Remembering Hodroyd

[conaero]

Welcome back.

As many of you will have seen we have had to say goodbye to long term forum member Rob.

We will keep you up with any arrangement for any whom wish to attend but for now this thread is reserved for remembering Rob and the good times.

It is with great sadness that I have to announce the passing of forum Member Hodroyd AKA Rob.

Rob was diagnosed with cancer some 8 years ago and fought hard but ultimately lost his battle today.

A forum member from the beginning and a regular at events both in the UK and overseas, he misbehaved with the best of them.

As a mark of respect, the forum will be closed until further notice.

I am sure you will all join me in passing on your regards and best wishes to his family and loved ones he leaves behind.

 

[dem maser]

Very fond early memories of the forum with him

I remember going up to see him with my family where Thalia was feeding his Deer and other animals etc
Wasn’t everyone’s cup of tea but that’s what made him who he is…..

Hope he’s driving a Maser and giving them trouble up there haha

Here’s to you Rob…..

 

[philw696]

Will never forget when he rang me up in New Zealand knowing that I was coming to France.
He'd bought a offshore power boat on the Mediterranean in Italy I think.
Would I be up for getting down there and having a look at it.
I wonder if it's still there ?
A Fun loving Guy indeed rest in peace Rob.

 

[zagatoes30]

If ever there was a true English eccentric, Rob was that man, a personality as big as his heart with a wicked sense of impropriety. Not everyone understands characters like him but without them the world is a much lesser place.

A WhatsApp message from Rob was always something to be afraid of

Robert unique until the end.

 

[Felonious Crud]

Standing in our hotel room somewhere in France at God know what time of the morning trying to work out why his long red coat was swinging erratically at the back.

Watching him trying to catch sight of the lamp that someone (@Zep..?) had clipped to it was hilarious. Rob swung one way, the lamp headed in the opposite direction, evading his capture.

 

[Doohickey]

Great memories of Rob: asleep in the reception at the hotel in Bruntingthorpe, asleep in another hotel somewhere with stuff piled on top of him, a great weekend at Hodroyd Hall, getting bitten by a dog somewhere in the Spanish Pyrenees that put a hole in his shoe.....

RIP.

 

[Koz]

I did not know him, but may he rest in peace.

 

[allandwf]

I first met him on the Modena trip, a few drinks and stories swapped. I will be forever grateful for the trip he, and others, made to attend Mrs allandwf s funeral a few years ago. I will miss my WhatsApp being bombarded with , what would now be seen as outrageous and not quite politically correct, messages. A true character who leaves a void, but many happy memories.

 

[2b1ask1]

Thanks Matt for your swift action on Sunday evening, all of you that took the time to contact him in recent weeks, I know it helped to lift his spirits.

Rob was a true Yorkshireman to the end, as has been said, his licentious behaviour was much of what made him such a character. I for one Will miss playing Rob Genga!

Rob left school at 14, a troubled lad, he went to work in the gravy mines, where he served a full apprenticeship. This is where he developed his unique ability to pee anywhere, and sleep standing up! He later honed his wenching skills, working for Overeer Luv & Co. Based in Much Hadham, before branching out on his own. He went on to develop a successful international business around the globe as a seedy merchant. In later life, he found a common passion with a bunch of reprobates in Italian Sports cars, freed himself from the bonds of mariage and morals. Coincidentally timed with the rise of social media and dubious dating apps. I’m sure Rob could have claimed a world record in swiping right (or is it left?).

I am so happy to have known Rob and to consider him a dear friend, I will remember the great times spent with him and communicating with him. I will in time forget how I found him a few weeks ago when I last saw him, I hope I was able to help him at his time of need.

Robert Lord Kemshell, I will miss you mate, have fun chasing those eternal nymphs!

 

[Harry]

A great summary, Newton.
I thought I’d quote Rob’s own words (from Instagram)

Full Blooded Single Male, Business Owner, Supercar Owner, Super-PowerBoat Owner, Photographer, Racehorse Owner, Lover Of Life & Beautiful Women.!

lord _kemshell Life can be great, grab it, hang on and enjoy the ride..!!

 

[Doohickey]

I first met him on the Modena trip, a few drinks and stories swapped. I will be forever grateful for the trip he, and others, made to attend Mrs allandwf s funeral a few years ago. I will miss my WhatsApp being bombarded with , what would now be seen as outrageous and not quite politically correct, messages. A true character who leaves a void, but many happy memories.

Indeed - I was always wary of opening Rob's messages in public!

 

[GeoffCapes]

My two greatest memories of Rob.
The Ditchmaster General. And the ability to fall asleep anywhere.






Robert Kemshell, certainly one of a kind.
But a lovely lovely bloke.

Rest in Peace Robert!

 

[Andyk]

Great memories of Rob and above shows what a character he was. Sad news as we all know but I am sure Ron’s memory will remain with us all. The one from me was when Rob drive into the pit at a Brunty on your marks but back into the Caterham pit. After all a Gransport isn’t much different to a Caterham. I can see us all stood there wondering where Rob was going.

 

[BennyD]

I’ll always remember MAFs house-warming, and the 2 low yield nuclear weapons Rob brought along. At 1 am, the first one lit up Chorleywood like an air bursting bucket of sunshine, the second was a ground burst with Rob standing about 10’ from it. Personally, I didn’t really see it but felt the heat and blast wave as I was rapidly getting the f**k out of Dodge. Oh how we laughed when he came in the house looking like he’d crawled back through a hedge. Apparently he had after being forcefully propelled through it! I’ll fondly remember the silly old goat every time I see the back end of my spyder, for it was he that provided the excuse for me to do it. RIP Rob, it was fun.

 

[EnzoMC]

so shocked to hear the sad news.

For me, one of the great moments was on a SM euro trip following him to Italy from France, had about 5 Mas following his sat-nav into old small housing area. People watching as 5x Mas pull up and turn around.

The fact that most of us knew we were going the wrong way but still followed Rob and his sat-nav. I'm not sure if that sat-nav ever made it back home or if its sitting on the French motorway somewhere.

It was first time I meet Rob and his beautiful blue GS, such a great character, great laugh and so friendly. I got to know a lot of the member through Rob during that trip.

RIP, you will be missed.

 

[Team GCR]

Was very sad to hear the news about Rob yesterday.

I will also miss the silly and sometimes inappropriate WhatsApp messages and the occasional banter with him that sometimes resulted.

My great memory of Rob will be staying up with him ALL night in the hotel in Modena on the Centenary Trip. When the barman closed last orders he basically told the barman he would buy what was left of the topshelf, Rob, myself and a couple of others carried on drinking until eventually only Rob and I were left and we carried on talking (probably total ******** by that point) until the sun came up and we were still finishing our drinks when people, including some of our group, started coming down for breakfast.

RIP Robert it was a pleasure knowing you.

 

[Spartacus]

Who could forget him p1ssing on the reception desk in a hotel lobby on the way to Le Mans after returning home from us re-opening a pub that had been shut for 6 months. I for one will never forget that night . One of the original members of the Sports Tw4terati Northern European Le Mans Destruction Team which I am proud that I was also a member of. The early trips were legendary and Rob was a big part of them . RIP you mad B4stard. I'll see you again one day probably....but not yet.

 

[conaero]

Remember going up to his house. It was dark, raining and couldn’t find it. I saw a farmer at the front of his farm, opened the window and asked him where Hodroyd Hall/Rob Kemshell was/lived. Said he’d never heard of him/it.

Turned out the farmer was his neighbour, speaks volumes about living next door to Rob I suppose.

 

[Ryandoc]

I met Rob back in 2015 in my early days when we arranged a Yorkshire run out, met in Helmsley and went for fish and chips in Whitby.

A true character proudly wearing his Maserati cap!

RIP and thoughts are with his family and friends

 

[2b1ask1]

The start of a Rob Genga: whilst it is still acceptable on a public forum!