Robert Saunderson Morrow (29 Oct 1917 - 22 Oct 2015)

In loving memory of Robert Saunderson Morrow who sadly passed away on 22nd October 2015, aged 97 years.

Bob, as he was invariably called, was born in Co. Cavan in Ireland, on 29th October 1917. As this was before the Partition of Ireland, he was, and chose always to remain, a British Citizen, but he never lost the lilting Irish accent typical of his birthplace. He studied at Trinity College, Dublin, and also gained a diploma in teaching, which became his main career. It is 77 years since he met Dorothy, whom he married in 1944. After some months of married life in Ireland they came to England, and in due course arrived in Nottingham, which became their permanent home. Their son, born in 1947, was also named Robert but usually then called Tony after his second name.

In the early 1950s Bob joined the Royal Air Force on a short service commission, as a Flying Officer, and in due course was promoted to Flight Lieutenant, a rank he was proud to retain after his service finished and he returned to teaching. More detail on his subsequent career will appear in due course, but he retired in 1977, and subsequently enjoyed a retirement which was probably longer than his working life! He spent much of that time tinkering with the cars he loved so much, and was in fact a very accomplished mechanic: not many amateurs could boast that they have successfully installed a complete wiring loom in an 'S' Bentley, although it must be admitted that it did not work absolutely perfectly first time, when turning the ignition key blew the horn, and using the horn worked the windscreen wipers . . . switching a couple of wires restored proper functionality, however, and all was well.

Bob read avidly, and collected an incredible quantity of books on the widest possible range of topics - he was almost incapable of not buying a book, and as well as a large library of books on his genuine hobbies, such as photography and English literature, he also had a surprising number on, for example, golf, a game which, so far as is known, he never played or even watched in his life.

He was a very keen Freemason, having been Initiated in Ireland, in accordance with a long-standing family tradition, at the age of 21. In due course he joined a number of the major Orders of Freemasonry in England, and served in the Chair of all of them, subsequently gaining promotion to Provincial or Grand Rank in most. He was a very good ritualist, and took pride in "getting the words right", but was also extremely knowledgeable about the history and development of the Craft, and although he loved talking about these it is a pity that he committed very few of his insights to paper. For a number of years he edited the Provincial Yearbook for Nottinghamshire, and was rightly credited with improving its scope and accuracy beyond measure.

On the whole Bob enjoyed excellent health, though he was always generous in sharing heavy colds with the rest of the family. He spent the last year of his life, quietly contented, in Peacemills Residential Home, where he was very well looked after by the friendly and dedicated staff. He died in the Qeen's Medical Centre after a very short illness.