I first met Rob walking through the gates of Raleigh.  We bonded through midnight mud runs and assault courses and ironing parties.  Rob  excelled as our team leader  and did us proud at passing out parade .  I’m right behind Rob on the parade ground.

We joined HMS Sultan together  learned our craft , and steadied ourselves for our new ship.  I was first introduced to Dawn and a scary huge horse.  Rob said “stand still it will be ok” as it thundered towards me, Nope i was over the fence like a shot with Rob pissing himself with laughter 😂  We went for our first tattoos together feeling like salty old dogs forgetting we were green eyed sprogs😂

Off we went to our first ship together HMS Gloucester, introduced to the stokers mess.  The motto “work hard play hard” i think was born there.  An eye opener for both of us.  Trips to Gib, and a great deployment to the West Indies taking in Florida, Bahamas, Caribbean, Belize, Panama, Acapulco, San Francisco to name a few .  A trip of a lifetime.

We went our separate ways a year later when I broke my leg but bumped into each other in Jebel Ally port during the gulf war.  Off to the seamans mission and drank the night away.

it wasnt until the advent of facebook that we finally got back in touch met again at the 42 reunion,  got drunk reminiscing over the good times.

we kept in touch ever since meeting up in the fun in the field dressed as Pirates.  Fond memories of Rob knocking on my tent a 6am “ tot of rum old chum “ dont mind if I do to the dismay of my wife

Our last meeting was when he finally travelled to Pembrokeshire to see the mad bish.  A lovely camping trip with Ben.  We met up and again put the world to right.  

Rob would face time me drunk from Kuwait introduce his parrot “ now he could swear “  Rob laughing in the background 

God bless Rob, never to be forgotten I’ll raise a glass to you  Jan 4th from now on

love Arnie “taff”