17 Facts About Roger Deakin

Roger Stuart Deakin was an English writer, documentary-maker and environmentalist.

Roger Deakin was a co-founder and trustee of Common Ground, the arts, culture and environment organisation.

Roger Deakin's father was a railway clerk from Walsall in the Midlands, who died when Deakin was 17.

Roger Deakin first worked in advertising as a copywriter and creative director for Colman Prentis and Varley, while living in Bayswater, London.

Roger Deakin was responsible for the National Coal Board slogan "Come home to a real fire".

Roger Deakin dredged the moat, where he swam daily, planted woodland and bought more of the surrounding fields, where he grew hay and wild flowers.

The land included several shepherds huts and Roger Deakin went on to build a cabin for his son Rufus.

Roger Deakin married Jenny Hind in 1973 with whom he had a son, Rufus, before the marriage was dissolved in 1982.

Roger Deakin had been diagnosed with a brain tumour only four months previously.

Roger Deakin is survived by his partner Alison Hastie and his son.

Roger Deakin's archive has been given to the University of East Anglia, including writings on ancient trees, along with film banks, photographs, journals and Deakin's swimming trunks.

Roger Deakin was one of those rare people whose character and passion is to be found in everything he made, collected, drew or wrote.

Roger Deakin's notes, written to himself, provide an insight into a beautiful mind and a sweet man.

Roger Deakin made several television documentary films covering subjects as diverse as rock music, Essex, Hank Wangford, allotments and the world of horse racing.

Roger Deakin appears in The Wild Places by Robert Macfarlane, whose TV documentary The Wild Places of Essex includes scenes shot at Walnut Tree Farm.

In 1999, Roger Deakin's acclaimed book Waterlog was published by Chatto and Windus.

Roger Deakin was a founder director of the arts and environmental charity Common Ground in 1982.