Robert (Bob) Miller 20th August 1929 – 27th April 2023 Bob was many things to the very many people who had the privilege of knowing him. He was a son, brother, husband, father and father-in-law, grand-father, godfather, colleague and not least, a friend. Although known to many as Bob, Robert Arthur Miller, to give him his full name, was born in Romford, Essex, on 20th August 1929, to George and Kit and was the younger of two sons. Bob’s elder brother, George predeceased him. Bob spent his childhood in Ilford. As a teenager he joined the local scout troop, enjoying the comradeship that this gave him. Through attending scouts, Bob came to discover the faith which sustained him for the rest of his life. He worshipped at St Alban’s Church, where he was confirmed in June 1943. He made several close friends there, who continued to feature throughout his life. Indeed, his Sunday school teacher Marjorie, later became his daughter Christine’s godmother. Bob left school at the age of 14, and started an apprenticeship with Plessey, an electronics company. Due to it still being wartime, this often necessitated his working day taking place in the relative safety of an underground station! Off his own bat, Bob attended additional evening classes at South-East Essex Technical College, to further increase his knowledge and qualifications.A testimonial written by one of his teachers there, described Bob aged 16 as a ‘trustworthy and straightforward boy’ and ‘a plodder rather than a brilliant student’. Well, Bob’s ‘plodding’ eventually enabled him to qualify as a Chartered Electrical Engineer, later becoming a Fellow of the Institution of Electrical Engineers, and he was entitled to use both the initials C.Eng and F.I.E.E. after his name. Collaborating with close colleague, Phillip Riley, many of Bob’s detailed designs for precision motor improvements were patented. His diligence and hard work were rewarded with his progression to a senior role at Plessey, answerable only to the managing director. Always loyal, Bob worked at the same company for more than 40 years, leaving only for his two years National Service with the RAF, a time he always spoke of with fondness, and where he first learned to eat kippers with marmalade! Bob’s RAF discharge papers detailed his service conduct as ‘exemplary’ and his abilities and personal qualities as ‘exceptional’, remarking that he was ‘a definite asset to the service’ Although interviewed for a commission in the RAF, Bob opted to return to civilian life and pursue his studies. In 1955, Bob moved with his parents from Ilford to Hadleigh and found, in St Margaret’s Leigh-on-Sea, a church where he could express his faith. He soon became an altar server and not long afterwards took over as sacristan, when his predecessor retired from the post after many years. Bob had a tricky role to fill to bring his own ways to a regime that probably hadn’t changed since the current church building had been completed and dedicated in 1931. Bob achieved this with his quiet, and firm, calmness. It was at St Margaret’s that Bob met Valerie, when both were taking part in an amateur dramatic production put on by the church. Apparently, Valerie wasn't sure if she liked Bob when they first met, as she thought he was 'snooty'. However, Valerie obviously changed her mind, as in 1957 they were engaged, and married at St. Margaret’s Church on 10th May 1958. Sadly, Bob died just 13 days short of what would have been their 65th wedding anniversary. Bob and Valerie started their married life at 30 Scarborough Drive, Leigh-on-Sea, with Bob selling his beloved “split-screen” Morris Minor convertible, in order to pay the house deposit. They had their daughter, Christine, in 1960 followed by their sons, Andrew in 1961 and Stephen in 1963. The family later moved the short distance to 76 Flemming Avenue, to live with Valerie’s parents in the house that her father had built. In 1973, Plessey moved location from Ilford to Titchfield, Hampshire, so Bob and his family moved down to Fareham. As well as moving Valerie and his three children, Bob also moved his mother-in-law (who continued to live with them) and settled his own mother in a flat in nearby Lee-on-Solent where she could be close. Bob and his family found a spiritual home at St Peter and St Paul’s Church, where he devoted much of his time in various roles in support of the church, including being an altar server, a long-standing member of the PCC, a churchwarden and most recently, as the church treasurer. In 1985, at the age of 56, Bob retired from his role as Defence and Communications engineer for Plessey. The timing was not his choice, but in retrospect, his early retirement probably played a major part in ensuring that he then lived a long and comfortable life, away from the stress of meetings and deadlines. Even in retirement, however, Bob kept very busy. In the following years, he volunteered at S.H.E.D. - South Hants Employment Development, a church-led project supporting people to start new businesses. As Chairman of Trustees, Bob also played a major part in the foundation and running of the William Price Charitable Trust in Fareham, distributing grants to schools and colleges. Bob and Valerie were also able to spend time visiting many countries together, including the USA, New Zealand and Australia, as well as a memorable, and a most fondly remembered, “golden wedding anniversary river cruise” down the Rhine. Bob’s working life in aerospace engineering saw him travel the world, taking many overseas trips including to the USA, Russia, China, India and much of Europe. He worked on systems for Concorde and the Harrier jump jet, as well as for various other military aircraft. This gave him an apparently inexhaustible supply of interesting and amusing anecdotes and adventures, with which he continued to amuse others right up until his death. Bob was devoted to his wife, Valerie, and his family. Although his three children, and five grandchildren, are geographically spread widely, and were not able to visit as often as they might have liked, Bob remained invested in their happiness and very proud of all their achievements. When contacting family and friends to inform them of Bob’s death, the word most used by those receiving the news was ‘kind’. How kind Bob had been to them, how much he had helped them, either practically, or with useful advice and guidance, and how quick he was to offer his help and support. Bob could always be relied upon to do the right thing. Valerie’s cousin, Hilary, recalled the time in the summer of 1965 when Bob heard a young child continuously crying. The crying child was apparently Jeremy, his children’s second cousin, who lived just around the corner. As Jeremy’s ‘obviously heartless’ parents were ignoring him, Bob went to investigate. He found the 3-year-old had fallen from a step ladder onto a concrete path and “hurt his arm”. Bob thought it was more serious than his parents did, and suggested hospital was the place to go. He took charge and drove them in his car to Southend Hospital, where it was indeed confirmed that Jeremy had a broken arm! When Australian naval couple Phil and Bron, and their small daughter, moved in over the road, and a long way from their own family, Bob and Valerie played a major part in their lives. In Phil’s own words ‘you ‘adopted us’ when we arrived in Kiln Road. We are indebted to you for your friendship. We remember fondly the meals we shared with the Miller family; the banter come Test [match] time. In particular, we remember Bob’s acerbic wit and wicked sense of humour which always came to the fore. Phil concluded his email to the family with the following words, with which I’m sure we would all agree: The world is a sadder place for Bob’s passing, but all the better for his having been here.

Thank you for setting up this memorial to Robert. We hope that you find it a positive experience developing the site and that it becomes a place of comfort and inspiration for you to visit whenever you want or need to.

I am I and you are you, whatever we were to each other that we still are. Speak to me in the easy way which you always used. Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight? Life means all that it ever meant, it is the same as it ever was.