Rob Connolly

Tribute

Rob was born on 14 March 1954 in Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands. His early life was spent in Holly Lane, Erdington with his dad, Robert, mam, Phil, brothers Michael and Kevin and sister Geraldine.
Rob had very fond memories of summers spent in Hampshire visiting grandparents, where he developed a strong bond with his Aunt Mary.
Earliest schooling was at the Abbey Catholic School although later he travelled daily across the city to Harborne changing buses in central Birmingham. Details of the development of Spaghetti Junction were easily recalled, as seen from the top of a bus!
Violin lessons started at school. When he moved schools aged 13 they temporarily stopped, until his previous violin tutor spotted him at the school entrance and encouraged him to start up again. He keenly took up the opportunity and enjoyed music immensely.

Rob spent a summer in the west of Ireland with his Uncle Michael and family working in the family business, The Ritz in Lisdoonvarna.
He left school to learn a trade and went to catering college in Birmingham, which created many work opportunities in the Midlands, Butlins (Skegness), Hastings and at Devils Bridge near Aberystwyth.
His decision to take A levels at night classes enabled him to consider a change of direction. He was recovering from a motorbike accident, doing three part time hotel jobs through agencies and studying three A levels. He looked at his teacher one day and thought, ‘I could do that!’.

Rob was proud to work hard to get himself to Aberystwyth University where he initially studied English and Classical History as well as Music. On arrival, he hadn’t fully factored in living costs so spent the first few weeks in a tent until it was too cold. He spent three years in flats in Borth and became known as ‘Rob the Fiddle’ as he regularly turned up in orchestral attire at the Friendship Inn. Winters in Borth were very memorable, feeding the meter with numerous 50p coins, newspaper stuffed around windows to stop them rattling in the night and watching the winter high tide flow in the back door and out through the front door onto the High Street.
Aberystwyth was a fabulous time for music practice, playing and performing in orchestras and ensembles with many other accomplished musicians. He forged strong friendships which he retained throughout his life.

After university Rob returned to the Midlands with a job as a catering technician at Solihull College. Shortly after, he moved into lecturing. Living in Olton, he introduced himself to Do, the girl in the flat downstairs, who was soon to become his wife for 35 years.
A German student exchange enabled Rob to develop close links with bakers in Konigstein, which later also became a link for musicians from Aberystwyth.
From lecturing in catering, Rob was fortunate enough to move to his passion and became a music lecturer, supporting students heading to universities and other media opportunities.
For a period, Rob also played and performed with Solihull Symphony Orchestra.

Rob married Do in 1985 and moved to Catherine-de-Barnes where Greg was born in 1986. Do was also teaching at Solihull College and in those days all three had long summer breaks which were spent working on the house, knocking down walls together. Many camping holidays were shared, giving the freedom to explore new places in Europe. Evenings were spent playing cards with Rob demonstrating his card shark, flick to the top of the pack techniques. Games were never taken too seriously!

The family first visited Canada in 2001 and fell in love with the vistas and campfires having upgraded from a tent to a campervan but still enjoying the freedom to explore at their own pace. Several return visits, this time to the Rocky Mountains enabled further enjoyment of the simple things together, layby lunches by a deserted lake with fresh local bread and evenings by the campfire playing cards.

During this period, Rob was also studying with the Open University and in 2006 decided that he would take the opportunity to attend his MA Music graduation at the Palace of Versailles. He invited Do, Greg, sister Gerrie and mother in law, Elizabeth to join him for a memorable weekend in Paris – and the graduation ceremony of course.
After his retirement, Rob spent his time arranging music.

In 2013, Greg and Anaya invited Rob and Do to join them on a winter holiday in western Canada to a ski retreat lodge close to Whistler and then on to Vancouver Island.

Rob and Do were thrilled when Anaya as Greg’s wife joined the family in 2015, especially as Rob had fresh blood to display his card skills. Anaya always responded appropriately and enjoyed the card games too. They enjoyed each other’s company and greeted each other as ‘favourite daughter in law’ and ‘favourite father in law’ (despite each of them only having one!).

In 2017 Rob became Grandad to Reuben.

Several months later Rob was diagnosed with an interstitial lung disease termed Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis, quite unexpectedly - it was a bit of a setback.

Reuben stayed with Granny and Grandad every other Tuesday. Rob formed a close bond. Reuben returned home to his parents and took great delight in divulging all of Grandad’s secrets.

Rob found comfort in music arrangement, in particular Bach’s fugues.

Having lived at the same house with Do and Greg when we were all together there, he felt whole.

Rob was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia on the day after his 66th birthday, just prior to the countrywide Coronavirus lockdown. We consider ourselves very lucky that Rob was discharged from hospital just as hospital visits were stopped.

The final few weeks were spent at home where his brother in law, Alan delivered a red mobility scooter. Rob took the opportunity of fine warm weather to ride along Bickenhill Lane on his ‘Red Peril’ or ‘Red Avenger’, observing appropriate distancing, and chatting with neighbours and others on their daily exercise walks.

Rob died on the 6th of May 2020. In the final 48 hours he deteriorated quickly, but in familiar safe surroundings in comfort and with Greg and Do with him all the time. We were whole for one last time.

We will all miss him terribly and will be thinking of him always.

Greg - 19^th May 2020

Despite knowing for some time the day would come, and talking about it openly, I really struggled to say goodbye. I don’t enjoy emotion (like father, like son) and wasn’t ready, so we left it at thinking of you always.

Dads condition meant he had good days and bad days. Dad hated hospital and was never himself when there. Mom did an amazing job of looking after him at home, and Dad would often describe her as his angel.

As a boy, Dad would tell me I could do anything I wanted to, and not to let anyone tell me I couldn’t. Reuben age 2 and 7 months is now at a stage where he say’s ‘Daddy I can’t do it’. I hope I can give him the same encouragement my Dad always gave me.

I’m not entirely sure where it came from, but often before bed we would share a “hug rug cuddle… kiss” on each cheek. In his final moments, and still not ready to say goodbye I gave him one last hug rug cuddle... kiss.

We were all together, whole in his final moments before he closed his eyes and took his last few breaths peacefully.

Thinking of you always Dad.

With all our love,
Anaya, Greg & Reuben

Alan & Geraldine Dyson - 20^th May 2020

There is a lifetime of memories and such fun. I'm sure he used to get exasperated with Alan but we did nothing but laugh on all our visits. I can't put into words how much I will miss my brother and I repeat so many happy memories

Frank Härdtlein - 21^st May 2020

Death is the end of dieing...not of life! My friend Bob! We had such a good tlme together....educate our students....unforgetable our work between Solihull and Kriftel/Germany. And unforgetable the final Soccer Game 1996 in London between Germany vs Tchec republic.....you made it possible. I'll never forget you my friend! Your friend Frank in Germany

Alan Phillips - 21^st May 2020

I have had so many brilliant times with Rob, I always called him Bob I do not know where to start. We went to Cornwall in his old Triumph 1300 and it was problematic. It was Easter 1981.At Plymouth we went out on the Saturday night then slept in the car sort of behind a scrap yard near Union Street. In the morning Rob tried to fix the car pushing a coat hanger down the cylinder to get the valve out. He said to me the car needs a new Head. I went for a walk and said to this garage about a Triumph 1300 head. The proprietor said there is one there give me a £1 for its scrap value. Imagine Rob's face when I came back struggling with a Triumph 1300 Head. We took the spring off and couldn't put it on, so phoned the AA. I always remember the AA man's face when he saw this head. We all pushed hard on the spring and got the car working and spent nights in Polperro, saw Penzance and Lands End, then nights in Portreath, Tintagel and Cheddar. Always in a tent.

Alan Phillips - 22^nd May 2020

Early September 1981. We were still students and both had jobs in the summer vacation.We decided to embark on our 1st European jaunt. Drove down to Dover in Bob's old Triumph 1300 then before boarding the ferry decided the car may not be up to a European journey so jumped on the ferry to Ostend and decided to hitch hike it. The first stop was Aachen, then we managed to get to Heidelburg, a 30 minute train journey to Ludwigshafen where we ended up in a bar on a Sunday evening where we always remembered our host in the bar for the night Willi Grupp (a local character), then one of the "friends"we chatted with in the bar showed us the town train system and where to disembark so it was a good spot to hitch a lift the next day. It was lovely weather so we put the ground sheet on the floor,did not bother with the tent and slept under the stars near the road. When it was light I woke and heard a lot of noise and my head was under the sleeping bag. When I looked out of the bag there were hundreds of people going to work as it was a huge industrial site with factories everywhere. I woke Bob up and we had a good laugh and went to our next destination Saarbrucken. I remember our night out in Saarbrucken but cannot remember how we hitched there. After that holiday together Bob went back to Aberystwyth for his final year and myself to a year's teacher training in Cardiff. Over the years we spoke and had a good laugh about this places we went and even if we went back to those places we would never ever be able to find these bars and places we went as everything we did was absolutely spontaneous.

Alan Phillips - 22^nd May 2020

1983 was the year. We both had jobs.Bob in Solihull Technical College and myself as a Brass Teacher in Aberystwyth. I had a new Fiesta car so we decided to travel in August. We decided to revisit Achen and Heidelburg staying a night in each. I preferred camp site.Bob preferred differently so we stayed campsite, field,campsite, field. We had a night out in Willheim (small Bavarian Town) stayed in a field and when we woke they were spraying fertiliser on the other side of the field (Lucky escape). We then drove to Salzburg. 1st night we came back to the car about 1am after a night out in Old Salzburg and decided to pitch tent in a park--I awoke early while Bob stayed in the tent until 10 am. People were walking past and staring at the tent as people do not usually put tents up in a public park. 2nd night in Salzburg was spent in Aigan campsite(2 miles out from Salzburg). I remember we went to see an organ recital and as it was Salzburg they had to play a piece by Mozart and had a good laugh as this piece was not suited to a huge cathedral organ.We then headed north and in a place called Wieder they wanted to throw us out of this bar for being British.(Ha ha we refused to go so they gave us another pint) We then to another bar where the hosts were much nicer then again slept under the stars in a field.--The weather was very good. We awoke early and went to the Bavarian Town of Bayreuth famous for Wagner. (laughing at these two buskers on a violin and cello arguing as they kept playing the music wrong).We then drove to this country town in North Bavaria called Wallenfels. I know that Bob, Do and Greg stayed in this town when they were driving to Prague for a wedding.I know that Bob would want me to put these trips up on his tribute as they provided excellent memories and times for us both. We also went on holiday in 1984 on a similar holiday this time driving as far as Lake Bled in Yugoslavia (Slovenia today)and 1985 when we toured Ireland. On them occasions Heather and Do enjoyed the trips with us.

David Mateer - 22^nd May 2020

What I will miss about Rob:
1. His delicious cuisine and amusing conversation about cooking generally; as a trained chef, he was always informative but never patronizing to a mere amateur like me.
2. His generosity, which took many forms including invitations, extended to a curmudgeonly born-again bachelor living in London, to spend Christmas in Solihull.
3. His sense of humour and wacky perspectives on music, life and the universe.
4. Receiving sound files of Bach fugues, many of which were so obscure that I had never heard them before – Rob’s revenge for what we put him through in Aber!
5. Games of pool at home or in local pubs, during which seasoned veterans among the bar-staff would turn pale at the colourful language that followed a missed shot.
I have many fond memories and snaps of our visits to European cities; here is just one that gave us a laugh at the time. Taken on a ‘Boys Alone’ trip to Prague in 2010, it shows Rob and Alan, his good friend since university days, looking particularly happy. Their cheery countenance, of course, has nothing to do with the sign directly above their heads...



Rob’s death has left a big hole in all our lives.

Heiko Juner - 23^rd May 2020

I meet Bob/Rob in Königstein/Germany by the exchange from bakery students.
If we planned to visit the cup final 1996 in london Bob organized the tickets.
Bob meet us at the airport. He pitch a tent in the garden in Egham and three
palletts of beer.i thought that is a paradise. Bob and i have intensive discussions although my English was not so good.
Maybe it was the beer. It was a nice memorable short trip to England.
He said to me i have a big heart but i think his heart was much biggerThanks.

Alan Phillips - 23^rd May 2020

We continued our friendship for years after. We were chatting in Bob's house and we found out that he was taking students to Konigstein which was 2 miles from Kronberg the twin town of Aberystwyth. In 2007 I was taking a brass group to Kronberg and Bob came with us and introduced me to Frank Hardtlein and we enjoyed the Aberystwyth/Kronberg 10th twinning anniversary. We also went to Kronberg in 2008. In 2010 Myself,Bob and David Mateer went to Prague. Two years later we went to Krakow. We went to Kronberg for the Christmas Market two years later. Then in 2018 Bob and myself went to Prague.
Bob was Best Man for Heather and myself when we married and was one of the best friends I ever had. We both went to University as mature students in Aberystwyth University in 1978 and have remained close friends ever since. I will miss Bob very much and he was one of the most genuine,generous and sincere persons I have ever met. I know that Bob would have wanted me to say about our times travelling together and I hope that everyone enjoys reading what I have written about our travels around Europe.

Sven Bohrmann - 25^th May 2020

Hi. Ich traf Bob das erste mal bei unserem Schüleraustausch 1994. Wo ich schon einige Stunden mit Bob in meiner geliebten Hotelbar verbracht, und mich mit ihm unterhalten habe. Was mir im Gedächtnis geblieben ist, wie ich Bob in meinem englisch versucht habe zu erklären, das wir alle Menschen und gleich sind. Ich empfand ihn als offenherzig und toleranten Menschen. Einmalig natürlich unser Wochendtrip zum EM Finale nach London- Egham. Wo Bob uns die Karten besorgt hat. Unvergesslich. Es war schön dich kennengelernt zu haben. Mögest du in Frieden ruhen.

Robert, Jan, Genevieve and Clemmie Curd - 26^th May 2020

Jan and Rob

The thing we always will remember about Rob is his brown leather jacket which he wore for years regardless of the occasion. I think the only time we saw him without it was at Greg and Anaya’s wedding.
I was very glad to have been able to see Rob a couple of times recently and despite his poor health had enjoyed long conversations with a variety of subjects-many being quite fanciful.
It was such a relief in the family to have Rob speak so well at Mother’s memorial service when none of us felt able to speak about our memories of Elizabeth without the worry of breaking down.

Genevieve

Coming from a family whose Mother is a rather indiscriminate kisser. It was lovely and amusing at one family occasion when Rob insisted on greeting us with a hand shake- the epitomy of Englishness.

Clemmie

I went to visit Auntie Do and Uncle Rob one day and as soon as we entered the house all I could smell was a mixture of homemade bread and baking (yum!). It was the first time I had ever tried Bakewell tart and since then I have been hooked, but none have ever been as good as Uncle Rob’s.
He also always made me laugh with his terrible jokes.

David Mateer - 26^th May 2020

I remember meeting up with Do, Rob and Greg - the latter for the first time - in Virginia Water, just outside London. Rob insisted on referring to the place as Virginia's Water. Greg was in his early teens, and at that age when children are easily embarrassed by their parents. He didn't know whether to cringe or laugh - so he did both.

John and Olwen Hetherington - 26^th May 2020

We first met Rob in the early 80s when we moved to Catherine de Barnes with our then 2 year old, Rhys, and baby, Sioned. I joined the village Mother and Toddler group that gathered in the church-cum-village hall and it was there that I met Do with baby, Greg; and subsequently, of course, Rob, who used to ride around on a motorbike in those days as I recall.

We did not know Rob so well then but in more recent years, since the children have grown and made their own ways in the world, we have been privileged to get to know him a little better and have enjoyed putting the world to rights with both him and Do over a tipple or two. He had a quirky sense of humour which we always enjoyed and he was one of the few people we knew who could speak and understand some Welsh, having studied and lived in Aberystwyth. He also very kindly donated his piano, pictured above, to our son Rhys and his daughters a couple of years ago enabling them to start a musical journey of their own.

It is so sad that Rob has been taken from us too soon but comforting for Do, Greg, Anaya and Rob's wider family especially to have so many loving memories and photographs to look back on.

So sorry we cannot be there to support you on 4th June but we will be thinking about you.

Much love,
John, Olwen, Rhys, Sioned and family.

Jen Reeve - 1^st June 2020

Uncle Rob was fun, kind, generous and always interesting.
I remember Do and Rob’s wedding aged 10 with lots of family, I have a distinct memory of you driving away in a white van with stuff dragging behind! I thought it was very glamorous.
Rob was always great with us when we were small and didn’t mind us clambering all over him and he used to hold us upside down by our ankles which we thought was hilarious and swung us around in the garden.
He was a great chef and rustled up amazing moules at David and Celine’s wedding- just like that!
He told good jokes and stories and was always interested in what you were doing or had to say- he really listened.
He spoke wonderfully at Granny’s memorial service and said everything that needed to be said and more.
He laughed a lot, wore his brown leather jacket a lot and wore sandals a lot, he always seemed a happy man.
Both Do and Rob were always welcoming to us at any time and we were always glad to see them, there was always plenty of food and drink flowing and lots of chat and laughter.

Rob Connolly wonderful Uncle, wonderful man, you will be missed by us all and not forgotten

Jen, Nick, Lily, Henry, Courtney and Ben xxxxx

patsy connolly - 2^nd June 2020

I still called him Bobby since I got to know Rob as a child and he gracefully tolerated it and even signed himself 'Bobby' in his quirky letters and e-mails to me. My strongest memories go back to our early twenties in Ireland. I feel that we were 'soul mates', and I have lovely memories of long walks through the Burren, midnight swims, and 'philosophical' discussions late into the night. Lovely to catch up again in more recent times and see him so happy and contented with his family. Sadly missed.

James Reed - 4^th June 2020

I always looked forward to seeing Uncle Rob.

When he indulged us as kids, harassing and clambering all over him.

When he was bemused that I would go on holiday with my parents when I was at University.

When he made moules mariniere with 'crustacean' wine at David and Celine's wedding.

When he imparted his secret knowledge of scaffolding and haliborange, and gravy.

When he would talk and chase an idea and be interesting and interested and funny and never dull.

When he would share his great love and enthusiasm for music.

He will be missed by us all.

James, Clarisse, Charlie, and Eleri.

Angela Cockerill - 5^th June 2020

My son Jack and Greg have been friends since childhood. Jack,also an only child,spent many sleepovers with Greg and family and was always made welcome by Rob and Do.
I to remember the brown leather jacket and him riding on his motor bike between home and Solihull College and I believe at one point coming of and injuring himself.
One year Rob set Jack and Greg up with a stall at the Catney fete .He gave them a float and when he came to collect the takings there was less money than there was to start of with. I can see Rob now trying to get them to explain where the money had gone.
My love to you all and what fantastic memories you have.

Anthea and Colin Reed - 5^th June 2020

One of my memories of Rob was him saying that he wasn't used to large family gatherings as he came from a much smaller one than ours. I'm not sure if he knew what he was letting himself in for when he married Do! He wasn't comfortable with all the kisses and hugs that were usual for us. He always greeted us with a hand shake, but that was fine - it was just Rob's way.
Our children particularly loved to see him. He put up with all sorts of play
fighting and attacking from them, he was like a big brother.
He was a great host and very hospitable and always gave us amazing food, accompanied by plenty of laughter and interesting conversation. It was quite a surprise to all, when, on the morning of David and Celine's wedding, at the gite we were all staying at, he went shopping and came back and cooked lunch for everyone - moules mariniere - delicious. He shrugged it off and said he was used to doing mass catering.
He obviously liked to have a project on the go, particularly wood working, and on one visit we made to Rob and Do, he showed us the table he was making for Greg and Anaya. he was making it from scratch - a tree from their back garden being the starting point.
Another time he proudly showed us a Samuri sword that he had restored after much research, even having travelled to meet an expert on the subject.
One day at the beginning of last year, left on his own with Colin, they got out the Nerf guns and spent some time shooting at and trying to frighten off a squirrel from the bird feeder. I don't think they had a great deal of success but they had great fun and laughter. after about an hour they came to a unanimous decision to have a beer!
It was good to have Rob as a brother in law. He was excellent company, fun and had a great sense of humour. he was loved by all our family and will be missed but never forgotten.