Recollections of Rob by David Job
Recollections of Rob by David Job
My recollections of Rob are many but our cycling exploits stand out so I am attaching a photo of Rob on the Tarka Trail in North Devon during a short tour down to Plymouth on the Devon Coast to Coast cycleroute. Sadly I can no longer find that glorious bank of primroses but the memory of that glorious spring morning will endure and somehow encapsulates Rob's vibrancy, cheeky grin and energy.
There were other times when we followed a similar route, on one occasion with my young children and Molly, a small Jack Russel. I was a little apprehensive as to how Rob might respond to this motley collection of cycling companions. As we tackled the hills and variable weather I was so delighted at the caring and genuine ways in which he engaged with both dog and small children. Through our mutual involvement in geographical fieldwork over the years I had observed his skill and care in organising and connecting with older, secondary school children so it was a joy to see his ability to show the same kind of empathy with these younger beings.
Much of my connection with Rob stemmed from our professional involvement in geography education and as I got to know him better during jointly organised field trips, it was a delight to discover more and more shared territory - cycletouring, environmental campaigning, authentic ales and pubs, vernacular architecture, an appreciation of landscape and wilderness - though for some reason I was never aware of his attainments on the chessboard. Probably just as well as it sounds like I would have suffered speedy and humiliating defeats.
I knew little of Rob's life in Carshalton apart from his teaching at Wallington Boys Grammar. On the one occasion when I visited Tower Cottage I loved the beautiful quirky dwelling that was so characteristic of Rob's finely tuned aesthetic. I happened to glance at a quarterly electricity bill that was lying on his desk - I think it was for £34, a telling reminder of his simple lifestyle and practical adherence to his green principles.
Even before we lost dear Rob, his pub guides were the most prized feature of my bookshelves. There is such a wealth of material in these volumes beyond his love and respect for fine ale. His joyful appreciation of pub interiors, vernacular buildings and landscape expressed through succinct and beautifully composed text shine through all the volumes - as does his outrage and critique of the forces which threaten the traditions he valued.
In recent years Rob continued to visit us in Devon with Jacqui where they both enjoyed trips to the gardens at Rosemoor where they found inspiration and ideas for their new home at Downton. They were both due to visit in June 2020 for an exhibition there but sadly this plan was scuppered by the virus.
If all this sounds a bit too wholesome we must also recollect and appreciate Rob's streaks of wildness and political commitment. His love of the Who's album "Live at Leeds", his appreciation of the Clash and his enthusiastic embrace of rock, punk and folk. The way in which his passion for Green ideologies encompassed both standing as green candidate in several general and local elections and energetic campaigning and participation in direct actions.
It has been a real pleasure to read other contributions from Rob's friends which have opened up new aspects of Rob's life, so thank you and do keep them coming.
It is painful to dwell on the latter months of Rob's life and it somehow seems intrusive to do so. There are probably no answers but the toll of acquaintances and friends (all male) whose lives have been cut short in similar ways does lead me to dwell on this.