SIR PHILIP ROGERS

Sir Philip Rogers, GCB, CB, CMG, who was Permanent Secretary, Department of Health and Social Security, from 1970 to 1975, died aged 75 on May 24. He was born on August 19, 1914. IN THE course of a Civil Service career spanning nearly 40 years, Philip Rogers made a vital contribution to the management of change both in this country and overseas. By his strength of character, clarity of thought and attrac - tive personality he was excep - tionally well suited to ensuring that difficult situations did not get out of hand. His intellec - tual grasp and commonsense gave him the ability to find his way unerringly through com - plex problems by quickly identifying the essentials and keeping them firmly in view. Born in Manchester, Rogers was a pupil at William Hulme's Grammar School, from which he went on to Emmanuel College, Cam - bridge . After graduating, he entered the Civil Service in the administrative class, as an assistant principal in the Colo - nial Office. Here he soon

made his mark by his powers of work and effectiveness in co-operating with others. His duties involved many over - seas tours , and in 1939 he spent a year as private sec - retary to the then Governor of Jamaica, Sir Arthur Richards (later Lord Milverton). In 1947, at the very early age of 32, he became Establish - ment Officer in the Colonial Office. This was a time of far - reac hing change in the Em - pire , and Philip Rogers played an important role in the development of new support services for the dependencies — in technical and scientific, as well as educational and social fields. He was promoted to Under-Secretary rank in 1953, and, in the same rank, moved over to the Depart - ment of Technical Co - opera - tion in 1961 where he...