Celebration of the Life of Robert Barlow
Welcome
I’m Laura, and it is my honour to guide us through this time of remembrance. Today is not about saying goodbye with sadness alone but about honouring the full and well-lived life Bob shared with those he loved. He was not one for fuss, and so this gathering is exactly what he would have wanted – a time for family and friends to come together, to share stories, to reflect, and to celebrate a life well spent.
Bob’s greatest joy was found in the love of his family. For more than 50 years, he and Sheila built a life side by side, a partnership of deep companionship, laughter, and adventure. As a devoted husband, a loving father to Claire and Richard, and a proud grandad to Henry and Edward, he cherished every moment with them. Family was at the heart of all he did, and his love for them was steadfast and unwavering.
Beyond his family, one of Bob’s greatest passions was being on the water. He and Sheila spent many happy hours as members of the North Cheshire Cruising Club, finding freedom and contentment in the steady rhythm of life afloat. These moments of quiet adventure, shared with those he loved, were a testament to his appreciation for life’s simple joys. So today, we honour Bob – not just by remembering his life but by carrying forward the love, kindness, and quiet strength he shared with all of us. Let this be a time of gratitude, reflection, and celebration for the man he was and the memories he leaves behind.
Tribute: A Celebration of Robert’s Life
Born in Levenshulme on the 28th of October 1942 to parents Edna and John, Bob entered a world that was shaped by war. He had an older sister, Josephine, known to everyone as Jo. When Bob was very young, his parents separated, and so he, his sister and his mother moved in with his grandparents, Percy and Lucy, along with his uncles, Jack and Bob.
His early years unfolded against the backdrop of the Second World War, and some of his first memories were of air raid sirens and hurried trips to the Anderson shelter. Despite the turmoil of the time, Bob’s childhood was filled with warmth and family. Growing up in a multigenerational home instilled in him a deep sense of responsibility. He saw firsthand the importance of caring for loved ones, particularly as both of his uncles had health struggles. That strong sense of family would remain with him for the rest of his life.
Of course, like all boys, Bob had his mischievous moments. But whenever he got into trouble, his sister Jo was always there to defend him. Years later, when he became a father himself, he passed that same loyalty down to his children. He told Claire that, as the older sibling, it was her job to look out for Richard, just as Jo had always done for him.
At around 15 years old, his mother remarried Harold. It was at this time that Bob was given the choice to change his surname, but he ultimately decided to remain a Barlow – a decision that reflected his strong sense of self and his connection to his roots.
A few years later, at the age of 21, Bob attended a friend’s house party. It was there that he met Sheila. A spark ignited, and love soon blossomed between them. They became engaged, and as they planned their future together, they saved for their first home in Heaton North. That house, once they moved in, quickly became the centre of their social lives – a gathering place for friends and, at times, a lively party house. It wouldn’t be surprising if more than one neighbour had to put up with late-night music drifting through the walls.
Bob’s career began as an electrician at Flatley Dryers, but soon he moved on to a role as a technician at Royal Mail, where he worked for 15 years. Always a forward-thinker, Bob had a fascination with new technology. When he and Sheila decided to have gas central heating installed at home – a cutting-edge development at the time – Bob watched the installation process closely. He quickly decided that this was the field he wanted to be in. Determined, he retrained and set up his own business as a gas engineer.
In the early days, Bob worked as a sole trader while Sheila handled the bookkeeping in the evenings, juggling this around raising their children and her own job. She was so meticulous with the accounts that, when a tax inspector once visited, he commended her excellent bookkeeping skills and suggested that Bob should reward her for it! Over time, Bob’s business grew. From a one-man operation, it expanded to five vehicles, ten employees, and a trusted network of subcontractors.
Anyone who has ever been self-employed knows that the winter months can be difficult. January and February were often lean, and Bob was determined not to lay off his staff. To combat this, he and Sheila began investing in property, buying homes to renovate and redevelop. This allowed him to keep his workers employed year-round, demonstrating not only his business acumen but also his deep sense of loyalty to his team.
In 1972, Bob and Sheila’s family grew with the arrival of their daughter, Claire. A few years later, in 1975, Richard was born. From the very start, Bob was a hands-on dad. He loved teaching his children how to do things, always encouraging them to learn by doing rather than just watching. If he showed them how to complete a task, they knew he would soon be handing over the tools for them to try. This approach continued even into his later years. Just this past February, when Sheila decided to update the utility room, Bob took on the project with Claire as his hands. Likewise, Claire fondly remembers her dad guiding her step by step as she tiled and grouted her downstairs loo. His way of teaching always left his children with a strong sense of achievement.
Travel was another great love in Bob’s life. Initially, they explored the world through Sheila’s job at a local travel agency, visiting Malta, Spain, Italy, and Yugoslavia, among other destinations. In later years, their travels became even more adventurous. They visited Claire and Steve wherever they were based, including a three-month stay in India and regular trips to Ghana.
Closer to home, the family fell in love with Rhosneigr on the Isle of Anglesey. It started with visits to a friend’s holiday home, but soon they saw an advert in the Stockport Express for a caravan for sale. This first caravan was quickly upgraded to a chalet, and true to form, Bob renovated it himself to better suit their needs. Over the years, many happy summers were spent there.
Even the journeys to Rhosneigr became an adventure. They would pile into Bob’s work van, with Richard riding up front with their parents. Sheila’s parents, meanwhile, sat on a small sofa in the back, which Bob had strapped down for the journey. Claire, squeezed into an inflatable dinghy with their golden lab, Rory, recalls these trips with great fondness.
It was on another family outing, this time to the Peak Forest Canal, that Bob and Sheila discovered a love for boating. While walking along the canal towpath, they helped a cruising couple with the canal bridges, who then offered them a ride. That experience sparked a new passion, and soon, the family had their own boat: a Norman 20 called ‘Too Knots’. It was small—so small that only seven-year-old Richard could stand upright inside! After enduring two weeks of solid rain on a family boating holiday, Sheila, in a moment reminiscent of Jaws, declared, “We’re gonna need a bigger boat.”
And so, they upgraded to a 32-foot boat named ‘Tatty Boadle’. Once again, Bob took on the challenge of renovations, designing a space with separate cabins and even folding doors for privacy. Their love for the waterways only grew, leading them to join the North Cheshire Cruising Club, where they built a wonderful circle of friends.
With changes in gas fitting regulations, Bob began considering early retirement, finally stepping back at 55. While Sheila continued working, Bob kept himself busy with woodworking projects, often salvaging old timber—particularly decking boards—to create bird tables and planters.
When Sheila retired, they fully embraced their time together. Wednesdays became their “date days,” exploring local beauty spots like Etherow Park, Jodrell Bank, and the local canals. Boating became even more central to their lives, and they traversed almost the entirety of Britain’s canal network.
Eventually, Sheila’s knees made boarding their cruiser difficult, and they decided to buy a narrowboat. Naming a boat is no easy task, but they eventually found inspiration in a gardening book: ‘Calluna vulgaris’, the Latin name for heather. With Claire’s middle name being Heather, they knew they had found the perfect name. Many spontaneous adventures began with them simply heading down to the boat for a day, only for it to turn into a two-week journey—just going wherever the river took them.
Bob was also always fascinated by technology, a passion that led him to owning a Betamax, photography and, in later years, flying drones. His drone photography even helped the local scout group assess much-needed roof repairs. Recently, he donated his drones to Buxton Mountain Rescue, knowing they could be used to locate missing people and train new rescue teams.
The weekend before he died, the family was together in Rhosneigr for Claire’s birthday. As Claire and Steve took a long walk, Robert and Sheila had their own adventure. Robert on his scooter, Sheila with her walker, they made their way to the beach, enjoying the lighthearted comments of passersby: “Look at you two having a race!” They spent the day hand in hand, just as they had so many times before, sitting together for hours, watching the world go by. A perfect spring day, a beautiful memory—one that will bring Sheila comfort in the days to come.
Go well, Bob, into the great beyond. You will be missed, but never forgotten.
Closing Words
As we bring this ceremony to a close, let us carry Bob’s memory with us, not just in words but in the way we live. In the way we take on a challenge with determination, lend a hand to someone in need, or cherish the people who make our lives meaningful.
Bob’s story does not end here. It continues in the love of his family, in the friendships he built, and in the countless ways he left his mark on the world.
The family warmly invites you to join them for refreshments at the North Cheshire Cruising Club, a place that holds special memories of time spent together. It will be a chance to share stories, to laugh, to remember Bob as he truly was.
Go well, Bob. You will be missed but never forgotten.
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