This is the tribute from Alan read at Rod's funeral.

I am here today to talk about Rod Higgs my very best man. How can you sum up a friendship of 60 plus years in a few minutes? 
We met at Sheldon Heath School and have remained friends ever since. 
Rod as a Calm, Gentle, Mature teenager, was Mustard at Maths, Won a history award and still has the book to prove it!  In fact he loved books almost as much as Lindsay loves books.
Our discussions during break times were intense, 1960s, space flights, Orbital Trajectories, poetry in English lessons... A fusion of maths and Edward Leer was born.

Rod played tennis to a high standard.  After school one day he said,
“We ought to form a team and play after school.”
"Only girls play tennis at our school, we would have to get permission" I replied.
"Great idea, you go and talk to the Headmaster and get his permission!"
Our school secretary gave us some addresses of schools and we sent typed letters to them courtesy of Rod’s Mom and Dad’s typewriter. Very Professional. 
Rod Volunteered to run the school Film Club - two Projectors; 20 minute reels. He needed help and picked me. JOY!    
Rod had a major part in the Agatha Christie school play “And Then There Were None” - it was brilliant.
Rod helped to organise ‘Old Scholars’ re-unions - splendid.

Rod spent three years securing a Maths Degree at Bristol University - Clever Cloggs.
When he passed his driving test he took us in his Dad’s Morris Minor, to the British Grand Prix (1967 Winner Jim Clark) Fantastic, and the King’s cup air race at Nottingham (winner Mustang) - amazing. I am sure Pat was with us on these trips. He even had a real camera, mine was a Kodak Instamatic!

Coming Back to Books: one evening in 1970 Rod brought his new ‘Reel to Reel’ tape recorder to our flat. We listened to him reading the Lord of the Rings - enthralling. Predates e-books by years.
Rod was Best Man at our Wedding and he is still in my heart and he lives on in Lindsay and especially Jane.