Mr Roger Eglin
JOURNALIST and sailor Roger Eglin died on Thursday, December 9, aged 70.
On graduating from the London School of Economics with a Bsc (Econ) in economic history, he went straight into journalism with the Financial Times as a researcher. It was in the world of national newspapers Roger found his true calling, forging a 40-year career as a business journalist.
At The Observer in 1963 he and his life-long colleague Tony Bambridge made their mark launching the first business news in broadsheet format.
Mr Eglin went on to spend 29 years writing for The Sunday Times, editing business news for 12 years, before becoming managing editor under Andrew Neil.
In later life he contributed as a columnist on management and employment issues, filing a weekly column until 2005.
In 1979, he published his first and only book Fly Me I’m Freddie, looking at the struggle between Laker airlines and the larger transatlantic carries, such as BA. For many, Laker paved the way for the likes of Easy Jet.
From an early age Mr Eglin forged a love of sailing and a passion for racing keel boats.
Sailing from Cowes in his Sonata 7, Fuseli, he notched up an impressive number of wins. For a while he remained unbeaten along the South Coast. He held the Cowes Week record for consecutive wins, notching up six in a row. Mr Eglin went on to become one of the founders of the International Etchells fleet in Cowes, racing Extravaganza.
In 1998, Mr Eglin was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease.
He has donated his brain tissue to Imperial College to help further the search for a cure to the disease.
Born in Bolton, Mr Eglin lived for many years in London before moving full time to the IW 11 years ago.
He was a member of the Island Sailing Club for more than 30 years and a member of Royal Corinthian Yacht Club.
He married his childhood sweetheart, Judith, in 1964. He leaves two daughters, Cordelia and Penny, five grandchildren and a lurcher called Gilbert.
His funeral will be held on Tuesday at the IW Crematorium and afterwards at The Royal Corinthian Yacht Club, Cowes. In memory of his exuberance for life, the family are asking for bright colours to be worn. Family flowers only, but donations to Parkinson UK are welcome.
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