Much-loved caretaker Roger Walton makes memories with emotional return to his former school in Southport

By Andrew Brown, Stand Up For Southport

A much-loved caretaker made an emotional return to his former school in Southport where he was warmly welcomed by staff and students. 

Roger Walton, 74 years young, was a popular figure at Our Lady Of Lourdes Primary School in Southport for 13 years, where no problem was too big or too small for him to fix. 

Sadly, Roger has recently been given sad news by doctors, who have asked his family to make the best memories they can and to take each day as it comes. 

One thing that Roger was really excited to do was to return to Our Lady Of Lourdes Primary School, a place that held so many happy memories for him before his retirement to spend more time with his wife, Margaret, and children, Ashely, Laura, Michael and Stephanie.

Roger has been a leading figure in the campaign to support Michael, a psychology lecturer who was left in hospital for over 500 days after suffering a devastating brain tumour at the age of 28. He has worked tirelessly alongside Margaret and Stephanie to raise thousands of pounds in order to modify a house and “bring Michael home” with their ‘Michael’s Journey’ campaign. 

The family are now busy making unforgettable memories with Roger, including his visit to his former school to meet present and former members of staff including Sue Wilson, who was the headteacher when Roger worked there in the years from 1996 to 2009.

His daughter, Stephanie Russell, said On Michael’s Journey: “There will be some people who already are aware that my Dad has been unwell for a short while. 

“From various appointments and blood tests – much to Dad’s delight he’s been ‘stabbed’ – we’ve been told it’s time to make the best memories we can and take every day as it comes.

“I’m here now, as vulnerable as ever telling you we plan to make those memories, now and every day for however long we are able. 

“We plan to do the most amazing things with Dad before we can look back and say ‘wow look what we did’, and we can look back at thousands of funny pictures of him doing daft stuff, especially for Michael’s Journey.

“We’ve already done some pretty amazing things. 

Our Lady of Lourdes caretaken Roger Walton, headteacher Susan Wilson and pupils with some of the shoeboxes the pupils sent to Liberia in December 2000. Also pictured are pupils Robert Scanlon, Delyth Owens, Daniel McNaughton and Beth Jolly. Phoot by Rob Lovett

“We’ve been as a family to the zoo, eaten countless ice creams, we’ve been to Formby and met with my Dad’s old friends and had two lovely catch ups with more to come, we’ve been to Lytham St Anne’s for fish and chips, We’ve been to Lancaster University to visit Erin my niece who’s just finished her first year and we’ve lots planned.

“We’ve got a family holiday booked soon, a family BBQ named ‘Rogerfest’, and he’s got a surprise day planned soon with Barry, his nephew.

“For the foreseeable future I’ve planned a Roger roll call – we’re going to time hop on our Michael’s Journey Instagram page every day a picture or funny memory or video of my Dad to show the giant part of the journey he’s been and will forever be, I will always look back in pride.

“I will never be able to thank you all for what you did for us and what you continue to do by being here with us, so from the bottom of my heart thank you.” 

Much-loved caretaker Roger Walton made an emotional return to his former school, Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School, in Southport where he was warmly welcomed by staff and students, including former headteacher Sue Wilson

Speaking of the school visit, Stephanie said: “My Dad loved visiting his old workplace at Our Lady Of Lourdes Primary School. 

“It was a very emotional day for him.

“Dad worked at the school for 13 enjoyable years. 

“It was a lovely surprise when he met up with the former headteacher, Sue Wilson – he didn’t know she was going! 

“Dad was crying when he met everyone. He was absolutely overwhelmed, and is still talking about it now. 

“They said lots of lovely things about him. They said no-one has been able to fill his shoes.

“It was lovely hearing all the lovely stories about Dad. He was so proud to be part of that school for so long. 

Much-loved caretaker Roger Walton made an emotional return to his former school, Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School, in Southport where he was warmly welcomed by staff and students

“He was well known for always going above and beyond to help people and do whatever needed doing. 

“If the security alarm at the school was going off at 2 o’clock in the morning, or anything like that, he was always straight there.

“He loved to see all the differences that have happened at Our Lady of Lourdes since he left. It has changed a lot since he was there, lots of changes for the good. 

“The staff were hugging him and did a really lovely presentation for him, he got a little trophy award. 

“He might go back again if he feels well enough. 

“Dad was really well known there. People in Southport would always come up to us and say ‘How is Mr Walton’? 

Much-loved caretaker Roger Walton made an emotional return to his former school, Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School, in Southport where he was warmly welcomed by staff and students

“He was very loved during his time there. 

“It was very emotional for Dad to go back to the school but it was something he really, really wanted to do. 

“I am really proud that one of Dad’s bucket list of things to do is something he has been able to enjoy, it’s been 13 years since he left, it’s about time he went back. 

“We are just taking every day as it comes at the moment, trying to make some very special memories with Dad. 

“We are very grateful that we have the time to be able to do some of the things that Dad wants to do. 

“I’ve always said if I became half the person my dad is, I’d feel so accomplished in life.’’

Much-loved caretaker Roger Walton made an emotional return to his former school, Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School, in Southport where he was warmly welcomed by staff and students

Roger and his family have given everything they can to support Michael after he was diagnosed with a brain tumour five years ago. 

Through the family’s ‘Michael’s Journey’ campaign, they managed to raise a five figure sum to try and bring Michael home after he spent 503 days in the intensive care unit at the Walton neurological hospital in Liverpool after being left unable to breathe by himself, close his eyes or speak. 

Five years ago Michael was a psychology lecturer at Manchester Metropolitan University as he had just finalised his PHD in Psychology.

But just weeks later he was undergoing the first of a series of invasive operations for a brain tumour. 

Michael’s loving Mum and Dad, Roger and Margaret sold their house so they could buy a new home which they have been busy adapting to suit Michael’s needs. 

Stephanie and her family have been overwhelmed by the support from local people and companies who have provided not just financial support, but also practical and material help as well. 

She said: “For the last five years, the campaign to help Michael and bring him home has consumed all our lives.

“My Dad has always put himself second and everyone else first, that’s the type of man he is, and will always be.”  

Roger said: “Life is full of surprises but one of the best ones was returning back to Sue Wilson and the staff who still work at Our Lady Of Lourdes Primary School.

“They made me feel very welcome and talked about memories of the school from when I was caretaker.

“I liked seeing the changes at the school and the little quirks that are still there now.  

“I would like to say a special thank you to Sue Wilson who made it a very memorable and special visit and thank you to those who facilitated that. 

“It was very humbling to be remembered in such a special way by all of the staff, they all had nothing but kind things to say.

“I love my award from the school and I even got a cup of tea!” 

Current headteacher Mr McCann at Our Lady Of Lourdes welcomed Roger back with open arms, and said he was honoured Roger wanted to return.

He expressed that if there was anything they could do to help they would be happy to accommodate, just to ask.

The current headteacher is planning to meet with Roger at some stage and hear some nostalgia about Our Lady’s, hopefully over a cup of tea. 

Stephanie said: “I would like to extend my thanks to the current headteacher and the staff who helped make this happen at the school, all of the staff and the kind words they had to say even given the circumstances.

“I’ve never been prouder to call him my Dad, It is a memory I will cherish forever.”

Do you have a story for Stand Up For Southport? Please message Andrew Brown via Facebook here or email me at: mediaandrewbrown@gmail.com