Roger Makin (March 1936 – May 2025).

Roger Makin was at Bishops from 1945 to 1954.  He entered the prep and finished in the Vith form.  In 1953 in his matric year, he was a prefect in Gray House.  He passed Matric with a First-Class pass.  In his Matric year, he won the Edward Syfret Ridge Prize for English, as well as the Special Verse Prize and came second in the Hands Essay Competition.    

As a regular attendee at the College Literary Society, Roger read an effective ballad on "The Condemned House", the beauty and associations of the past swept away by the bulldozer.  In another meeting of the society, he read a paper on "Geoffrey Chaucer". The first part of this paper was a brief biography of the father of the English language, and the second part consisted of short descriptions and criticisms which the editor of the magazine of the time said was “a difficult task, well executed by Makin”.  In his presentation, he also read from the Canterbury Tales.

After school, Roger went up to Lincoln College at Oxford where he read English Literature.  Whilst at Oxford, he was part of the Lincoln College First Eight.   

Speaking at the celebration of life service held for Roger, Bill Stephens, a former colleague at Rightford Searle-Tripp & Makin explained Roger’s significant role in and influence on the advertising industry in South Africa [RSTM subsequently became Ogilvy South Africa where Roger was a director until he retired in 2013].

Summing up, a colleague and friend, Bruce Paynter, said of Roger and his colleagues:

“Bob, Brian, and Roger combined in a manner that amplified their distinct DNA. Not only did they create great advertising campaigns and great client relationships, but they also became a magnet for a bunch of wild and weird misfits all of whom were able to achieve a standard of work they would never have achieved anywhere else”.  

 According to a notice posted by the Red and Yellow School of Business on Linkedin:

“Roger’s impact on the industry was profound, and his legacy at Red & Yellow is just as enduring. As a champion of creativity, innovation, and excellence, he helped lay the foundation for the values and teaching practices we continue to uphold. Because of Roger's influence and contribution, nearly 20 000 Red & Yellow graduates have gone on to lead exciting careers”.   

Roger’s name today appears in the South African Hall of Fame for Advertising.      

“Roger was punctilious in every sense of the word. His attention to detail was remarkable. His timekeeping beyond reproach. In fact, it earned him the nick name ‘Rolex Makin’. He would arrive at the Agency at 8am. Not a minute later. Over a cup of tea or coffee read the Cape Times till 08h30. I made the fatal error of once disturbing this sacred half hour – I never did it again! He would then start work at 08h30 and down his pencil or typewriter at 1pm” (Bill Stephens).

Roger loved reading the Flashman novel series. 

He is remembered by colleagues as a true professional. 

He loved running, sometimes during lunch time, from Roeland Street up to the Molteno Dam on the slopes of Table Mountain or up to Lions Head.  He and colleagues: “[C]hatted about lots of things except work! Our runs were always timed so that we were back at our desks by 2.15pm – not a minute later!”

Our condolences go to Marylyn his lifelong partner, relatives Mary and Jim, and Mathew and all the family.

Requiescat in Pace.