To many who knew him he was a scouting man who led by example and encouraged many a young person to try something more adventurous and challenging. Possibly my first encounter with Bob was as a young scout learning to canoe for the first time, only to find out that it was very easy to capsize in the relatively slow moving water of the Nene or was it the Ouse while at a camp somewhere in Cambridgeshire. To say Bob was an excellent Scout leader is not an understatement, in the thirty plus years I have known Bob I have heard many a tail of how the 3rd St Paul’s Scouts went to camp and some of the capers they got up to on a Troop Night.
Bob’s first Adult Scouting Adventure was in 1964 as an Assistant Scout Leader in Bexleyheath, Kent now in the Scout County of Greater London South East. Within months of taking on this role Bob took on the Leadership of the Troop and there was no stopping him that was until work brought his family to Peterborough. Soon after moving in 1968 Bob was approached about being the troop leader with the 3rd St. Pauls who met on Lincoln Road, a group which he developed a very long relationship with.
It was not long before Bob’s talents got him noticed and he became the perfect choice for the role of District Commissioner for the North of Peterborough. It was while in this role that Bob got permission to use the Fitzwilliam family crest as the basis for the new scout district which shared the name Fitzwilliam.
It was throughout his time as District Commissioner that Bob could be found paddling kayak’s on the River Nene and encouraging all Scouts to try out canoeing. Back then a kayak was made of glass fibre resin and not as tough today’s ones. Which due to their fragile nature, this made those canoes ideal things for Scouts and Ventures to spend time repairing them. All you needed was a warm well ventilated and light building and you could fix any canoe and if you were really lucky you could help make a new one using a wooden mould.
It was partly due to Bob’s leadership skills that many a large Scout Camp happened, his drive to ensure the young people had an everyday adventure throughout the duration of the camp was something which we may never see the like of again.
Cambridgeshire County Commissioner Richard Hames said “Bob was an inspiration to us all and will be missed by many, coming to a Peterborough Scouts event will not be the same without his assured smile and pleasant good natured welcome.”
It was not just ensuring that camps ran smoothly Bob also had a very good business mind and contacts and it was these which he put to good use while the business manager of the Peterborough Gang Show. It was during this role that Bob made many a new civic and business contact and it was his influence and charm that won many a new friend of scouting.
Former Leader of Peterborough Unitary Authority, Councillor John Peach said “I was very sorry to hear of the sad death of Bob Taylor. I know Bob worked tirelessly for scouting for most of his life and as a result was well known not only in scout circles but throughout Peterborough’s civic leaders and business captains.” He also added “I remember Bob was directly involved with a number of others from Scouting in Peterborough when the Council were trying (successfully as it turned out) to give the Peterborough Scouts the Freedom of the City. I think still the only City in the world where Scouts have that honour. Had it not been for Bob and a few others it would never have happened. We will all miss you Bob”
Scout Supporter Malcolm Robinson said “I first came into contact with Bob soon after we moved to Peterborough back in the late 1970s. The group I joined needed a new Hut and
it was thanks to Bob’s contacts that we got our new scout building. I remember we invited him and Olive to our opening and I said to the Scouts this is the gentlemen who we need to thank for getting our new hut.” He also added “I was very embarrassed when one of the Scouts went up and asked how much did it cost? He did not comment on the price just smiled and replied how much would you of paid for it? The real cost was nothing but our time to collect it and rebuild it, the building which was only designed for a few months use lasted many years.”
The Bob Taylor Scouting legacy does not stop there as there is a younger generation of Taylor’s who now carry on his life in Scouting as his youngest Grandson is a Cub in Lincolnshire. But Scouting was not Bob’s only outlet he was a great supporter of Neighbourhood Watch and the Police, he was a keen wildlife watcher and would often been seen by the rangers in Nene Park with binoculars in hand and a cycle nearby as transport. He also loved to paint, he would also try his hand at crafts, but if you wanted anything made it was surprising what came out of the garage extension/shed.
Due to Bob’s carpentry skill he could produce props and individual bits for stage shows, I remember him telling me of the time he produced a working radio station for Westwood Musical Society’s production of “South Pacific”. The producer Colin Wise wanted something that looked like the real thing with lights dials slider switches head phones the lot, my thoughts were where do I find one of those in Peterborough? Colin said just ask Bob he can make one up in the shed and sure enough one was made complete with maps the lot. It was absolutely fantastic the cast and critics loved it and so did Colin the show’s producer.
Colin’s relationship of asking for handmade props had started many years earlier with the Peterborough Gang Show. One creation that his daughter Susan will never forget is the request from Colin for a group of Dalek’s for a Cub Gang Show number. Susan said “I remember Dad making these horrible creations for the Cub Gang Show and we all thought that they will be gone as soon as the show starts and it won’t be too scary going into the shed. Little did we know that one would take pride of place in the shed for many years after the show” she also added “Dad’s other pride of creations from the shed was his canoe’s, these still get regular use on to the rivers around Peterborough”
An Email which I received this week read “Rusty, I was sorry to hear about Bob Taylor. Although I did not know him very well I did meet him briefly on a couple of occasions he struck me as a warm passionate man who is a credit to Scouting. I am aware of the immense contribution he made to Peterborough Scouting over the years. Kind regards Chris Ward”
The final tribute to Bob comes from Jeremy Alexander the former Cambridgeshire County Commissioner, to many Scouters out there they will know him as Alex. Alex said in a letter to the family “we all owe a lot to Bob, it was his style of leadership that struck me as his greatest asset. If he took on a role you often found when he stood down from it you needed three or more people to fill the role to the same amount of commitment as Bob had” he also added “there are hundreds if not thousands of Young People in Scouting who are better citizens in our world because of the values and skills Bob shared with them.”
:By David Robinson (Rusty)
Robert Kenneth Taylor better known as Bob Taylor has left for Camp for the last time as he passed away on Friday 25th of June 2010.
BOB TAYLOR’S SCOUTING HIGHLIGHTS
Joined the movement on 21st of May 1964 as an Assistant Leader in Bexleyheath
19th November 1965 took on the Role of Scout Leader with Bexleyheath
1st August 1968 renewed his Scout Promise with the 3rd St.Pauls, Peterborough
8th Jan 1975 Appointed District Commissioner
Head co-ordinator for Moot/Splash County Camps held in Nene Park
August 1990 Ran the Activities Team at the inaugural county international jamboree
23rd April 1996 awarded the Silver Acorn in the Peterborough Cathedral
April 2003 awarded a 40 years long service certificate.
April 2005 Awarded Bar to the Silver Acorn
