Designer Roger Bennett reflects on a lifetime of creativity in autobiography Chair Man

Still working at the age of 94, local furniture designer & father Roger Bennett reflects on a remarkable career and life in his book, Chair Man, with profits to Great Ormond Street.

At an age when many have long since retired, Roger Bennett is still working, creating, reflecting and sharing the story of a life shaped by design.

Now aged 94, the father, grandfather and great-grandfather has published his autobiography, Chair Man, charting a career that spans decades and captures the spirit of a transformative era in British furniture design.

Written in aid of Great Ormond Street Hospital, the book offers both a personal and professional journey through changing times.

Roger made his mark during the “swinging sixties”, working with leading names including G-Plan and contributing to projects for major clients such as the Hilton Hotel Park Lane.

It was a time of bold ideas and evolving tastes, where furniture design began to reflect a more modern, aspirational lifestyle.

His story is also closely tied to Bucks, long regarded as a powerhouse of British furniture making. During the 1960s, the county was a hub of innovation, with manufacturers experimenting with new materials and forms that helped define the era’s distinctive look.

Among Roger’s most recognised creations is the internationally renowned GoGo chair, produced by Evans of High Wycombe. With its bucket-shaped design and bold vinyl finish, it perfectly captured the energy of 1960s pop culture. The chair was exhibited across Europe.

Like much of Roger’s work, it balances function with flair – a hallmark of his design philosophy. But Chair Man is more than a catalogue of achievements. It’s also a deeply personal account of a life lived with curiosity and resilience, offering insight into challenges and triumphs behind the scenes.

Describing himself as a “restless creature”, Roger’s memories of his childhood and early fatherhood offer charming glimpses of a bygone era, as well as his own impressive paintings.

Roger and his first wife Joyce opened In Time in Hazlemere, where he served as postmaster for 23 years and was given exclusive rights for sales of Paddington Bear, thanks to a young Jeremy Clarkson. Today, he continues to run In Time in Hazlemere.

His passion for design remains evident, not just in his past work but in his ongoing engagement with the industry.

Perhaps most striking is the book’s final chapter, where Roger reflects candidly on ageing. With honesty and warmth, he explores both the rewards and realities of growing older – a perspective that resonates far beyond the world of design.

You can buy a copy of Chair Man for £5.95 from In Time in Hazlemere; 01494 718497.

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