John Richard Roberts (3 Aug 1944 - 1 Sep 2022)

On 1st September, my father, John Roberts, passed away peacefully at Bradford Royal Infirmary at the age of 78. His wife, Margaret, was by his side, as were myself (his son Alan), and my wife Ygern.

Dad will be sorely missed and in addition to the above leaves behind a daughter, Julie and her husband Dean, 4 grandchildren, Melissa, Andrew, Travis and Caitlin, and a great grandson Jaxon.

Dad was born in August 1944, in Derbyshire, where his mother had been evacuated to during the second world war. He spent his childhood in both Leeds, with his parents, and Dover, with family. Many of his fondest childhood memories were of the time spent in Dover, exploring Dover Castle and the White Cliffs.

He married my mother, Margaret, in March, 1967 in Leeds. I arrived a year later in July 1968 with my sister, Julie, following in February 1970. We have no recollection of that time in England though as my parents decided to emigrate to Perth, Western Australia, in November 1971. The decision was a difficult one, leaving family and friends, in the hope of finding a different life for themselves and us kids.

Mum and dad both fell in love with Australia and lived there for nearly 40 years. Eventually the pull of family (myself and my wife had moved to the UK several years earlier) and perhaps childhood memories drew them back to the UK in 2009. They moved into a house in Sutton in Craven and entered a new phase of their lives.

They both loved the beauty of England though sometimes despaired of the weather, and my mother in particular has not been warm since returning. They made many new friends in Sutton in Craven, particularly with neighbours and through their membership of St Peter's church. They also became a big part of our lives and my daughter Caitlin has benefited greatly from knowing them and will really miss her grandad.