The Brett family lived in Erith in Kent at the time of Bob’s birth in 1936. He was such a beautiful baby that his three older sisters used to fight over who would take him out! His sister Pam asked her Mum ruefully “Why did the only boy in the family have such beautiful blue eyes, lovely wavy hair and curly eyelashes?” She replied, “I don’t know Pam, I can only think he’s the scrapings off the pot!”
When Irene and the four Brett children were evacuated to Ickham in Kent, Bob recalled they lived in a row of cottages in a tiny hamlet with the smell of the pig farm ever present! The children used to pet the cows and horses and lived a very rural life.
In 1940 the bombing raids were becoming more intense and following a particularly savage night Fred, having seen an advertisement placed by Rolls Royce Sentinel Works in Shrewsbury, attended an interview, got the job and sent for his wife Irene and the children to follow him. Eileen 13, Bet 12, Pam 10 and Bob aged 4 gathered together as much as they could carry and boarded a train to Shrewsbury. They never returned to Erith to live.
Bob was a mischievous boy. He remembered he was in the scullery larking about with a water pistol and managed to squirt his father with it. Fred grabbed a pint of milk and soaked Bob in return, not being one to let anyone get away with anything!
Bob recalled having a hand-me-down bicycle that was too big for him and as he and Pam were making their way home together, Bob was having difficulty controlling his steed and nearly had an accident with a car, a Ford V8 Bob was very lucky to survive the incident. Just by the by, how on earth did Bob recall the exact make and model of the car having just had such a narrow squeak?
Another occasion Pam recollected Bob getting a sweet caught in his throat, his father calmly tipped him upside down, he was thumped firmly on the back and the sweet flew across the room by which time he was purple.
We are all extremely glad he survived!!
Bob passed his eleven plus a year early and attended the Priory Grammar School for Boys. After leaving school he got a job with Rolls Royce in the offices. He also did his National Service based in Shrewsbury.
Fred bought a car for the family that Bob learned to drive and then drove his parents about as Fred never passed his test. This was the start of his life-long enjoyment of driving.
By now Bob was quite a dreamboat – evidenced in the photograph above. Quite the pin-up!
Brenda Pestell and Bob met at ballroom dancing classes and the rest, as they say, is history! Bob married his lovely ballet dancer Brenda.
Bob and Brenda first became aware of the beauty of Newquay on their honeymoon. They returned many times over the years and decided this was the place for them so when they retired, they bought a cottage and made it into a beautiful retreat, with a passion for gardening and the ever-changing scenery in front of their door in the form of the Gannel Estuary.
Irreverently over the years, Brenda and Bob have ever been known as Auntie Bob and Uncle Brenda, shortened latterly to Auntie B and Uncle B. At least they were game enough to think it funny!
Words to describe Bob – a generous, loving, caring husband, brother, son; determined, kind, loyal, a good sport; golfer, football fan, train buff, dog lover, line dancer. He was “there for you when you needed him”, interested in how you were getting on, wonderful sense of humour – slow burning quiet, dry and funny. Oh and the twinkling blue eyes.
Travels Through Time 