Author Topic: Rob Wilson  (Read 3559 times)

Offline vtsteam

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Rob Wilson
« on: October 23, 2019, 02:29:51 PM »
I'm very sad to report that Rob Wilson passed away last August. I wanted to at least take notice of his passing here, where he once posted and was moderator. I didn't learn of this until this week.

Though I never met him personally, I was helped and encouraged  greatly by him, both here on the forum, and privately via occasional emails. I was in awe of his abilities, skill, and knowledge ... a superb craftsman -- he was an artist, really.

It's sad that we can no longer see his amazing work in photos on this, or other fora, but a return to anonymity was his wish in the last few years, and one I respect, though I wish it was otherwise. It was good to have known him and to have been able to appreciate his work and enthusiasm for engineering when it was seen.

My deepest sympathies go out to his family and friends. He is missed by many more than may be realized. I miss him, for sure.
I love it when a Plan B comes together!
Steve
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Offline AdeV

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Re: Rob Wilson
« Reply #1 on: October 23, 2019, 02:36:34 PM »
Ah, jeez, that's really sad news. One of the nicest chaps I've met in real life, he was a proper gentleman. He'll be missed for sure. If anyone is in touch with his family, please pass on my sincere and heartfelt condolences to them.
Cheers!
Ade.
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Location: Wallasey, Merseyside. A long way from anywhere.
Occasionally: Zhengzhou, China. An even longer way from anywhere...

Online philf

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Re: Rob Wilson
« Reply #2 on: October 23, 2019, 03:11:49 PM »
I'm absolutely gutted to hear that Rob's passed away.

I visited him at his home in the NE a few years ago and was amazed how many machine tools he managed to fit in his 'Tardis' garage.

I swapped a microscope and a few bits and pieces for a small CNC lathe which has sat idle in my garage ever since.

As well as the lathe in the back of my car I came home with about a hundredweight of stainless bar and a big lump of fork lift fork. Rob made a lot of stuff out of old forks!

He was a very skilled machinist and an amazing engineer.

RIP Rob!
Phil Fern
Location: Marple, Cheshire

Offline vintageandclassicrepairs

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Re: Rob Wilson
« Reply #3 on: October 23, 2019, 03:37:33 PM »
Hi All,
I always enjoyed Robs post's

May he Rest in Peace

John

Offline John Rudd

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Re: Rob Wilson
« Reply #4 on: October 23, 2019, 03:38:39 PM »
Gents,

I learned from another forum member of Rob's passing.

I did not feel it was my right to pass on the information.

To add to my guilt for not  letting you all know, I spoke to Rob only hours before his demise.

Like a few, I visited him, he lived a few miles from where I moved to.

I was absolutely stunned when I read the pm sent to me...

I was also disappointed at not being able to attend his funeral..
.There was very little in publicity about it...
Should this had been his/familiy's wish, then I respect that.


Rob, I wish you well where ever you are.
A true artisan if ever I had the pleasure lf meeting you.........😢
eccentric millionaire financed by 'er indoors
Location:  Backworth Newcastle

Skype: chippiejnr

Offline Stilldrillin

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Re: Rob Wilson
« Reply #5 on: October 23, 2019, 04:42:34 PM »
I met Rob, a couple of times, only. At Harrogate shows.

I asked, if he could cast me a pair of flywheels?

The following year. He showed up with four pairs!! In brass and aluminium.
 And, wouldn't take payment.....

We have lost a talented Engineer/ friend.

Rest in peace Rob.

David.

Still drilling holes... Sometimes, in the right place!

Still modifying bits of metal... Occasionally, making an improvement!

Offline tom osselton

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Re: Rob Wilson
« Reply #6 on: October 23, 2019, 05:07:06 PM »
Sad to hear I was wondering about Rob a while ago.

Offline Joules

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Re: Rob Wilson
« Reply #7 on: October 23, 2019, 07:14:57 PM »
A very sad loss, Rob was an inspiration to me and someone I looked upto.  I consider myself very fortunate to have called Rob a friend and spent time with him here in my workshop on a number of occasions.  We had only been discussing his new ventures the week before his passing.   As John said, I didn’t feel it right to pass on the news as Rob valued his privacy.
Honour your mentors, and pay it forward.

Offline krv3000

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Re: Rob Wilson
« Reply #8 on: October 24, 2019, 07:37:20 PM »
hi all well I new of Rob's passing but his family wonted a privet event that bin sed if it was not for rob Wilson I wood have not met john mick and peter and led me to this forum a very talented man that will be mist   

Offline howsitwork?

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Re: Rob Wilson
« Reply #9 on: October 25, 2019, 05:17:08 PM »
a sad loss his words of advice will be missed.

Ian

Offline hermetic

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Re: Rob Wilson
« Reply #10 on: October 25, 2019, 05:28:28 PM »
Terribly sad, we chatted on here quite a lot, and I followed his brilliant forge build series, which kicked it all off really. as others have said, the man was a genius, his builds were beautiful to behold, I will miss him, as I am sure we all will. My condolences to his family
Phil
East Yorks
UK
Man who says it cannot be done should not disturb man doing it! https://www.youtube.com/user/philhermetic/videos?

Offline S. Heslop

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Re: Rob Wilson
« Reply #11 on: October 29, 2019, 07:21:51 AM »
That's awful news. He was an astonishingly kind person who'd go out of his way to help people.

Offline RotarySMP

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Re: Rob Wilson
« Reply #12 on: October 29, 2019, 08:07:14 AM »
His workmanship was a beacon for all, his presence in this virtual community will be sadly missed.
Mark
Best regards, Meilleures salutations, Mit freundlichen Grüßen, Cu salutari
Mark
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Offline timby

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Re: Rob Wilson
« Reply #13 on: October 29, 2019, 08:11:03 AM »
What name did he go under here?   I can't see any posts from Rob Wilson. 

Offline John Rudd

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Re: Rob Wilson
« Reply #14 on: October 29, 2019, 09:03:47 AM »
eccentric millionaire financed by 'er indoors
Location:  Backworth Newcastle

Skype: chippiejnr

Offline awemawson

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Re: Rob Wilson
« Reply #15 on: October 29, 2019, 10:20:55 AM »
At one stage iirc he deleted all his posts.
Andrew Mawson
East Sussex

Offline millwright

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Re: Rob Wilson
« Reply #16 on: October 29, 2019, 03:02:06 PM »
Met Rob at the  Harrogate show, along with several others on here . A nice unassuming bloke, always followed his projects. a loss to this forum. condolences to Robs family.

John

Offline doubleboost

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Re: Rob Wilson
« Reply #17 on: November 02, 2019, 05:36:52 PM »
I also found out very early about Robs Death.
I did attend his funeral with Mick.
The Humanist service was very well attended.
Sadly Rob and Myself seemed to somehow loose contact with each other.
I will always remember him as a very talented Engineer , Pattern maker.
Welder , Machinist. The list goes on.
Sadly all of his work has been deleted from the forums.
I still have and use many tools that were given to me by Rob.
He made the fly wheel for my marine steam engine.
Willingly instructed Me in the art of sand casting.
I well remember taking Him in to a disused lead mine .
He carried a ore sample the size of your head about 2 miles underground.
Without doubt the world is a sadder place for his passing.   

Offline NeoTech

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Re: Rob Wilson
« Reply #18 on: January 09, 2020, 06:13:37 AM »
This hit me hard.. i lost contact with Rob over time and he went offline more and more. And i thought about him today and wanted to reach out to see how he was and what he has been up to...

Never met the man but spent hours on hours talking to him about the hold Aciera machine i had and got help both with tooling and research on restoring it..

No idea how old he got to be or what ailments he suffered, but will remember him for the rest of my life as this energetic tinkerer with a great mind and knowledge of his craft..
Machinery: Optimum D320x920, Optimum BF20L, Aciera F3. -- I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work. http://www.roughedge.se/blogg/