Robert Charles Henstock (1 Aug 1954 - 25 Jul 2016)

May I first apologize for the lateness of this message. Due to my ancientness I had to contact Canada to check if Bob and I may have served together, and then was away a couple of days. It transpires that Bob and I did not meet during my time in the service, but I would like to join with those who knew him, and say that my sympathy and prayers are with you all at this sad time. I have no doubt that Bob will be watching over you in the years to come, and I hope that you find some comfort from that.
David Moss, Ex UKMAMS (1972-1977)

I have only happy teenage memories of my best friend's lovely boyfriend and husband to be. He was a lovely guy and was always so thoughtful and kind to me. So sad he is gone but he is at peace now. Thoughts with Maria and her girls plus Bob's sister mass has been offered up for him God Bless Angela xxx love the lovely photographs

Happy memories of Bob from my times with him at Brize Norton in the '80s. The Brighton trip of 1985 will always be a highlight!
My thoughts and prayers are with his family. Rest in peace old mate.

Fond memories of Bob. I first met Bob in 1980 as a young LAC on vehicle checkers at Brize Norton. I seem to recall he had been posted from Belize with his tapes. He had a no nonsense laid back approach even back then. Memories of him back then, he always wore a combat jacket with his blues and came to work carrying a brief case; quite why I do not know; probably somewhere to keep his packed lunch. Although it is well documented his love of knives the one thing that sticks out in my mind is that he had brought an air pistol in with a laser sight. We had great fun trying to shoot the pigeons in the hangar.
Sincerely condolences to his family, gone but not forgotten. RIP Bob

It’s difficult to know where to start I have so many very fond memories of Bob. Yes Mr. Kearney I agree we all remember the day we met Mr. Henstock. Bob had so many qualities and I don’t know which I loved the most. Kind, caring, helpful nothing too much trouble and a true gentleman. However after not too long I realised we both had the same quirky, quick and yes slightly warped sense of humour. I saw you Bill with Bob both coming in and out of the office at Videcom but it wasn’t until Bob joined Videcom I was introduced to him and he said “lovely to meet you Ma’am”. I looked over my shoulder to see if he was talking to someone else but he wasn’t. I said “my names Jan” Bob replied “yes Ma’am!” That’s where it started! He knew I hated being called Ma’am!! I recognised that look in his eyes!! – Got you!!

I was privileged to work with Bob on site many times and he took the best care of me he was my minder! So many stories!

I was not looking forward to Libya but my two trips there were unforgettable thanks to Bob. He took over the kitchen in the small guest house and cooked my breakfast – eggs on toast. Not sure if he smiled or grimaced when I dug my nails into his arm on the trip to and from the airport – our driver made 2 lanes into 3 and sometimes 4. Bob was cool as a cucumber.

Which, reminds me of Ghana, Bill and you got me on my knees dismantling old equipment and installing new under dirty desks I ruined my jeans much to your amusement. At 3am we went out for a cigarette and a car pulled up with five very large guys and five very large guns pointing out of the windows. I found out adrenalin was brown and you Bob didn’t bat an eye lid! My minder.-

I won’t forgive you for changing the settings on my phone – Bob that is our joke – but you caused me heart failure making me jump putting it on vibrate and loud!! Then folding your arms and shaking your head when I used expletives. Of course I forgive you xx

Mr. Henstock so much more to say about you but you’ve upped ranks and are now a guardian angle as you were on earth but now got you’ve got your wings. Bless you and rest in peace my loyal friend. Always In my heart and will never forget you.

Thank you Maria, Ciara, Mickey for letting me be with with Bob in the last hours I will treasure that always. jan xxx

I first came across Bob at Brize in the late 70's and our paths crossed now and then in the following years. He was my self appointed carer at my leaving do for Hong Kong in '78. It was held in The Three Horseshoes in Witney and at sometime during the evening there must have been a timewarp as I woke up in my pit back at Brize the next morning. Apparently Bob took it on himself to "load" me into the back of a vehicle and escort me home. When I enquired why my left shoulder seemed to be bruised and painful I was told that it was the way Bob had felt the need to treat me as a bag of mail and throw me into the "hold". I seem to remember every time we met after that I had to show him it was still different to the other shoulder.
Bob was a great guy to know and has gone too soon. Rest in Peace my friend.
My deepest condolences to Ciara, Jenny, Michaela and Family

I first worked with Bob when he came onto A shift at Brize in about 1984/5 and then till I left in 1987. As one of my first mentors he was a great inspiration to me and always it brings a smile to my face when I think of him. He was a great team leader who had the balance of professionalism and fun just right. We had many quiet night shifts learning how to throw knives and how to sharpen them properly. I don't ever recall Bob shouting or losing his temper with any of the lads, and we could be trying at times. He always had time to explain and show you the easiest way, he was a true gent.

Bob was also kind enough to take me clay shooting with him on Sunday mornings, something I always looked forward too. I was never convinced the other club members approved of us in our camouflage smocks, combat boots and pump action guns as opposed to Barbour Jackets, Hunter Wellies and a Purdies. Bob just told me not to worry and just keep hitting the clays.

The times I spent with Bob, YO Yo Downes, Tony Searle and all the other guys on A shift were some of the happiest in the RAF. Bob was a massive part of that. Although we did not work together again directly he remained a friend and mentor to me and was always happy to give sound advice whenever I needed it throughout the rest of my career.

Bob was one of the best and will be sorely missed.

My thoughts are with you all at this most difficult of times.

Gary Ferguson

SAC A Shift RAF Brize Norton 1984-87

Retired Flt Sgt UKMAMS 2007

My condolences at this difficult time. You are in our prayers. I first met Bob when we shared a room at Brize Norton (the old BB 549) in the early 1970's. He was as nice a bloke as you could wish to meet. He used to worry me a bit when he was practicing with his nunchaku. He was pretty good, but I remember once he let go of the thing and it whipped across the room causing some concern as it demolished the door to the ablutions!! The "Sleeping off nights, do not disturb" sign, pinned to the room door with throwing stars, was ignored at your own peril. I also did a det to Waddington with him and a short spell together at Aldergrove. Our paths crossed a few times over the period of our careers in the movements world and he was always friendly and helpful. During my time at SMT I also had the experience of the house near Netheravon. I was totally clueless about IT and Bob patiently explained to me how he thought the future of the systems should evolve. All was going well until Bob decided a whiskey was in order. Things deteriorated quite quickly from that moment and I remember Bob drawing animatedly on a flip chart, talking loudly about how his idea was going to work, and then suddenly going quite and falling over on the kitchen floor!! Thanks for the memories Bob, most of us who have spent any time in the movements trade will have a story to tell. You were one of a kind Bob, and you'll be missed. Rest in peace with the Lord.

Martyn T

I first met Banzai Bob when I was posted to the Systems Management Team at Andover in Jun 2000. I also met Big Bill Kearney at the same time and both very quickly became my firm friends. They shared a house as the Mess was full and tales of their evenings spent fiddling with various computers or printers or programmes, or all 3, accompanied by a glass or 2 of something medicinal soon became legendary. We had a great section outing to their pad but I only remember the first part as there was an extraordinary amount of booze.
What I remember most about Bob (apart from his big knife) was that he was approachable although somewhat daunting on first sight, helpful to a fault and as friendly a bloke as you will ever meet. He knew his stuff inside out and back to front - the story of him and me installing Blue Screens at Lyneham is for another time - and he was always jolly. The fact that he managed to get away with calling Andy Hawker "chef" rather than Boss, Sir or whatever is testament to how highly he was regarded by all.
I sadly will be unable to attend on Friday, but my thoughts are with you all at this sad time.
Langers

My deepest condolences at you loss. I first met Bob when he joined the motley crew at CAC HQ 1 Group at Upavon. Like most of us we never expected a posting on promotion where we would be pushing paper! On a couple of occasions I do remember his survival skills, him sharpening his knives on nightshift and of course the one exercise we had on camp where we deployed to the airmanship mess for a "scaley" free breakfast. There was Bob, me, Joe Howard and a couple of others, as we approached the end of the SHQ Bob was at the front, held out his arm holding us back and peeing around the corner to make sure it was safe! As you can imagine it was met with mixed reactions from "the bacon will be cold" to "you're really taking this serious"!
I recall a ladies guest night at the Upavon Sgts' mess and Ciara have the CMCs approval to take admin breaks as she needed as she was pregnant at the time but she held her ground.
I also remember visiting Hong Kong and the hospitality both Bob and Ciara shared taking me for a Mongolian buffet and Ciara managing to get me to every market that a bargain good be had.
In life we meet lots of people and some leave an impression on us, yes Bob would help anyone and in his best suit would climb under a car to fix it.
Bob was Bob and I am pleased I met and got to know him.

My sincere and deepest condolences at this time.

Kev

To Ciara, Jenny and Michaela.

Although Bob was not a member of our Association, he was still a Mover and as such is considered part of our family. From the worldwide membership, please accept our heartfelt condolences on your loss.

Tony Gale
Chairman
UKMAMS Old Bods Assoc.
Gatineau/Ottawa, Canada
Tel: 613-686-6698
ukmamsoba@gmail.com
http://ukmamsoba.org

A measure of the man is that all who knew Bob can remember the day they met him. Those that got to know him well knew that he often kept his thoughts to himself and just got on with the job dealt to him even when he believed it to be wasted effort. When really annoyed he was prone to quietly grind his teeth. I know no one that held a bad thought about Bob, except maybe his dentist.

I can remember when I cast eyes on Chicken Broth for the first time.

To set the scene, I was part of the Directing Staff for a large NATO exercise in Germany. My team leader was replaced at short notice with a very, very, young Pilot Officer holding with us at Gutersloh awaiting his first course. He was so wet behind the ears that he should have walked around with towel covering his shoulders. In the beginning his enthusiasm was sort of refreshing but after travelling 4 hours up to Wildenrath with his constant repeating of questions about the exercise. I was ready to open the rear doors of the minibus and help him leave.

When we arrived it was the 3 days into the 5 day exercise and as luck would have it changeover of the Immediate Reaction Force Team from ‘Active’ to ‘At Rest’. This meant bringing the ‘At Rest’ team to readiness and gave Biggles his chance to prove the worth of his patent pending checklist. A seasoned Corporal with us in tow picked his own checklist from the wall beside the ‘At Rest’ team’s door and checked that he had everything needed before entering, torch, megaphone and broomstick. Biggles was impressed with the checklist but wanted to know why the broomstick “You’ll see sir”. Into the darken room bounded Biggles only to be very slowly and carefully followed by the IRF corporal. Moving the beam of his torch around the darkened room then while standing behind Biggles he reached out at arm’s length plus broom away from the gently snoring lump. One jab of the broom was all that was required to set in motion a train of events that are burned in my memory forever and most likely still gives Biggles nightmares. A snarling wide eyed monster clad only in his underwear leapt from the bed with the speed and agility that would have impressed members of Circus de Soleil and from nowhere was in in possession of the largest knife Biggles was ever likely to see in his life. How Biggles got past the corporal and me I do not know but ringing in his ears were the corporals words, “That’s why the broomstick Sir”.

And that is how I met Henstock.

Rest in peace dear friend.