Fred Roche 1931-1992 “He believed in the power - or rather the duty - of architecture to improve society. If Milton Keynes is one person’s creation, it was Fred Roche’s” Stephen Bayley (The Guardian) He was a charming maverick, an inspirational leader they even called him ‘Mr Milton Keynes’. In 1970 at the age of just 39, Fred Roche became the youngest ever General Manager, leading the team who were to build the New City of Milton Keynes. In the heady days of the seventies when Milton Keynes was rising out of the countryside Fred Roche gathered together a team of like-minded young architects, landscapers and engineers who, inspired by his example, strove for excellence in all areas. ‘Those of us who were privileged to work with him – and sometimes argue with and criticise him – were never in any doubt about his outstanding ability, creativity and leadership qualities. We knew he would go far in his profession’ Sir Alan Richmond

The Fred Roche Foundation has been formed by a group of Fred’s ex-colleagues, friends and family to create a memorial which celebrates the spirit of this unique man, whose vision, determination and leadership were central to creating the fantastic city we see around us today.