Robert Eric Henly (27 Nov 1953 - 23 Jan 2019)

In loving memory of Robert Eric Henly who sadly passed away on 23rd January 2019
Robert Eric Henly
27th November 1953 – 23rd January 2019

Robert was born on November 27th 1953 in the Front room of 104 Siddeley Avenue the house that would be his home for his entire life. He was the first child of Eric and Mabel Henly and the elder brother of Diane and David.
Robert attended Gosford Park Infant and Junior School before moving on to Stoke Secondary Modern and later Binley Park Comprehensive where he studied to the Upper Sixth form. He played Rugby for Binley’s 1st XV and helped out with the lighting in many school productions ( which became his forte )
On leaving School he went to Dudley College of Further Education for 3 years in order to become an English Teacher taking up his first role at Marsh Hill School in Birmingham. He took his skill in lighting a step further in one of the school plays by making a rotating stage so sets could be changed whilst the production was going on and the stage hands were not seen. I believe this was the first time this had been done in a school play. He went on to teach at other schools and continued his love of educating people.
In later life Robert became a carer for his Father who suffered with Alzheimer’s disease until his death in 1996. During this time he met his very close and devoted friend Paul who was a rock throughout our fathers final years to Robert. They stayed as very close friends for the next 23 years in fact they were very devoted Partners.
His loved his cars. The first car he had was an Hillman Imp in White which he put red and blue go faster stripes on. David remembers not long after he had bought this their Uncle George graciously gave Eric his Imp and the family went off on holiday to Tenby. He went onto have many more vehicles including a Winnebago Mobile Home that he and Paul travelled to many places in until its demise on the Blue Ribbon Island in Coventry. They managed to get the vehicle into Lidl car park and eventually sold it to a Policeman.
Roberts love of electronics and gadgets led him into converting the back bedroom of his home into a mini cinema complete with 4 genuine cinema seats and screen with curtains of course all remotely controlled. I only know of one other place that had more DVD’s and CD’s and that was Blockbuster Rentals.