Robin Bruce Forbes (19 Dec 1927 - 19 Mar 2015)

In loving memory of our Dad, Robin Bruce Forbes who sadly passed away on 19th March 2015

A joint-funeral for Robin and Catherine Forbes will take place on 17th April.
A separate page has been published in Catherine's memory - please click here to leave your memories and condolences.

Dad was born in London on 19th December 2027, at school he became a boy soldier, was evacuated to Kings Langley, and joined up as soon as he was able, rising to a commissioned officer, by the time he resigned in 1949. He served in the UK, at Chepstow, where he was responsible to maintenance on a fleet of army lorries, Beachley, where he supervised Italian prisoners of war (lovely bunch of lads, apparently) and in Belfast, and it was in Belfast that he met our mum, Kate , and they married in 1948. In
1949 they had their first child, David, and in 1952 their second child, Laura. Mum and dad were entirely devoted to each other and had a long and happy marriage.

During his lifetime, he was a loving and devoted father. In our early years, living in London, we remember many happy times, being taken to Regents Park most weekends and getting the rowing boats on the Serpentine, the paddling pool near Hyde Park and flying our kites. Later Dad was always there for us whenever we had problems in our own lives. He gave us his unstinting love and support. He was keen, for a spell, on golf and squash fond of a whisky (or two, in fact his 'party trick' in his younger days was that he could tell any malt whisky from another blindfold) and a pint of bitter and loved cars (not at the same time as the whisky and beer, though) All his life he loved to watch football and his interest continued right to the end, keeping a careful eye on the success (and more often disappointment) of following Watford FC.

Dad pursued a career in the sale of office equipment, and was a successful salesman, rising first with Olivetti and later with Olympia, to the position of National Sales Manager. During this time, we moved around the country, from London to Nottingham, to Cheshire, to Cardiff and finally to Watford. After open heart surgery, dad finally retired aged 62, and after a while moved home to Milton Keynes and finally to Baston, nr Peterborough, where the family home now is. In later years, dad's heart once again became an issue, and he has had three operations to place stents in various arteries. In the past year, he has suffered a series of infections as his health deteriorated, and he sadly died following a serious illness of advanced heart disease, but, thankfully, it was, in the end, a peaceful passing.

Dad leaves behind our mum, two children, Laura and David, four grandchildren Nicki, Bobby, Claire and Simon and 6 great grandchildren, all of whom he adored and we will miss him greatly..

Mum now has advanced dementia, and it is the wish of the family that instead of flowers, any donations could be made to Dementia UK. There is a Just Giving page which is on the back of the Order of Service for those attending the funeral, but should you wish to say your goodbyes to our dad, but don’t want to attend the funeral, please feel free to donate via the Funeral Zone/Just Giving site.