John Vincent Robshaw (3 Nov 1922 - 1 Dec 2017)

John Vincent Robshaw, aged 95, of Duffield, passed away on 1st December 2017. Loving Husband of Jean, dearly loved Father of David and Shani and Grandfather of Grant, Craig and Mark.
Private cremation, followed by Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul'sChurch, Quarndon, Monday December 18th, 11.15am.
Family flowers only. Donations to RAF Benevolent Fund.

Derby Telegraph Tribute 2017-12-11
Tributes paid as well-known Derby businessman John Robshaw dies aged 95
He ran ladies fashion retailer Janene with wife Jean

Heartfelt tributes have been paid to a "kind" Derby businessman who has died aged 95.
John Robshaw, who lived in Duffield for most of his life, was well-known for his involvement in the family waste business JW Robshaw & Sons, based in Brook Street and for running ladies fashion retailer, Janene, in Sadler Gate, with his wife Jean.

Mr Robshaw, who died on December 1, leaves behind his two children, David Robshaw, and Shani, three grandsons, Grant, Craig and Mark and two great-granddaughters Evelyn and Paloma.

Mr Robshaw was well-known in Derby for running the family business JW Robshaw & Sons.
David Robshaw said his dad was a very hardworking, active and family-oriented man, who loved nothing more than the pleasure of a stimulating conversation around the dinner table.
Mr Robshaw was one of three children born to Ben and Ellen Robshaw and was educated at Ashe Hall in Etwall and Bromsgrove School in Worcestershire. His father, Ben, was also a well-known figure for being the chairman of Derby County in the late 1930s until after they won the cup in 1946. Mr Robshaw’s brother, Ted, then became a director of the club in the late 1940s.
In recognition of his family connection, he and Jean were invited to the formal opening of the new Pride Park Stadium and a number of international footballers became personal, family friends.
After leaving school, Mr Robshaw joined the family business, which was founded in 1820, with a philosophy of helping those in the city who were in need.
When he turned 18, Mr Robshaw volunteered for the Royal Air Force and was posted to south-east Asia. He was on his second tour of operations, having completed 33 operations in Burma and Malaya when the war ended. He then returned to the family business.
A short time later, he married Jean who he had known since she was 16. The pair shared a keen interest in golf and bridge and were both members of Mickleover Golf Club.

Mr Robshaw's son, David, said his father loved nothing more than the pleasure of a stimulating conversation around the dinner table.
The couple were married for over 70 years and Mr Robshaw said that her weekly letters to him during his time with the RAF “sealed his fate”.
David said his father was “devoted” to Jean and said she was the key “brick in his life”.
The pair travelled across Europe and in the USA where they had many golfing holidays . They also enjoyed trips to South Africa.
For many years, Mr Robshaw was the president of the Derby branch of the Royal Air Force association and a council member of the Derby branch of the Burma Star Association, as well as being a member of 99 Squadron Bomber Veterans Association.
Mr Robshaw ran the family waste business with his brother Ted until it was sold. He then took over Townsends, a men’s outfitters before opening ladies retailer, Janene, with his wife. The pair retired in the late 1980s.
David said: “Nothing gave my father more pleasure than a Sunday afternoon game of golf with Jean when the course was quiet; he was always a stickler for speedy play and did not like being held up.
“He always enjoyed watching and playing many other sports, football, rugby, cricket to name a few.
“He was often very critical of England’s cricketers ease of getting out, he and Geoff Boycott would have had much in common.

Mr Robshaw ran the family waste business JW Robshaw & Sons with his brother Ted until it was sold.
“He loved visiting any building of historical interest and on retirement was a volunteer room guide for the National Trust for 25 years at Kedleston Hall, and was still working until very recently. He took a great interest in the history of Kedleston Hall and was very knowledgeable about the Curzon family. He could easily talk for ten minutes on any room in the hall, including the church.”
In retirement, Mr Robshaw took up other interests which included Spanish tuition and joked that he was always on third year Spanish. He was also a keen amateur photographer and enjoyed taking photos of key landmarks in Derbyshire, many of which he would use as a basis for a Christmas quiz with his friends and family.
David added: “Overall he loved the company of his family, especially his grandchildren; nothing gave him more pleasure than stimulating conversation around the dinner table, and playing golf with them.
“He had a great interest in politics and was always frustrated by politicians not always agreeing with him. He enjoyed a great political debate amongst family and friends, and was more than willing to toss a stone into calm waters to trigger an active and argumentative debate. He was always busy, never bored and learned to be a proficient computer user despite being well into his 70’s, this he argued was not for pleasure but for his work.
He will be remembered as a kind, very active busy person, who loved his family, all aspects of Derby and its history, his golf and his bridge, especially Markeaton Bridge Club and who always had a strong opinion of what was right.”
A funeral service for Mr Robshaw is due to take place on Monday, December 18, at St Paul’s Church in Quarndon, at 11.15am.