Robert Ernest Holkham (12 Jul 1954 - 23 Jan 2025)

Remembering you, Robert, on the first anniversary of your passing to the spirit world.

Happy Birthday, Robert!

Eulogy for Robert on 28th February 2025:
As Robert’s wife for the past 21 years, I would like to say a few words in tribute to the man I loved, the man who made this country a home to me, the man who created our family for our daughter Deanna and his three loving daughters from his first marriage, Nicola, Pippa and Michelle, who will share their memories about Robert a little later.

I appreciate that many will have known Robert at work, as a friend or as a neighbour, so in my tribute to him, I’d like to introduce Robert to you in commemoration of his full life – his early life, family and work life and his many contributions to his family, and to society in general, as a dedicated Civil Servant all his working life. Starting from his birth on the 12th July 1954, he was the second born son to Alfred and Violet Holkham.

(Robert’s Early Dedicated Family Life)

Robert was born and bred an Essex Gentleman – one of the nicest and dearest kind you could wish to meet - he grew up in Chadwell Heath, with his parents and elder brother Leslie, before moving to Ingatestone, where he lived for the last 37 years, creating a loving home for all his family, including his adored cats. Yes, he was a dedicated Cat Lover!

He always befriended cats he met in the street, often when abroad as well. His commitment was so great that for many years Robert made a monthly donation to the Battersea Home for cats and dogs, a tradition we as his family are determined to continue.

After leaving King Edward’s school in 1970 he joined the Civil Service in 1972, where he held a range of roles and received several promotions , working in numerous departments over the years, including Office for Fair Trade, Department of Trade and Industry, UK Trade and Investment, and Energy Security and Net Zero. More about his work achievements in a moment.

Robert was also a man of many interests and hobbies: not many of his friends know that Robert was a young ballroom dancing champion, which his many trophies testify to, and which encouraged his cousin Debby into taking up ballroom dancing too. But, at his heart, Robert was a car lover, which led to many memories as well as a few (slightly) shocking ones. Robert recalled to me, last December at Carnaby Street, how the place wasn’t pedestrian-only all the time, and how people could park nearby and walk over to this centre of fashion and trendiness. And during his young and dynamic years in London, Robert was even, on one occasion, according to his cousin Debby, mistaken by a group of teenage girls to be Donny Osmond. When a group of girls pestered Robert for his autograph, he happily obliged and signed away!

More familiar to his friends and family was his interest and activities in sports and music. He played football, badminton, tennis and golf, enjoying both the competitive and the social aspects of the sports. He developed and remained lifelong friends with many teammates and played competitive badminton into his 50s. With an electric interest in music: he was a particular fan of live music and attended many gigs, concerts, musicals, exhibitions and live jazz performances, sharing this love with me, family, and friends .

(Robert’s Achievements at Work)

Robert was a very well-travelled man, having visited more than thirty countries. He was always enthusiastically interested in the new experiences, foods, arts, markets, traditions, aesthetics and philosophies. He had a true spirit, always ready to celebrate cross-culture learnings and he always managed to draw the best value out of them. In fact, shortly after we first met, when I was on a business trip to Paris, Robert somehow sent me many text messages in Japanese language, for example saying oyasiminasayi for good night. When I asked why he was going for Japanese language rather than Chinese, as I knew clearly he wasn’t mistaking me as Japanese origined, his answer was that he had only a Japanese dictionary at home at the time, and he hoped it was close enough. When the opportunity came up to manage a new government initiative to promote greater use of foreign languages and greater understanding of other cultures, he jumped at it!

Between 1996 and 2005 Robert planned, managed and successfully lobbied for support to fund the UK Government’s first National Languages for Export Campaign. The complex multiplicity of initiatives lasted nearly ten years, covering two different parties in power, passing the government’s numerous Value-for-Money and Effectiveness Reviews under his leadership. Robert worked tirelessly through the ten years, building up networks of national and regional groups in delivering the wide range of initiatives, including an export communications audit scheme, a communications auditor training programme in partnership with the British Chambers of Commerce, ‘How to do it’ manuals, software audit programs, language excellence awards for schools, businesses, trainers and corporates, a national database of language providers, a series of ministerial speeches about languages, a major public speech by King Charles, then Prince of Wales.

Robert’s role was central and critical to the success of these campaign initiatives and he developed a national reputation as the Campaign Manager. The fact that some of these initiatives outlived the official campaign’s end by another ten years is a testimony to his national contribution to the growth in awareness of the critical importance of languages in UK trade. A random meeting with one of the language providers after a parents evening at Deanna’s school many years later, gave a personal glimpse to his immediate family, how much his work in this national campaign has been fondly remembered and deeply valued by its participants.

Robert worked the last twenty years of his career as a member of the Coal Liabilities Unit and Sponsorship Team, part of Energy Department. He led on the settlement of personal injury claims from former British Coal Corporation employees, and also had operational responsibility for personal injury claims related to the maritime industry, which he handled under a Memorandum of Understanding with the Department of Business and Trade. During these twenty years, he became an expert in respiratory diseases and personal injuries. It was a cause close to his heart, especially as he lost Leslie his elder brother to lung cancer under very similar circumstances many years before.

(My Last Few Words – what Robert means to his friends, family and me, his wife)

Family and friendship meant a great deal to Robert. He was always patient, kind, altruistic, supportive, fair and fun. Robert was a beloved family member, loved by his daughters, his many friends and of course, myself.

Robert will also be remembered by his many friends for having a wide range of knowledge and interests. He remained a lifelong open and inquisitive mind about the world, always enthusiastically welcoming new knowledges, new experiences, new cultures and new adventures. His work in the national language campaign showcased his vision, creativity and leadership. His dedication in working twenty years with the coal liability unit, till the very last day of his life, came from his deep belief in the cause of mass healing for the injured and hurt.

I shall never forget his great warmth, humour, quick-wit and chatty conversations – a pleasure shared with his many friends too. He could make conversations effortlessly, yet his words were remembered by friends, for many years afterwards. He was a master of quotes, speeches, and comments, underpinned by his happy and light character.

Robert was never judgmental, he took people as they were, treating them with love and respect. He believed in people, sometimes more than they believed in themselves. He enjoyed interaction with people, always a great listener and full of empathy. Just like how Michelangelo saw an angel in marble and tried to bring that angel out by his creative work, Robert always saw the best qualities and potential in people, and had a natural way of helping bring that inner angel to the surface. He had an aura of calmness, love and good humour about him, empowering a belief in others that everything would ultimately be okay. This belief, guidance, personal support and encouragement will be deeply missed by us all. Farewell, Robert, till we meet again on the other side!

Will miss you so much , as a patient, as a friend , and a person like me … besotted with cats ❤️

Robert was full of fun and a colleague to rely upon.

Robert, you will be missed immensely.

With fond & happy memories of a special cousin, Robert. You were like the big brother that I never had.
You will be sadly missed but will live on in our memories.
Love from
Debby & John xx

So sorry for your loss

I have known Robert for the past six years, initially as a co-worker and later as a friend and mentor. Robert was a very kind, cheerful, and knowledgeable person. You could always depend on him for the best advice, no matter the subject. Above all, he was a wonderful human being, and he will be greatly missed by the team. I will also miss all the jokes Robert used to send me on WhatsApp. Rest in peace, Robert.

Initially a friend of Ming's I got to know Robert on the morning commute. Over the years he brightened up the journey with many interesting, stimulating and humorous discussions and anecdotes. He became a firm friend and I will miss him. My thoughts and condolences to Ming and all the family.

My condolences to Robert’s wife Ming and his four daughters on the passing of a kind and generous person.
I would describe Robert as my mentor rather than my boss or Line Manger such was how we worked together. We had many things in common. Robert grew up in Chadwell Heath and I lived near there for a while and knew the places he talked about. I worked at UK Trade & Investment around the same time as Robert and we often discussed the many countries we visited as part of our work although the only country we both visited was Jordan. However, when it came to holidays overseas, there were many countries that we both visited and Robert could be described as a personal “Trip Advisor” such was the knowledge he had of these places, providing advice on where to go and want to do.
We also both loved cats and at one stage we both had one named Sky. And finally, we both suffered from being West Ham United supporters.

Our thoughts and condolences are with Ming and her family and all of Robert's family and friends at this time of deepest sadness and loss.