A True Gentleman and a Scholar

Leslie Roche was a long standing contributor to The Kirkby Times, and The Liverpool Times. We can name him now, because he passed away last night (07th March 2007) and is therefore out of harms way from the evil which awaits the truthful and honest who put their name to articles in this nation.

Les contributed dozens of articles spanning the Kirkby Times to the Liverpool Times, and I’ll go back and put his name to them. These articles range from exposing political cover ups, the injustice of Hillsborough and quite a bit of material that has a religious theme, critical of organised religion at times, but also a clear attempt to bring common-sense and reason using some of the scriptures to do so.

The last time I heard from him, he was excited at the prospect of putting together a book. I laughed off his attempt to pay me to put a website up for the book and was building a website which would have enabled local authors and artists to sell their wares, for free. God was having none of it, and took him away to rest, while we continue the good work.

Les was a man who had come to learning late in life, but took it up with the appetite for knowledge that many working men do when they discover they can write, or create poems or otherwise use what God Given talent they might have. He was a wise man, who helped a fool keep out of jail perhaps.

At times, I was ready to just join in the overall hate of the UK, pencil (keyboard tapping fingers) sharpened to a virtual stabbing point, ready to tear into Muslims, Jews, Christians, the entire middle class and people who I’ve never met.

A little bit of knowledge mixed with hate can be a dangerous thing, and Les, amongst other older contributors, was able to bring the reason that only comes with age. Without him, I might have been slammed with legal writs which had a valid moral basis.

If we are wise, we look to what our elders think, because we will end up thinking the way they do, if we make it that far. Les offered me wisdom and counsel in difficult times. He cautioned me against hate and I hope I can keep flying that flag. We live in an age of hate, but let Liverpool kick against the trend of the times, because we cannot kick against the pricks. (which is a Biblical phrase, look it up)

People like Les spoke more eloquently about the problems in the UK than I. He was a former probation officer who dealt with and cured some very bad lads indeed. He saw the faults of the system and the opportunities to do some good in whatever way he could, in an honest manner. He later took up studies but we will have an obituary up soon which will look back at his life in more detail.

He was a local working class man who loved this city and the people here.

I wish there were more people like him, people who could promote peace and argue for ‘the battle of civilisation’ being one that each nation and culture of this world needed to address in our own hearts and communities and nations – not one fought with bombs and bullets.

When the Kirkby Times was banned for the third time, Les phoned me and had a long discussion when I was ready to call it a day, maybe seek Asylum in Ireland from persecution. Les calmly told me the people and organisations behind the many attacks (some personal) were ‘evil’ and no other real reason or explanation was going to help me get over it. Furthermore, no man or woman in history was going to speak a word of truth and not be ridiculed in some manner.

A more fitting lengthy tribute will be put up for Les in the coming days, but for now we can read the last piece he wrote.

Wisdom is a Christmas Wish from Us to those who wish to harm us.

Leslie (Les) Roche December 2006

Wisdom

As the vine I have brought forth a pleasant odour and my flowers are the fruit of honour and riches. I am the mother of fair love and of fear and of knowledge and of holy hope. In me is all grace of the way and of the truth, in me is all hope of life and of virtue. Come over to me all ye that desire me and be filled with my fruits; for my spirit is sweet above honey, and my inheritance above honey and the honey and the honeycomb. My memory is unto everlasting generations. They that eat me shall yet hunger; and they that drink me shall yet thirst. He that hearkened to me shall not be confounded and they that work by me shall not sin. They that explain me shall have everlasting life.

Book of Wisdom (Ecc. 24)

“No man serves two masters he will hate one and love the other or sustain one and despise the other you cannot serve God and Mammon.”

Mathew 6

We see this as a state of conflict one that exists not just in Religious Ritual but also, in an increasing complex Religio Political and Secular War for the Governing of thoughts.

Give unto Caesar what is Caesars.

As Christmas comes we remember Herod faced with the role as King of the Jews and a Roman Governor. It is said that he murdered children there is little evidence for this maybe an ancient myth mixed in Jewish Religion by Roman Legislative Police Religious Police i.e. Priests. On top of which is a little matter of interpretation of the ancient language Hebrew Greek Latin Judaism all is clouded in who wants to hurt the other religion more.

2006 Years ago Jesus Mary Joseph Nazareth Bethlehem Egypt marked a journey a Christian pilgrimage.

Christian Churches have Calendars that exist governed by the Lunar Easter it enables us to integrate the Church the New Testament with Faith Love and Hope.

Ash Wednesday, Easter Ascension, Whit sun, Corpus Christi, Pentecost, Advent and Christmas.

These innocent Christian Days have marked the mortal Calendar for 2000 years.

Simple words are, one God, no Idols the same God for all.

Imprecise dates they may be but innocent they are. There is no call for the murder of other believers of other Religions or to seek the destruction of the faith of others on this Christmas Day.

We will celebrate the day and be as peaceful as the German and British soldiers who played football while the guns were made silent during one Christmas Day in WW1

The scientist Hawkins may have a Black Hole but his science cannot predict accurately the day the hour of his death or ours nor can he understand Wisdom that too is not a science.

He and his fellow non-believing scientist have in the U.S. called for a Religion based on their science to be formed. Now that is a worry.

Hawkins and his self elevated theories and models change as the grains of sand blow into Great Britain from the Desert that is the minds of the two tribes, not a single grain is of truth yet they have dominated for a thousand units of time.

Blair and Bush (not long now to go before Mr Sands will charge them before the Court of Human RIGHTS) went to War for oil and Blair sold his soul to Putin for fuel and now Putin threatens to cut off the supply, as did the Arabs in 1974

Do we face a Third World War in the EU?

As we face our faith our Calendar of faith our Christian Calendar of Faith;

Let us Pray.

For those in secret torture rooms opened by our European Allies for torture on the orders of the US CIA.

Pray for those who journey to sleep in stalls and stables to flee and to escape the sword of Herod.

Pray for those in tented camps born educated nursed to die never to leave in oppressed States of Religious Divide.

Pray for those who pray only for others and NOT themselves.

Pray for those who in our midst plot and plan to kill us because we pray for them to forgive them.

Pray for those who hate us and hide and the issues in veiled threats from behind religious uniforms.

Pray for innocent children on Christmas Day in Camps in Refuge in Shelters in Poverty in Hunger.

Pray for us to use our gifts those given to us, to help them.

Les Roach, December 2006.

With deepest sympathy to Leslie’s family, his wife and children and long standing friends and former work colleagues and mates and learned friends from University and his mates from all walks of life.

We will also announce his funeral arrangements.

A memorial for Les will appear soon, with photos and relevant material.