A retired naval commander who went on to own the Penrose Estate between Helston and Porthleven has died. 

A funeral service for Lieutenant Commander John Peverell Rogers will now take place today, Thursday (July 19) at 11am in St Bartholomew’s Church, Porthleven.

This will be followed by a private, family cremation service. Donations made in lieu of flowers will be split between St Bartholomew’s and children’s hospice Little Harbour.

Lt Cdr Rogers, 86, was a staunch supporter of St Bartholomew’s throughout his life and at one time was a lay reader there. Up until his death he remained involved, assisting with the weekly service. Lt Cdr Rogers was born in 1925 and joined the Royal Navy, leaving in 1962 on becoming invalided.

He came to the Penrose Estate 50 years ago, with his wife Angela and their two sons Nigel (now deceased) and Charles.

He ran the estate for around ten years, having taken it over from his uncle Lionel Rogers. The estate has been in the Rogers family for many generations.

In 1974 he handed a large part of the estate, including farms, properties and woodland, to the National Trust and continued to run the remainder himself.

Up until the week before he died Lt Cdr Rogers still had a weekly meeting with his estate manager Philip Care, to discuss estate matters.

Mr Care, of Care & Company, described him as “very hands on”, adding that until the week he died Lt Cdr Rogers had never missed a meeting.

He had then phoned to say he was feeling unwell and just a few days later had been taken into hospital.

Lt Cdr Rogers died at Truro’s Royal Cornwall Hospital on Saturday, July 7.

Mr Care said: “He was a well known gentleman with a great sense of humour. He was very astute – business wise – and an excellent person to work for, and with.”

Alastair Cameron, National Trust property manager for the Lizard and Penrose, said that Commander Rogers had given the bulk of the Penrose Estate to the National Trust in 1974, which included over 1,600 acres of farmland and woodland surrounding Loe Pool, Cornwall’s largest natural freshwater lake, along with four miles of coast.

Describing it as a “generous gift,” Mr Cameron said that as a result of the donation Penrose was now regularly used by walkers, cyclists and visitors and was “a great asset to the local community and for wildlife.”

Mr Cameron added: “Commander Rogers maintained a keen interest in the estate and the Trust always enjoyed a good working relationship with him, and he was fondly regarded by staff both past and present.”