Roger Holt
An appreciation of a Village Character
Readers have expressed sadness and some surprise by the short item announcing the funeral service for Roger ‘The Post’ Holt in our April edition. The Chronicle is pleased to print the following extracts from the eulogy as approved by his family.
Roger was the only child of Gordon and Lavinia Holt. He was born on 27 July 1950 and spent his early life in 2 Fleckney Road in Kibworth until the family moved up the road to no.73 in 1955.
However, many of his family were from Smeeton so Roger and his father were always attached to this church {Christchurch, Smeeton}. Sadly his mum died when he was only 14. Roger went to Kibworth Primary School and then on to the Hanbury Institute in Church Langton, moving with that school to Kibworth when it took over the old Grammar School buildings.
School reports refer to him as always helpful but he talks too much! One says he seems unable to work quietly! Roger always liked a chat!
After school he went to work for Slaters where he ended up with a responsible job – and he continued working for the firm when it moved to Market Harborough.
He later worked for a company in Leicester before getting part-time work for Kibworth Post Office in the late 90s. He delivered post to the Harcourt Estate, Marsh Drive and Avenue, and then also to Church Road and the Rectory Lane estate.
His neighbours say that becoming a postman really brought Roger out of his shell. Always helpful by nature Roger would take old people’s bins out, hang out washing for them and other odd jobs – it took him four hours to do his daily two hour round!! He enjoyed visiting the Pre-School in the Methodist chapel to talk about his job as a postman.
Some of his happiest times were when in 2013 he was appointed as a Midday Supervisor at Kibworth High School – he often referred to pupils as ‘my boys’ and he is fondly remembered by many of them.
He enjoyed trains, especially steam trains and had his own railway set. He had lots of stories to tell about Kibworth Station and he knew the guards on the platform!
Roger always had time for a chat. During Covid when his neighbour Gill was unable to meet people he cut a door-shaped hole in the fence so they could have a chat!. He kept his own house immaculate and liked things just so!
Roger was a real village character and he’s going to be missed by us all.
Serving up our Tennis Summer Fun
