Bob Clay.

[Gramaisc]

Sadly, I have become aware that Bob has died. He will be much missed here, I'm sure.

 

[PeterD]

Wow. He told us he was ill. To paraphrase Spike Milligan. Sad news, if his friends and family happen on here, sincerest condolences to you.

 

[proactive]

That's very sad news. He'd obviously had a great life though and I expect would rather people raise a glass than do wailing and gnashing of teeth.

RIP Bob.

 

[joshua]

RIP Bob, a true gent with a great breadth of knowledge and experience, he will be up there in valhalla bringing humour and wisdom to all

 

[Lucy]

Oh that's really sad, he was great fun.

 

[littleme]

Very sad news. Cheers @BobClay

 

[SketchyMagpie]

I didn't know him long or very well but he seemed like a good egg. Sad news indeed.

 

[Cirrus]

RIP Bob, always enjoyed his exploits and stories.

 

[The Hawk]

Sad news, his knowledge and humour will be sorely missed.

 

[Gramaisc]

I first came across him in the mid-1970s, he was still "on the ships" then and would reappear every few months, entertaining/terrorising the occupants of The Gate and The Prince of Wales for a couple of weeks. It was one of these visits, probably in the winter of 1975/6, which led to him being known to us as The Norwegian. In fact, I never knew, or even considered, his real name until a few years ago, when I spotted him on one of the Stafford Past pages.

He, unsurprisingly, had no memory of the actual event itself, but, for many years after, people would be alerted to his next return by "The Norwegian is back!".

The incident occurred when a poor, innocent, unsuspecting lorry driver was having a quiet pint in the corner of The Prince, prior to returning to his cab for the night. It being winter, he had a woolly hat on. Bob, having limbered up in The Gate, burst in, grabbed his hat and put it on, going round the whole pub, demanding to be told that he looked like a Norwegian.

 

[Glam]

Will be very much missed. RIP @BobClay xx

 

[staffordjas]

Such sad news . He sure will be very much missed. RIP @BobClay xx Condolences to his family and friends.

 

[Trumpet]

Oh no. So sad to hear that. Will miss his presence on here. RIP Bob.

 

[SketchyMagpie]

Do you know what year/decade that photo was taken, @Gramaisc?

 

[Gramaisc]

Do you know what year/decade that photo was taken, @Gramaisc?

It was 1984 - an iceberg off Greenland.

What could possibly go wrong?

 

[Studio Tan]

Very sad. I suppose we all suspected things weren’t good when his contributions on the Forum began to dwindle. He will be missed. Condolences to any family members who might see this thread. RIP Bob.

 

[Noah]

Someone who will be very much missed on the Forum & elsewhere. Knowledgeable & amusing, I wish I had met him.

 

[Gadget]

I'm heartbroken. He was brilliant and I was so willing him to get better. He will be greatly missed. Foil companies will now go out of business as demand suddenly drops. Rest in Peace Bob.

 

[Boatbuilder]

So very sad. RIP Bob, will miss your nautical stories x

 

[lochdhu]