Robert was born to Dennis and Doris ford and was an only child. The family moved to a house they shared with Robs Mums sister and her husband and it became the hub of the whole family. Robert loved to work with wood and was apprenticed as a Church Organ Builder. After his apprenticeship finished he did his national service in the Army Corp of Catering, where he learned to cook the best pastry in the world. Apart from some time spent building snooker tables, building boats and fitting roof lights, Organ building was the main career until he became self employed. Robert married Sylvia on April 3rd 1965 and they had two children. Susan in 1967 and Anthony in 1970. Robert loved his family and they love him. When he was 40, the family moved to Weston-Super-Mare, where Rob and Sylvia opened a hotel. Their initial intention was to open a rest home to utilise Sylvias nursin expertise, but the loved the holiday trade so much, that this never happened. After the Hotel, they owned Holiday Flats until they retired. Robert renovated each of the properties they owned and enjoyed himself doing it. Roberts only passion outside his family was funfairs, the circus and traction engines. He enjoyed bowling and loved days out with his family.