Brakspear's added to the Town architecturally. The Pictor's gave to the Town. Sir Michael Tippett lived in the High Street, and in it's day the Academy of Art attracted some of the leading artists of the 1960s and 70s. And some families have contributed to the Town without fame or fanfare, but as residents and personalities for even longer periods. The Hancocks, and we all know one, can trace their Corsham heritage back over 600 years. 

The Reverend Canon Roger Clifton

We had agreed to meet for coffee in the High Street. I arrived early, and mulled over the discussion I was about to have with Roger; how little I knew about him already. Except that with Roger, you feel as though you do know him anyway. My impression has always been, as a Councillor and Chairman, that we shared many of the same interests. The people that make Corsham what it is, and what it could be.

He arrived and the coffee was received enthusiastically. 'Are you going to have the biscuit?' he enquired. He subsequently devoured it with equal enthusiasm.

We filled in some details. The 15 years spent here at Corsham. The 12 years preceding that as Vicar  at Colerne. Roger describes himself as a local and is obviously proud to have been born in and then subsequently served the community in the South West.

How far back had he set himself on this course? He qualified initially as a Chartered Accountant in Bristol and worked at Holborn Viaduct in London for a while. I was curious about the subsequent change in vocation. He admitted to always having been a churchgoer, but felt as a young man that he was being called. Roger went to see his local vicar, at St Mary Redcliffe. Before having a chance to outline the purpose of his visit, the Vicar took charge of the conversation. 'I know why you are here. You have decided to join the Clergy.' Taken aback, Roger asked him how he knew. 'I had three of my congregation down as clergymen,' he said. 'You are the last of the three.'

To many of the people that now know Roger as a friend and a guide, it will probably seem as though he couldn't have been anything else. He talks passionately about the Scriptures and their value; the insight they give into the big issues in life. And he talks about them practically; the role that he feels they have in a world 2000 years and more after they were written.

Roger was ordained in 1973, following studies in theology, and became a Curate in Bristol.

I asked whether the training in accountancy had been helpful. 'Well, it has certainly meant that I'm not scared of big numbers, and in either profession it helps to think clearly.'

By 1976, Roger had married the woman that he knew instantly was 'the one for him.' When they first met, Janet was still training to become a Spanish teacher. The long hot summer of that year has left him with an indelible impression of the wedding – Roger describes turning round in the church to see everyone fanning themselves with their orders of ceremony, a sea of white butterflies.

I awkwardly ask after Janet and their relationship. To anyone that knows Roger, they will all I am sure  talk of his eyes. Roger engages you with them, they smile, they can be sympathetic, even scurrilous. And of course in memory of Janet they become watery.

He is immensely proud of their three sons and their respective success and recalls with equal pride the occasion of Janet's funeral in 2008. 'There were over 600 people in the church.' Roger talks enthusiastically about the two of them as a team. The open door, the support that they were able to give each other, the friends that they made.

Roger has been granted leave to retire slightly early and his last service as the Vicar of St Bartholomew's  will be on November 1st,  after which he will be moving to Bath. The process of appointing his full time successor will then take about a year. Predictably, I ask what he intends to do 'in retirement'. 'More cycling and walking,' he says, 'and I want to get back to painting.' I then discover that in his day, Roger has been an enthusiastic mountain climber and walker. As a younger man he used to take parties of Army Cadets on mountain expeditions. And he feels that there is plenty of walking and painting left in him.

He is reminded of the words of an outgoing vicar of Lacock when asked what they were looking forward to in retirement. 'Hearing the sound of the bells calling the congregation to church on Sunday morning,' he says, ' and being able to roll over and go back to sleep!'

Roger Clifton has had an undeniably busy life; he talks enthusiastically about the 600 weddings that he has conducted at St. Bart's; but the business is not just in managing the congregation but also leaving the Church here in good stead. His greatest ambition, that when he goes, no-one will notice. He talks with enthusiasm about the strength of the hands in whose future the Church rests, and is justifiably pleased in having identified those people and their qualities of leadership.

The Reverend Clifton will be missed. He will nevertheless be back. I have already committed to inviting him to a game of social Stické tennis at Hartham Park. I look forward to it and continuing the conversation. I suspect that I will continue to be surprised and entertained.

Allan Bosley
Chairman