Stephen Rocke passed away on Wed Jul 31 2024, at the age of 75. Stephen's memory will forever live on in the hearts of family and friends.
Stephen is survived by his wife of almost 47 years, Sonya, sister Cathy, three children Emma, Charlie, and Victoria, as well as his seven grandchildren: Amelie, Louis, Ben, Téo, Aiden, Arthur, and Owen. Stephen will be remembered as open and generous, an avid ... more
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Graeme and Bernice MaxtonWe met Stephen almost 20 years ago when we rented his apartment in Hong Kong for six months and our relationship with him and his family just blossomed. He was one of the kindest, most generous and most intelligent people we have ever met, with a wonderful sense of humour. We spent so many happy evenings with him and Sonya, continuing the relationship after Hong Kong in Vienna and Canada. We will miss him greatly, as should the world. There are few souls as open-hearted.13th September, 2024
Stephen PyneStephen Pyne.
Steve was a person who could get on with anybody, not just his university friends, but everybody he met.
I suppose it’s easy to think of the end of someone’s life as a sad, as those are the memories that are most recent.
When I think back, I think about how enterprising and talented Steve was.
He went out and he did things.
I thought I would tell you about how enterprising he was, I may not of got everything in the right order!
After school Steve went to Grenoble University for a year and he did things like going to the Monaco Grand Prix, things that the rest of us never get round to doing.
Then he went to Manchester University to study engineering. During the summer vacations he always did something enterprising. He wrote to his uncle I think, in Seattle got a job in his peppermint essence factory for the summer, Learning about peppermint essence. Joining in a social life with the young people there. I don’t think they were as sophisticated as Steve was. He thought they were young for their age.
Another year he wrote to a company in Australia he thought might have been founded by a distant ancestor , Rocke and Co. and asked for a job for the summer. They didn’t have a job, but fixed him up with a job in a neighbouring company, Jiffy Packaging. They he learnt the secret of the Jiffy envelope.
After he left university with his engineering degree, he got a job with, I think, Midland Metal Spinners selling silos. The same firm owned and made the Tower Brand of kitchen equipment like kettles and pressure cookers. He said the company was very conservative and wouldn’t listen to any of his suggestions to modernise-and increase sales
Then he got a job for Newey Goodman, another old-fashioned British firm, they made hooks, eyes and zippers For the clothing industry. When Newey Goodman’s main rival in that industry, YKK, a Japanese company, opened a factory in Britain they were annoyed.
Newey Goodman sent Steve to Hong Kong to start a factory in the far East in retaliation.
I think Steve really liked the attitude to work and enterprise of the Hong Kong people. Steve got on well in Hong Kong and became a trader.sourcing materials and getting things manufactured for British companies like Harry Fenton shirts.
Because Steve was abroad such a lot. I didn’t see so much of him, but I know he started a company that supplied drapers shops all over North America by mail order.
The last business that I heard about, was that Steve made garment labels in several factories. On the Internet. I saw “world leader in leather and leather look garment labels.”
Others will know more than I do about these latest enterprises,but the last I heard about Steve’s businesses was when he sent me a message, which said “I’m in Hong Kong, starting up a new factory, at 60 years old am I daft”. I thought to myself, no, he’s back in Hong Kong, where he likes the way they work. Still enterprising, still doing things, good for him.
13th August, 2024
Lucinda ScottDear Emma, Charlie and Victoria I was really sad to hear Stephen had died as George has said Stephen and Cathy are our only first cousins. About ten years older and always seemed to be in the 'next stage' of life so by the time I really remember him he was up and away. I remember him more from my father's stories, photos etc. especially of the time when your house caught fire! I have clear memories of Stephen's orange MG which he sold on to my brother Tim. My other memories are more recent from visiting Hong Kong when our own daughter Amy was working out there and coming over to Canada for Charlie's wedding. Though I visited then I never went to your home which I can only picture through photos. It was very sad not to have had more contact over the years and known him better. My best wishes to you all at your loss. 9th August, 2024
Peter Innes-KerSo sorry to hear of Steve’s demise, the last few years cannot have been easy. My memories will be of a vibrant, outgoing person. Our paths first crossed in Hong Kong in 1974, brought together through a shared interest in MG cars. Steve had just bought a small and rather primitive yacht called Bunyip and together we learned how to sail and race this boat. We quickly progressed to each owning slightly larger yachts which we sailed together in the lovely waters around Shelter Cove and Saikung.
At a time when most of our contempories were junior executives in banks, accountants or the major hongs like Jardines, Steve was the manager of the superbly-named Bracor Hook Eye and Tape Company Limited, which did indeed sew hooks and eyes onto tape which was then sold to the world’s bra manufacturers!
Rest in Peace, Steve, we had some great times back then. With love from Peter and Prue 6th August, 2024
Cathy KirwinI just wanted to add my condolences to Emma, Charlie and Victoria, and all their families. I am sure the children will greatly miss their gentle grandpa.
He was a great brother. When we were both young he had numerous hobbies, which I was required to help with. He did archery with daddy on the lawn, then went through a stage of collecting butterflies, racing around the garden with a net. He then progressed to morse code, and communicating with flags, something that used to be done in the navy I think. I had to learn too so that I could respond to his requests from the far end of the garden! I think this all came from daddies childhood, and time in the navy. At 7 Stephen was sent off to boarding school, which left me very lonely. He was never quite the same brother when he came home.
He progressed to other hobbies, rock climbing, cars, and beer! Once he reached 17 he drove us both to parties in his little green mini-van. He then went off to Manchester university and I went to London. Occasionally he would come to parties in London, but we didn't see very much of each other until our father died. After that he went off to Hong Kong and I think you know the rest. He adored Sonya and his children. I wish I had been able to spend more time with him. I will miss him.5th August, 2024
George RockeDear Emma, Charlie and Victoria,
I was so sorry to hear the news about your father from Cathy. Your father and his sister are the only two first cousins that I have and although living in Canada has meant that we have hardly seen each other I have a very special place in my heart for him.
I will write properly but in the mean time Caroline, Barnaby, Anna, Josh and Tom send you all our love and condolences.
George5th August, 2024
