Wg.Cdr.R.A.Warwick OBE, RAF.Retd.
Celebration of Life Service
Celebration of Life Service
Rob (Roberto to his Spanish friends) died at 11:25pm on July 14th 2010 in Denia Hospital Spain, aged 81+.
This is my tribute to him and expressed in the best way that I know. Graphically visual , tinged with a little irony and humour. He was very much a person of 'what you see is what you get' . No false facades to impress and no hard feelings after expressing a difference of opinion.
My knowledge of Rob only spans the last 22 years and after his RAF career and family.
Following emergency surgery to repair a colon rupture Rob seemed to make good progress and was discharged to the very special care of Benimeli Residencia and the place for the last 18 months he called home.
Sadly he developed further complications after 5 days and returned to hospital. A host of medical problems were diagnosed and family were informed.
It was then for me to fulfill my promise that I would support him to the end. This proved not to be a duty but a personal wish to ease the departure of a special person. Someone who had added colour to my life and many others.
At his wish there will not be a funeral and his body has been donated to Alicante University for research. His family will hold a Memorial and Celebration of his Life at a later date when they come to Spain from Canada. Please check later for details.
For my part and to start the initial record I will post a photo I took at dawn on Wednesday 14th July. After an all night vigil I came into the room to an almost ethereal sight. Sunshine streaming in beams across his bed where he had lain unmoving and unresponsive for 3 days.
That evening from the hospital window I watched and recorded a glorious sunset.
A firey and bright sun to match his personality.
The final sky was mellow and soft, a prism of colours and moods. It matched his tranquil departure.
A sunset in one land is a beautiful new dawn in another.
Enjoy Rob's sunset and please post your messages under Comments or send them to me on an EMail and I will add to this Blog.
Thanks
Sylvia
5 comments:
Dear Dad,
You are missed so much but we have so many great memories to cherish! Our sailing together throughout our lives and more recently with your grand children. We all remember the regattas, the sun, and of course, the fun. Your trips here to Canada were always eventful, whether it be buying the new hearing aids, the accidental washing of the new hearing aids & the insurance claim for the new hearing aids; rolling you in the surf at a regatta; having a few beers and of course chatting up the ladies at the dog park! You always had good stories and everyone wanted to listen even if some of them embarrassed me! That was ok though because you were my Dad!
Now that you are gone, we will forge on, as life does continue. We will think of you often, we will laugh with you and raise our glasses to you because that is what you would have wanted.
You loved to fly and I know that you are up there right now doing just that! Take care and have fun!
Love you forever,
Clive & Sue, Dean, Johanna and Andy. xo xo xo
Dear Rob,
Forever in our memories...I smile everytime I think of you. So many years have passed since we spent time with you and Sylvia. Your humour, your charm and your kindness to all of us. What more could we have asked for? Thankyou for allowing us to be friends, for introducing Spain to us and for making us laugh! Especially after New years Eve!!
You will forever hold a smile in our hearts.
Anne xoxo
Dear Sylvia,
Eileen and I would like to add our thoughts to those already expressed with regard to Rob and your selfless care and devotion to him in his final days. Nobody could have done more to ease the pain of his passing. This will also be appreciated by his family to whom we offer our condolences.
We remember meeting both of you for the first time in the Spring of 1988 when Rob joined the Aircrew Association of which he was an early member. His flying experience enabled him to mix well with his fellow pilots and other aircrew who remember him as being very professional, sometimes enigmatic but always amusing. Eileen and I also remember him for his ability with music, a gift which he tended to keep hidden and we recall that he could play both classical and popular music solely from memory. He had so many attributes for which he will be missed and we hope that these will be remembered at his memorial service in September.
Our community here in Spain is the poorer for his absence. Peter & Eileen Beechey.
Dear Sylvia – Rob’s passing sad news. Now here’s a strange one -- I found Rob through a ‘Costa Blanca News’ classified ad! It was more than 20 years ago, posted by Rob, looking for a sailing partner. I was recently arrived in Javea and looking for just such an opportunity. We met, got along well and I became a share holder in ‘Maravis’. Gordon became our third partner and a year or two later we graduated to ‘Golden Snare’ – an 8 meter Trapper 500. Comfortable and sea worthy. At one point Rob and Gordon decided to sail to Ibiza, circumnavigate the island. One the outbound leg, Gordon became seasick and Rob became both skipper and crew. Gordon recovered briefly during anchorages in the wonderful Ibiza bays, but lay prone again, very ill, the moment the anchor was raised. But circumnavigate they did and Rob got them back safely to Javea.
Gordon had had quite enough. Paul bought his share and the three of us had many fine sails. Good memories.
I have a great foto of Rob, with Gordon and me. Please post it! Good reflection of Rob at his exuberant best!
All the best to you ….Jack Morton, Javea
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