It's been a while since I've been on here. Sad to read all of the nice memories of a truly great bloke.
Truly sorry to hear how tough things were towards the end and to read a message like that from such a **** raiser, but a dose of reality for all of us, I am sure.
I can't recall when I first met Rob, but he treated me like he known me for years, and I think we immediately got on when I didn't flinch but laughed at his cracking sense of humour. Many a fun time at a Christmas party followed, he was an absolute legend and up for anything that equalled FUN on a night out.
In Modena, my wife and I enjoyed a lift to the 'Pavarotti' restaurant in the back of his Gransport.
It's the closest I've ever been, to being drive by Colin McRae. I knew i was encouraging him, when I mentioned I was looking to see what his car could do.
He had his then other half barking the instructions "Left Turn coming up," "How many metres" he shouted back, eyes glued to the road, "500, 300, coming up now". ******* the brakes, downshift, back passengers flung to one side of the car, then flung to the other, foot down again, engine singing, he laughed as did I.
I can't really remember the end of that night when back in the Modena hotel, I think on that occasion I ended up asleep in a chair first, I certainly was not part of any statues moving around, official signs being removed and re-written...
Rob was a guy who always wanted to have fun, and wanted you to have fun, and brought fun in spades wherever he went. He was one of the originals here, helped make it what it is and a genuinely top bloke. He will be missed.