This tribute was given by Revd. Paul at the start of the service

Bob was born in Lyndhurst Hospital on Thursday 19th September 1929 and he subsequently lived in Blackfield for the first five years of his life.

At the age of 5 he was run over by a car- a mean feat in those days when cars were not as fast as now, fortunately he was ok

His mum remarried and the family moved to Wilmer Road in Eastleigh
he went to Northend School in Eastleigh – which is where the Fire Headquarters is now and left at the age of 14 –

On leaving school he went to the Sea School in Gravesend and learnt the skills of the Merchant Navy- the sea school still exists today

He served for 6 years on the Cruise Ships as a Steward

He served his two years National Service at the rank of Bombadier

When Boyce and Yates used to have a shop in Eastleigh, Bob used to bring them shirts direct from America to sell in the shop, so that they kept up with the fashions. The company was in Factory Road in Eastleigh and closed in 1950

Bob always said that he was the very first Teddy boy in Eastleigh and was also known as Eastleigh Elvis

He was also known for throwing beer mats at old ladies so that they got stuck in their hair, much to his amusement, he certainly had an eye for the girls.

Bob was Pats best man at her first marriage which was sadly ended when her husband died after 2 years. Bob being the man he was looked after Pat and after several years of being a good friend they were married in the Parish Church in Eastleigh in 1961, which are now flats opposite the new council offices.

He had too many different jobs to mention his last one being with the Railway from which he retired.

He loved his Bowls and was a member of the Fair Oak Bowls Club and then Eastleigh Railway Bowling Club.

Shaun’s favourite football team is Liverpool which Bob adopted as his own and developed a love for their anthem, He loved to sing ‘Youll never walk alone’ at the end of an evening out and chose this song as his recessional music which I hope you will all sing along too.

Bob was a loving Husband, Father, Grandad and Great Grandad and as He was always right he was fondly known as “Never Wrong Robert “

He will be dearly missed by all his family and many friends.