Mark Roper, who died 20 September, 2021, aged 86, was the owner of the magnificent Forde Abbey, a former Cistercian monastery in Dorset.
Mark Roper inherited the house and estate in the 1970s, and with his wife Lisa took on the responsibility, modernising the house, developing a fruit farm on the estate, establishing the acclaimed herd of Forde Abbey Devon Cattle and turning Forde Abbey into a successful tourist attraction.
He was born 27 June, 1935, son of Geoffrey Desmond Roper [1901-82], of Forde Abbey, and his wife the former Diana Charlotte King [1898-1988].
He married 30 September, 1967, Elizabeth Dorothy [Lisa] Bagot [born 1947], descended from the Barons Bagot, daughter of Oliver Robin Bagot [1914-2000], and his wife the former Annette Dorothy Stephens [who died 2003], by whom he had three daughters, [Katherine] Alice [born 1 Aug, 1968], Victoria Jane [b 9 Feb, 1970], and Lucinda [born 1972].
In 2009, another generation became stewards of Forde Abbey with Mark and Lisa’s eldest daughter Alice, her husband Julian and their three children taking their turn to maintain this beautiful building and the surrounding garden and farmland.
The funeral takes place at St Mary's, Thorncombe, 1 October, 2021.
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