Roger Keith Barrett

Roger had once been in a successful band and from this received about £200,000 a year in royalties. He had used LSD that brought on schizophrenia. This led to him abusing girlfriends and becoming isolated from friends. For many months he lved in the Penta Hotel in west london. A friend of his found him a flat in Chelsea Cloisters where he lived from 1974 to 1982 though would often go back home to stay with his mother in Cambridge. He would spend a lot of time ill in bed but often bought guitars and other toys which , when he got bored of were usually given away to strangers. In 1982 he left London for good but by now his mother had bought a smaller house. She couldnt cope with living with him as he could be strange and occasionally violent. Social Services found him a place in Essex in a therapeutic community where he stayed for a year before returning to 6 St Margarets Square. His mother couldn't cope and moved in with her daughter Rosemary, leaving the house for Roger to live in.

He spent most of his time painting, he had always painted before he breifly was involved in the music buisness. Little of his work remains as he would destroy his paintings on completion. He cycled to Sainsburys and Homebase most days for supplies. He talked to virtually no one but his sister Rosemary and lost social interactive skills.

His neighbours knew of his unfortunate state and would protect him from fans who tried to track him down. Thier were many upsetting incidents involving such people and unwanted journalists that regularly sought him out. Some broke in to his house, climbed in to his garden or asked him questions about a small, best forgotten unfortunate time. Though well meening and fans of his music they caused deep distress to Roger.

Roger had a series of stomach problems that led to him putting on weight. He developed diabetes and had three fingers amputated. He drank heavily and continued to smome as his illnesses progressed. In May 2006 he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and died two months later at just 60. He left little behind but due to his popstar status and hermit mythology even small items from his house fetched large sums at auction, £1400 for his breadbin, £400 for his wheelbarrow. I don't know how much but I imagine his Bike fetched a lot.