Guest Jack Benson Posted July 11, 2020 Share Posted July 11, 2020 (edited) Dave Sapp just rang with the sad news that we have lost Bob Aldermann. Bob was a good friend to so many folk, a stalwart of the Yeovil Group and GOG and father/husband. First met Bob in the mid70s when the group was meeting in the attic at Coker Manor, I was just setting up home in Yeovil and Bob Was always ready to offer help and encouragement. We last saw him at the Taunton show in ‘18 with the late Bob Oaksford, since then we have been following Bob through his friends and television appearances. Still stunned, please excuse my prose. Cheers and Stay Safe Edited July 11, 2020 by Guest Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Gilbert Posted July 11, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 11, 2020 Bob was incredibly helpful to me when I started in O gauge. I will always be very grateful to him. Chris 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold john new Posted July 11, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 11, 2020 Sad news. A regular at York Model Railway Show over the years and excellent modeller. RIP Bob. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Barry O Posted July 11, 2020 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 11, 2020 Sad news indeed Baz 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arun Sharma Posted July 11, 2020 Share Posted July 11, 2020 Excellent model maker as well as past chairman of the Gauge 0 Guild technical committee. His G0G Gazette articles on basic chassis assembly, Slater's wheelset preparation and many other topics beginners were afraid to ask about , were models of clarity. More recently, I was involved in designing elements of his planned GT3 model - notwithstanding the dreadful chronic illness that he suffered from and which finally took him from us. RIP Bob. 2 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam Posted July 11, 2020 Share Posted July 11, 2020 (edited) I've known Bob my whole life, as a friend of dad and, later, as a fellow modeller. Originally from Northamptonshire he moved to Montacute to join Westland Helicopters in Yeovil in the '70s and was among other things a supporter of the Yeovil branch of the Monster Raving Loony Party (genuinely true!). He was prolific in EM and later in O gauge and was responsible for the design and construction of much of South Junction in EM and later Gasworks and most recently The Summit in O. Always an innovator, he dabbled with etched brass in the '70s (including the 'Yeovil Coupling', an etched version of the Jackson), and despite the cruel advance of Motor Neuron Disease in the last few years continued modelling in person and by proxy as therapy. We shared a love of industrial railways and St Teilo, seen below, is one of his, passed on to me when he finally abandoned EM. His last published work can be found on the YMRG website: https://yeovilmrg.org/modelling-wisdom/. The club have published a brief obit here: https://yeovilmrg.org/ He'd probably see his most lasting testimony as his involvement with Tornado along with fellow Westland engineer and YMRG member, Dave Elliot. A kind and decent man, always ready with thoughts and a compliment, he'll be much missed. My thoughts and yours, I hope, will be with Sheila and his family. Adam Edited July 11, 2020 by Adam 3 8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold mudmagnet Posted July 12, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 12, 2020 Very sad news. I'd known Bob for several years, first meeting at the Yeovil club when in the roof rooms of an old mansion. Then frequently meeting and chatting at various exhibitions. Even in his poor health and limited mobility in recent years, he was always gracious, friendly and wanting to chat. Sadly missed. RIP Bob 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidbr Posted July 12, 2020 Share Posted July 12, 2020 Bob was a veritable mine of information when it came to model making. I knew him as a long-standing and excellent tutor at Missenden Abbey where he helped many, many modellers not just in 7mm but other gauges as well. If there was question to do with metal, anything, then Bob was the go-to person. I learned a lot from him for which I shall be eternally grateful. He will be missed very much as a tutor, modeller, friend and all-round good chap. This is a picture of his railbus which he brought along one weekend. 6 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cjlangdon Posted July 12, 2020 Share Posted July 12, 2020 Very sad news. When Martin Brent was head tutor at Missenden Abbey in 1996, Bob was one of the three original tutors. He was a great person to be with and an excellent tutor right up to the time when his illness stopped him coming to the Abbey. Suffering as he did, I would say he was one of the bravest people I knew because of the way he continued his modelling life despite the horrible effects of his illness. I remember seeing him recently on TV and thinking what a remarkable man Bob was. He will be sadly missed and I am sure fondly remembered. 3 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kempenfelt Posted July 15, 2020 Share Posted July 15, 2020 (edited) Very sad news. Like many others, Bob was a massive influence to me in my younger years, had so much enthusiasm for our hobby and was full of encouragement. I'll be forever grateful for his help and support. Adam's summed up Bob's achievements brilliantly, he was so proud of Tornado. RIP Bob Edited July 15, 2020 by Kempenfelt 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigMal Posted July 20, 2020 Share Posted July 20, 2020 A regular at York where I met up with him on many occasions. Always helpful and enthusiastic. Was saddened when he told me a couple of year's ago about his illness and that he would not be able to return to York again. RIP Bob 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turin 60 Posted July 21, 2020 Share Posted July 21, 2020 I got to know Bob when I got started in O gauge some years and it was always a pleasure to bump into Bob and hear about his latest project, particularly when his interest moved onto the Light Railways of Colonel Stephens. I will miss seeing him around, cheer Bob. John Bruce. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Platt Posted March 7, 2021 Share Posted March 7, 2021 Just caught up with this sad news; we have lost a lovely guy. I met Bob when I joined the Missenden group shortly after taking up the hobby. His friendly, welcoming and helpful attitude towards a beginner confirmed I had chosen a worthwhile interest. An enforced break of six years whilst switching to a 12"/ft scale restoration has kept me away from the hobby until lockdown brought me back. So much has changed, so many past chums and their skills are lost to us in such a short time. Nick Platt 2 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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