It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Roger Fennemore MBE, a beloved figure in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire and across the East of England, whose life was defined by service, sport, and an unwavering commitment to community.
Roger Fennemore MBE 1943-2025
Born in Luton, Roger was a scholar at Bedford School, where he earned a rare double blue in rugby and cricket, showcasing early on the talent and discipline that would shape his life. His passion for rugby led him to play wing for Bedford Rugby Club, where he formed a lifelong friendship and business partnership with former England Rugby Captain Budge Rogers OBE.
After leaving the city, Roger established his legal practice in Milton Keynes, founding Fennemores Solicitors, which grew to become one of the region’s largest and most respected law firms. Despite the demands of his legal career, Roger remained deeply committed to sport, serving as Captain of Woburn Golf Club.
In his mid-50s, Roger retired from law to dedicate himself fully to volunteering and philanthropy. He became a trustee of several organisations including MK SNAP, Milton Keynes Hospital Trust, and the Lord’s Taverners, always finding joy in helping others.
With his wife Sally, he founded the Milton Keynes Sporting Lunch Clubs in 2001, adopting SportsAid as their charity. Under Roger’s stewardship as Regional Director, the lunch clubs expanded across the East of England, raising over £2.5 million to support young athletes.
Roger’s tireless efforts were recognised in 2015, when he was awarded an MBE for services to sport. His impact extended further through his role as Deputy Chairman of the East Regional Sports Board, Sport England (2003–2008), where he oversaw the investment of £65 million helping build a regional delivery system for community sport. This included establishing six County Sports Partnerships and securing funding for the Olympic white-water canoe course at Broxbourne.
In his final decades, Roger served as a volunteer board member and Chairman of Leap, the Active Partnership for Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes. His leadership was instrumental in shaping inclusive, community-driven sport initiatives. In the role of Leap Chair, Roger scaled up the Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes Sports Awards during the 2012 London Games introducing the Bucks and MK Sporting Hall of Fame.
Roger believed deeply in the power of sport to transform lives. He often said that volunteering is the heartbeat of sport, and he lived that truth every day. His legacy is not only in the institutions he built or the honours he received, but in the countless lives he touched – young athletes, colleagues, friends, and fellow volunteers.
He is survived by his wife Sally, his family, and a community that will forever be grateful for his generosity, wisdom, wit and unwavering belief in the good sport can do.
On behalf of Leap, and all those who had the privilege to work alongside him, we say: thank you, Roger.
