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Roger Maskell

Roger Maskell

Philippa Messenger10 Apr 2022 - 19:34
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https://www.yateleyhockeyclub.

Sad news…

The club is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Roger Maskell.

Roger's smiling face, raucous laugh and infamously hit-and-miss joke repertoire whilst holding enjoying a beer at the bar were familiar post-match sight and sounds on bustling Saturday afternoons at the YHC clubhouse, particularly at the height of the club's success while based at Sean Devereux Park.

Roger's two sons, Chris and Steve, both very talented players, rose through the youth system and each fielded decade-long spells in the Reds' men's first eleven from the early 2000s until as recently as 2018.

Ironically, despite his sons' involvement, Roger had little love of sports, but he and wife Angelika thrived in the social side of YHC life and became very much an integral part of the club.

His initial involvement in the club was loaning the use of his sound system as PA support for the juniors' club award nights. Back then, Angelika was manager of the under 12 colts team.

It could be argued Roger was key in putting YHC's annual festival well and truly 'on the map'. With help from the family and the Yateley Lions, he became the pitch-marking maestro, replicating perfect hockey pitches on the YCC outfield at Sean Devereux Park. Using trigonometry from his engineering background, he was furious if the lines were as little as 10mm out of place - a difference barely anyone playing would ever have noticed, but a detail that reflected Roger.
Once the hard work was done, he was most at home by bar, watching others enjoying themselves.

That same Maskell Sound System also provided the ambient music during festival daytimes, and powered many of the club's social and festival disco nights, with Chris and Steve taking turns as 'resident' club DJ - with varying levels of success. Angelika could often be found helming the club BBQ during festivals too, and the pair's involvement through the years resulted in them being voted Life Presidents of the club.

Roger had passed on his skillset with the intent that the boys might set up the festival on their own. But such was the lure of the clubhouse, ambience and general welcoming family that is YHC he never could really stay away.
He was also thoroughly involved in the maintenance of the YCC pitch. He knew nothing about cricket but loved fixing and riding tractors.

Roger will be sorely missed by the YHC family, many of whom will no doubt look back fondly on the good times, and the crazy times that he was so often at the centre of, often intentionally, sometimes less so.

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