Roger Kitchener died at the age of 59 when he collapsed in Milward Road, Hastings, on March 11. Despite attempts from those at the scene, and by paramedics, he was pronounced dead. His son Ben was on a gap year in Barcelona when he received a ‘dreaded phone call’ informing him of his dad’s death. Paying tribute, Ben said: “I was always very close to my dad growing up. He would always be there for me, no matter what I had done. “My parents divorced when I was three, so every other weekend dad would come and pick me up to spend time with him. “We used to love long car journeys together. I would often be nattering away about something completely random. I have no clue how he put up with it. “Dad was a very witty man, and always knew exactly what to say to make the whole room erupt with laughter.” Ben said his dad loved cycling and recalled holidays to the Peak District and Utah, United States, where they went mountain bike riding together. Roger moved to Hastings after visiting his sister Julie on a number of occasions. Ben said his dad ‘swiftly fell in love with the town’ and every morning he would be up early to be the first in at Caffé Nero, where he would order his regular – a soy cappuccino – and sit at his table in the corner of the café. Ben added: “Hastings was probably the first place dad truly settled down anywhere. In the evenings, he could often be found at the Fountain, FILO or the Albion, almost always with his fiancée Claire. “Claire is very much part of the family. Dad met her at Caffé Nero one day.” Ben said his dad, despite having a pre-existing heart condition, showed no signs of struggling before his death. Due to his dad’s love of cycling, Ben is planning to cycle 100km in August to raise money for the British Heart Foundation. He added: “For me, it’s my way to have a final ride with him, and a proper goodbye. “Every time I cycle, I take his bike. I picture me riding behind him, struggling to keep up and trying to make him aware of my sluggish pace by shouting for him. “Every eight minutes, someone in the UK dies from heart disease. “I myself had congenital heart disease, and had surgery at the age of six. I’m lucky to have made a full recovery. Sadly the same can’t be said for everyone.” If you would like to donate to Ben’s fundraiser, click here.
