From Red Robbo to Bob a Job, tributes to legendary E&S reporter who died aged 89

Affectionately remembered by many for his popular 'Give Bob a Job' series., where he tried his hand at various different careers, Bob was also a formidable reporter with superb inter-personal skills, who enjoyed a varied career spanning many decades.

Sign up to our free newsletter today

The journalist, who died on October 5, spent almost three decades at the Express & Star, after moving from the Birmingham Evening Mail.

On his retirement in 2001, a colleague wrote on a specially made front page celebrating his career: “A trainee could learn more about news reporting in five minutes of sitting within hearing range of Bob as he interviewed someone on the phone, than on a full term at a training course. If there was a story there to be got, then Bob would get it.” 

The son of well-known Fleet Street journalist Harry Procter, he considered a career in performing arts as a young man, briefly attending the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts.

Freelance journalist Jon Griffin, who worked with him at the Express and Star, recalled: "Bob had a reputation as a foot-in-the-door man who you could send out to talk to people in the most difficult circumstances.

"I sat next to Bob in the Express and Star newsroom at Wolverhampton for several years and shared many a laugh with him, often in the pub. He was a great character and unusually in the newspaper world, was universally liked."

Ian Mean, who was chief news editor on the Birmingham Mail during Bob’s time there as a reporter, added: “Bob was one of those go-to reporters who would always come up with the story against all the odds.

"In his youth Bob had once considered becoming an actor and briefly attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts. 

"He was in his element when the Express & Star introduced a ‘Give Bob a Job’ column, in which readers were invited to give Bob an opportunity to try his hand at any role - which included that of a vicar, a holiday camp entertainer and a town crier, to name a few.

"Tongue in cheek, Bob took on the various roles with gusto, highlighting his flair for also turning out funny, light-hearted copy."

Bob once wrote "There’s a ham actor in all of us, and as someone who tends to go into a routine when the fridge light goes on, I am no exception."

He was also a well-known figure at Wolverhampton Crown Court, where he covered crime stories, and worked for a time on the sub-ed

Bob, who lived in Rugeley, began his career with the Beckenham and Penge Times. He was the eldest of six children, for of whom became journalists.

He went on to work for the Manchester Evening News and the Swindon Echo, before moving to the Midlands, where during the strike-torn 1970s, he found himself reporting from the picket lines of British Leyland's Longbridge plant. He attended many of of the infamous mass rallies addressed by militant trade unionist Derek 'Red Robbo' Robinson, who led 523 walk-outs.

Cradley-born Robinson, who died eight years ago this month aged 90, was blamed for the lost production of 62,000 cars and 113,000 engines, costing the business an estimated £200million.

Bob, who leaves a daughter, Sue, a son, Simon and granddaughters, Leah and Lorna, had been a widower since the death of his  wife Margaret in 1993.

His funeral will take place at Fradley Crematorium, Fradley Lane, Fradley, near Lichfield at 12.30 pm on October 30, followed by a 'celebration of his life' at The Chase pub in Hagley Road, Rugeley.