Roger Bancroft,of Seaton

Last updated at 23:43, Saturday, 19 May 2012

A former Seaton man has died in Australia after a battle with pancreatic cancer.

Roger Bancroft, formerly of Kennedy Road, was 72.

Mr Bancroft attended Seaton infant and junior schools, then Guard Street School, going on to Workington Technical School.

He started work at 16 at St Helen’s Colliery, known as Siddick Pit, and continued attending the college for his mining certificates.

He married Pat Broderick, of High Harrington, in 1963 and shortly afterwards went to work in Derbyshire at Cresswell Colliery.

While there, he continued to study and got his under manager’s certificate.

In 1968 the couple and their sons Mark and Neil emigrated to Australia and Roger worked at South Bulli Mines as a deputy.

He later became the manager of Avon Colliery and Yallah Rock in New South Wales and worked as manager of Middlemount Colliery in Queensland.

His last position before retiring was as inspector of mines for Queensland.

Mrs Bancroft died in 2004 but her husband found love again and had been happily married to Jill in recent years.

He leaves behind his wife, sons Mark and Neil, daughter Claire, daughters-in-law Michelle and Bev and six grandchildren who all live in Australia.

His sister Judy, brother-in-law Joe and their family live near Sydney.

His brother John Stuart, sister-in-law Rose and family live in Manchester and his younger sister Diana, brother-in-law Joe and their family live in Kendal.

Mr Bancroft’s parents Clara and Bernard retired to Australia from Seaton in 1981 but died in 2010 and 2011.

First published at 19:20, Thursday, 17 May 2012
Published by http://www.timesandstar.co.uk