In the closing hours of 2020, we lost Robert after a year of tough, unrelenting treatment for head and neck cancer. A gentle, humorous, erudite and above all else, kind man, Robert was the sort of person who would always leave you knowing more than you did at the start of a conversation, even if it was only the time and route of your last train home from central London. He was thoughtful, witty, self-deprecating and had a cheeky winning smile. An alumnus of Purley High School for Boys, where he made several lifelong friends, Robert went on to study Law at Southampton University. However, by graduation he had come to the reasoned decision that his calling laid elsewhere. He was to pursue accounting and in the early 1990s was taken on as a trainee by Kingston Smith in Croydon. After completing his examinations and a stint at Grant Thornton, he took on accounting roles at Dawson and eventually BP. A man that saw work as a means to follow his passions of football, cricket and travel, Robert was an avid Crystal Palace supporter for more than 20 years, and saw his team through the agony of relegation in 1998 and near financial ruin in the 2000s, to the ecstasy of promotion back to the Premier League in 2013. He also travelled the world to support the England Cricket team long before their eventual Ashes win in 2005. He made firm friendships with many of the people that he met in both spheres. In 2007, Robert was introduced to Katie, whom he adored. They fell in love and over the coming years, enjoyed friendship, numerous adventures together and a shared affection for the seaside town of Frinton. They were married in October 2020. The eldest of 4, he has left a huge gap in the lives of his family and friends and leaves us behind to weather the current storm, poorer for the lack of his smile, wit and caring nature. During his illness, Robert was cared for by the specialists at the Royal Marsden and in his final weeks, the wonderful compassionate staff at the St Joseph’s Hospice in Hackney. He died peacefully, his pain over at last.