Manuel Roland Bonham 22-Sept -1959 to 30-August-1994
Roland was born in Seer Green Buckinghamshire to Dr John Anthony Manuel and Betty Bonham (nee Shinkfeld) and so the tale goes put in a drawer until Patrick asked to see him.
Jordan’s Primary 1964-70. ‘I was there during the 1966 Football World Cup, when we won! Don’t think we’ve done that since.’ Littlehampton Secondary Modern and Littlehampton Comprehensive school, passing Art A level early.
‘I don’t care in which direction I go, with one proviso. I desire to get there!’
Worthing College of Art & Design; Chichester College Video Editor and Video Production Management; Screen Printer, Photographer – Special Effects and Shot Photographer; Boat Helmsman. (Roland worked with his brother Patrick on the boats in the River Arun ‘an enjoyably lazy period in an otherwise busy life’; Judo Instructor, Luthier, Sound Engineer & Company Director – Kaoticnoise Ltd; Digital Designer.
‘I have thought I was many things, a poet, a musician, artist, philosopher, conceptuliser, realist, realiser, helper, lover, dreamer, reader, knower, assistant + boss’
Roland started Judo as a child but had to stop in 1996 when he snapped his leg, wheelchair user for 6 months and a metal rod for 18. After that Roland said ‘it was just a bendy leg for really the rest of my life. I remember it bending when I got stuck in the mud at Glastonbury.’ Notwithstanding the bendy leg Roland bounced back to Judo with a new determination after getting an alarming Plasma Cell Leukaemia and Myeloma diagnosis in 2013. As a Judoka National Champion his achievements included Silver at Wycombe Masters in 2015, Silver in the National Masters, Edinburgh i2016, Gold, High Wycombe Championships 2017, Bronze in the Common Wealth Games in 2019. He continued teaching Judo with Garry Adams at the Gosport Judo Club and Tao, Bognor til July 2024.
‘I saw him as a brother I never had, my first mentor who opened the doors into the career path I have today, you were a friend who always returned calls and never left a message un-answered, the friend who helped me through the toughest times and gave me support and unconditional kindness to me like you would a son.’ Simon Hor
‘Roland was a self-taught man of many talents. He was an incredible athlete and artist when not working. His 3D modelling, graphic design, installation & CAD skills always amazed me and to this day remains one of the best sound engineers I’ve ever heard.
For 6 years you battled through and refused to let the cancer take over your life. There are not many people who would go climbing after receiving a dose of chemo or when their platelets are at zero! So much so that we all let our guard down and forgot that this day was coming.’ Billy Jones
Roland is survived by his family, his brother; Patrick, his dear friends and his beloved partner in ‘interesting times’; Rachel Searle.
‘Death is the time to Relax
You can only sit back after a phase is complete and for Relaxation Life and living is the phase.’
Roland’s Interment will be at Chalcraft Lane Cemetery in Bognor Regis on Monday 30th September at 12:00pm, followed by a celebration nearby ‘Remembering Roland’.
