The man who played a key role in uncovering the mysterious medieval bones discovered under Chantry Place has died aged 87.
Described as a man “of mixed fortunes”, Clive Roffe lived an eventful life – which according to family legend even included being a Mossad agent.
The Norwich property developer was a keen traveller visiting numerous places including to Arctic Circle and Uzbekistan.
He was also a strong supporter of the state of Israel and Labour Friends of Israel and visited shortly after the Six Day War.
But locally in Norfolk, it will be his role in the story of the discovery of medieval bones during the construction of Norwich’s shopping centre in St Stephens Street by which he will be remembered.
The 800-year wait to bury the bodies of suspected victims of religious persecution ended in 2013 during a ceremony at Earlham Cemetery.
The 17 bodies, believed to be those of Jews who were killed and dumped in Norwich well, were laid to rest, closing a dark chapter in the city's history.
Workers found the remains in 2004 while preparing for the building of the shopping centre. At the time it was thought they may have been plague victims.
The bones were dated from 1150 to 1300 and in 2011 a BBC2 programme suggested the bones belonged to members of the Jewish community.
Mr Roffe, then the Norwich representative on the Board of Deputies of British Jews, led the campaign to bury the remains.
Speaking at the time, he said: "This is an historic event. It has been very hard. There have been lots of twists and turns. It's not been an easy road but we are pleased to have got there."
He insisted they should be reburied in the Norwich Jewish Cemetery.
And just weeks before he died, DNA science vindicated his insistence on the remains’ Jewish origin and the importance of reburying them.
The science indicated the bones were from 17 Ashkenazi Jews killed by mediaeval Christians.
A plaque commemorating the discovery of the remains was unveiled by the Lord Mayor of Norwich, then Judith Lubbock, in 2015.
Jewish and Christian leaders were involved in the ceremony, which was attended by nearly 150 people.
Born on June 4, 1935, Mr Roffe was the second son of Philip Roffe and Nettie (née Levy). He grew up in Brighton with his brother Malcolm.
He would go on to embark on a commercial and business career, eventually prospering in the cloth and fabric trade. When he was 30 he launched a public company called Jersey Mills.
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He was a long-serving Lavender Hill magistrate and played table tennis to international standards. Sailing would also go on to become another interest.
He also became a Lloyds underwriter and in 1999 was installed as Master of the Worshipful Company of Upholders in the City of London at the Bevis Marks Synagogue.
Mr Roffe married Jackie Branston, a model, in 1965, and together they had two daughters; Danielle and Natasha.
Mr Roffe married again in 2000, to Michelle Nadler. He took on the role of a stepfather to Kate and Matthew.
He served as president of the Norwich Hebrew Congregation and Representative to the Board of Deputies.
When he divorced in 2017, he embraced a spiritual life.
Members of the Norwich Synagogue paid tribute to him, saying his death was "heart-breaking".
Mr Roffe died on December 26, 2022 and is survived by his daughters and grandsons.
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