Roger Royle

Canon Roger Royle (born 30 January 1939 in Cardiff) is a British vicar who was most famous for presenting Sunday Half Hour on BBC Radio 2.

Early life

His father, Reginald Royle, who was vicar of [http://www.stsaviours-splott.co.uk St Saviour's] church in Splott, died when Roger was just 14 months old. The family then moved to the Penylan area of the city. Roger was educated at [http://www.marlboroughjnr.cardiff.sch.uk Marlborough Road] and [http://roathparkprm.cardiff.sch.uk Roath Park] Primary schools in Cardiff, then at the independent St Edmund's School, Canterbury. He read theology at King's College London and [http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/community/getschool.php?id=418St Boniface Missionary College] (closed in 1969) in Warminster. In 1992 Roger received a Lambeth degree for recognition of his work in the media.

Priest

He was ordained in 1962. His first church was [http://www.portseaparish.co.uk St Mary's] in Portsea. He became Senior Chaplain of Eton College in the 1970s. He left Eton in 1979, and became a non stipendiary (unpaid) curate in the Diocese of Southwark. He also worked for Save the Children.

Career

He has presented been a presenter on a number of television series;
* Royle Progress for Southern Television
* The Royle Line for Ulster Television
* Songs of Praise for BBC One.

Roger's BBC career has also included presenting;
* Good Morning Sunday
* A Royle Tour
* Sunday Half Hour (from 1991-2007)

He also appears on "Pause for Thought" on Terry Wogan's Radio 2 weekday show at 9.15am. He writes a weekly column for Woman's Weekly.

Retirement

On March 4 2007 Roger declared that he would be standing down from his long standing position on Radio 2 presenting Sunday Half Hour, despite this he will continue his appearances on "Pause for Thought" on occasional weekday mornings.

It is also to be noted that Roger still presents his usual Christmas Day early morning show on Radio 2 between 4-7am.

Published Works

*"A Few Blocks from Broadway"
*"Royle Exchange"
*"To Have and To Hold"
*"Picking Up the Pieces" - A book about Mother Teresa

References

* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/shows/sunhalfhour/biography.shtml Radio 2 biography]

External links

* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/shows/sunhalfhour The BBC Sunday Half Hour Homepage]
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/shows/wogan/pauseforthought.shtml The BBC Pause for Thought Homepage]

Video clips

* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTTczI-xvbM Documentary] about Brinsworth House