Robert Frost (11 Oct 1938 - 9 Oct 2022)

In loving memory of Robert Frost who sadly passed away on 9th October 2022

It all started back in the October of 1938 where Robert Reginald was the eldest child born to
Reggie and Ann Frost, and an older brother for his siblings Tony and Barbara – and how
lucky was he to have so many Barbara’s in his life!!
Born in Chelmsford, Bob spent the majority of his childhood growing up in Great Baddow,
and he made no secret that he was not a fan of school! Being left handed was challenging
for him to navigate due to his teacher being insistent that he write with his other hand. To
get his own back, he fetched some wild snakes, popped them in a jar and then put them in
his teachers’ desk when she wasn’t looking! He was around the age of 10 at the time.
Bob was born with an affinity for the outside world – he loved nature, the countryside, the
tranquillity, and animals. As a young lad he secured work as a cowman’s assistant while still
at school, getting up at 4 in the morning to work, then heading to school, then returning to
the farm afterwards before heading home in time for tea – and ever since he has always
been an early riser, seeing in hours that many of us have never witnessed!

Upon leaving education he became a full time cowman until the age of 18, where in 1956 he
joined the Royal Engineers in the Army to complete his National Service. Here he learned to
drive, and was responsible for driving armoured bulldozers and being a chauffeur for the
Colonel amongst other things, and he spent the majority of his 3 year service in Germany.
Upon being demobbed, Bob returned to tending to cattle and became a cowman at Lord
Rayleigh’s Farm in Terling for a period of time, then over the subsequent years Bob’s
working life diversified; he became a machinist at Hoffman’s – well known for being able to
operated multiple machines at one time; he then became a truck driver who delivered
boxes of boxes for Cundall, and then finally found himself join Anglian Water as a plant
operator which took him up to retirement, and thereafter worked on cleaning contracts for
the company.
But it was back in the 60’s that the winds of change were to blow when he met Helen,
whom he married in the March of 1962, resulting in him earning the proud title of Dad to
Steve and Julie.
When he and Helen parted ways some 12 years later, Bob eventually found himself joining a
Divorced and Separated club in 1978, and who should he cross paths with but Babs – one of
the first questions he asked her while dancing being; ‘You cook gal?!’ The banter between
them was strong from the off, and as time passed they bought their home in Storms Way
and eventually tied the knot in 1989. Together they made a great team, and enjoyed their
early UK holidays in their Morris Minor, to then experiencing an array of exotic holidays
abroad, as well as many fine cruises.
Through his marriage with Babs, Bob opened his heart up to her daughter Barbara and her
husband Gary, who have held a steadfast relationship with Bob ever since, as well as being
of great support – especially this last years, and particularly in recent months where Gary
moved in to care for Bob full time since April, with lots of support and help from Bob’s sister
Barbara and brother Tony and sister in-law Anne, all before Bob needed specialist care from
a wonderful home in Halstead, which is where he spent his last two weeks.
I’m told he loved the ladies there fussing over him, and the fact that Ronnie the dog was
allowed to visit, which made all the difference.

Throughout it all, Bob has certainly made the most out of life and living and had a humble
appreciation for the simplest and most natural things that the world has to offer. Even
though his children immigrated to different ends of the world, he got great joy from their
visits and from becoming a Grandad to Jack and Emma – and when distance was an issue,
Skype was wonderful at bridging the gap.

Other pleasures in life were found from being in the great outdoors; hunting was a keen
interest – he was primarily a beater on shoots in Boreham along with his dogs – and he’s
had many over the years, from Lurchers to Labs, Whippets to Spaniels, and then even a
Shih-tzu. He would spend the summer months training his hounds preparing for the winter
hunting months, and nothing gave him greater happiness than being out under the open
sky.
Local Country Fairs along with Food and Game fairs were very much enjoyed too – but when
at home eating was certainly a great love (particularly Bab’s legendary desserts!) and
slapstick comedy shows on the TV would make him chuckle – like Dad’s Army, Mrs Browns
Boys right through to quiz shows and cookery programmes.

And he wasn’t a bad cook himself – Julie can remember when she was younger that her Dad
made a squirrel casserole – yes, squirrel!! But he didn’t tell the children what was in it! He
sat with a devilish grin on his face the whole time they were eating. Following his marriage
to Babs Julie admits that the menu greatly improved, and that Bob began his own tradition,
which was taking off into the kitchen after one of Bab’s huge Sunday lunches, and there he
would make very thick pancakes that were either covered with sugar and lemon juice, or
piled high with apples. He certainly had a sweet tooth!

But other than food, there was of course there was fishing – one of his favourite pastimes –
whether it was sea, lake or river fishing, and he particularly enjoyed trout fishing. Being a
member of Highbanks Fly Fishing Club, he has enjoyed the company of many other
members, as well as family– particularly Steve, his nephew Tony, and even Babs once on a
trip to Scotland – he’d catch ‘em, she’d cook ‘em!! Although, it has been said that he never
caught much when in the company of others... quite simply because he was forever talking!
I’m sure all of you here will remember fondly Bob’s enthusiastic story telling, and he really
was a man that could talk to anyone about anything!

Bob had a natural buoyancy to his personality; he didn’t judge and took people at face
value. He had a boundless generosity of spirit and was always willing to help anyone – from
family, friends, neighbours, and even passing strangers at times.
He could be stubborn too, but mostly because he was so fiercely independent. He never
asked for help, although at the age of 82 he finally surrendered his old lawnmower in favour
of a self-powered one!

He was also audacious at times – but not quite as ballsy as he made out – one particular
memory that captures this involves his neighbour Tony, where one night, amidst the noises
of a loud party, they both walked down to the river to investigate, filling their boots with
bravado on the way... only to be met with a very large and very loud illegal rave! So instead
of confronting the 300-strong crowd, they decided to return home defeated.
Bob was strong – in mind and in body – he knew what he wanted and his constitution was
firm – a quadruple heart bypass in his 60’s and then brain surgery just this year are
testament to that!
And finally, Bob was simply a joy to be around. His dry, often sarcastic humour would always
brighten the dullest of days, and he loved to engage in hearty banter – ‘I like it when they
bite back,’ he’d say.
He was a proud, kind, honest, humble, resilient, funny and measured gentleman who held
all the connections he made in life dear.
And in the words of Bob himself: ‘All in all, a life well lived. And there you have it.’

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