Beloved baker Roy Drake remembered as cherished dad who dedicated his life to family and business
Tributes have been paid to a cherished baker
Born and raised in Portchester, Roy Drake was a passionate and hardworking man who dedicated his life to his family and business.
The devoted father-of-two, who was known for his love of practical jokes, became a familiar face in the community after opening his bakery, La Boulangerie, which served the area for more than four decades.
After being diagnosed with terminal lung cancer at the end of 2022, Roy was given between six months and two years to live. However, his “stubborn” nature saw him defy the odds, giving him extra time to make memories with his loved ones. He died at home on October 6, with his wife, Lydia, by his side.
His family have now paid tribute to the 74-year-old, with his daughter, Kelly Drake, saying: “He was a master baker. That was his absolute love and, working in the business from the age of 15, he knew he wanted to be a baker.
“He worked at Soothills as a Saturday boy and, at 19, he joined the Merchant Navy and worked on ships as a pastry chef and baker. He also met my mum that year.
“They opened the business in 1980 and they both said from the moment they opened the doors, they didn’t know what had hit them. He was always working or baking.
“A lot of people have said they loved Roy’s sense of humour – it’s quite comforting to know. To us he was just ‘dad’, but to the whole community, he was the baker with the shop for 42 years, and they have said he always had a smile on his face.”
Roy met his wife as a teenager at a local youth club. They married at Fareham Registry Office before he continued working at sea.
Recalling the early days of their relationship, Kelly shared a story about her parents’ first time apart while Roy was working on the ships.
“My mum said when dad was first away on the ships, he wrote home saying how he was saving up for a stereo, but she replied saying he needed to save up for a pram because she was pregnant,” she explained.
As well as baking, Roy was a keen gardener who always looked forward to going on holiday.
Kelly also recalled how she and her older brother, John, spent much of their childhood helping out at La Boulangerie, learning the value of hard work and money from an early age.
She said: “He was the strong, quiet type. He was determined to provide for his family, to build the business up from nothing and we never wanted for anything growing up.
“My brother and I would work in the bakery and shop to help. I remember I first worked in the shop when I was 14 because I wanted to save up for a bike – he taught us to be sensible with money and always used to say if you can’t afford it, you can’t have it. I think it has done us really well in adult life.”
Roy was also a grandfather-of-two. On his final day, he was surrounded by loved ones as they celebrated his grandson’s birthday.
His funeral will take place at 1.45pm on Tuesday, October 27, at Portchester Crematorium, followed by a celebration of his life at The Delme Arms.
Roy’s family have said the service is open to anyone who wishes to attend. They have asked people not to bring flowers but instead to make a donation to Marie Curie, which played a key role in Roy’s care.