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Railway & Modelling Obituaries

Bob Symes


Giles

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I'm sorry to say that Bob Symes died this morning, after a short battle with cancer.

 

If one was trying to define what he would be remembered for - it would be hard to know where to start. Railways, Guage 1, 10 1/4", 'Tomorrow's World' etc.....

 

And a Gentleman.....

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I'm sorry to say that Bob Symes died this morning, after a short battle with cancer.

 

If one was trying to define what he would be remembered for - it would be hard to know where to start. Railways, Guage 1, 10 1/4", 'Tomorrow's World' etc.....

 

And a Gentleman.....

Hi,

This is very sad news indeed.

Truly one of the Greats of the hobby,

A Gentleman indeed and one who could inspire and teach through his experience in our hobby.

The hobby will be all the poorer for his passing.

 

Rest in peace Bob, we owe you much.

Regards

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RIP Bob.

 

I remember some of his programmes from my youth, and also was a bit surprised to hear he was still with us. 90 is a good old age to reach though.

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As well known in Germany as in the UK for his films.

AS my in laws are Saxon/Tyrolean I always found his German easy to follow.

He could be rather over the top at times but was always entertaining.

A few years ago I read his correspondence with BR over his abortive attempt to reopen the Waverley Route.

A fascinating character and always totally committed to promoting railways.

They don't make 'em like that any more.

RIP

Bernard

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I was only thinking of him on Saturday as he used to present prizes at the Guidford exhibition at its previous venue.

The only time I met him was when I was exhibiting at one of those. I used to tell people that my layout wasn't finished, but no one believed me. When he was presenting the prizes, he commented on how beautifully it ran, and how it would be a very nice layout when it was finished!

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Met him a few times at the Manchester exhibitions. I forget which place it was, Corn Exchange or the venue that followed, but he smoked and stunk the place out with a real working diesel loco one Saturday afternoon. He was a real character even amongst characters! . R I P.

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RIP Bob

 

Like many railway modellers of a certain age group I remember Bob from the BBC’s Tomorrow’s World and his own programmes he presented: Model World dedicated to the hobby of modelling, also on the BBC in the mid 1970s. He also presented a series called Making Tracks in the 1990s. Making Tracks was a series dedicated to little-known lines and networks worldwide, and which specialised in steam operations.

 

I was lucky enough to have met Bob on a number of occasions firstly in my short trouser days admiring his large radio controlled railway models at a model railway show in Beaconsfield and lastly at the January 2011 Astolat show in Guildford. Bob was judging the competition for the best visiting layout in show and spent many minutes looking, very much at eye level, at Fisherton Sarum and no one was more surprised than me when he later announced the layout as best in show. I have just raised a beer in his memory in the engraved glass tankard that I received to commemorate the award.

 

RIP Bob Symes, the model railway layouts in the great upstairs have just gained another operator.

 

From my blog at http://grahammuz.com/2015/01/19/rip-bob-symes-1924-2015/

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I was only thinking of him on Saturday as he used to present prizes at the Guidford exhibition at its previous venue.

 

Yes, Bob presented a prize to my friend Warren and myself for our Weymouth Quay layout at an Astolat model railway exhibition in the 70s...... 

 

We used to have club working parties to his garden railway which was in Guildford in those days. 

 

R.I. P. Bob.

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