Roper Rhodes Founder passes away

23 May, 14

Brian Roper has passed away, aged 76

Founder of Bath-based bathroom supplier Roper Rhodes, Brian Roper has passed away, aged 76, following a diagnosis of terminal cancer last year.

He set up the company in 1979 and the Roper Family Charitable Trust, with his wife Margaret, and together they donated over £6million to local charities and organisations.

Brian Roper was a firm believer companies should make a contribution to the communities in which they operated. Roper Rhodes channelled 3% of its profits into the Roper Family Charitable Trust since the business began.

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He retired 10 years ago to spend more time on his charitable work and was awarded an MBE in 2008 for his services to charity. In 2009, he was made an Honorary Doctor of Business Administration at Bath University in recognition of his support and was given a Lifetime Achievement Award at last year’s Bath Chronicle Business Awards.

Sadly, he passed away a week after he was named a freeman of the city and both him and his wife were given the freedom of Bath.

The couple’s two sons Paul and Mark Roper, managing director and chairman respectively, continue to run the business.

Brian Roper’s funeral was held in Bath Abbey and over a thousand people paid their respects.