Robin Buncombe died peacefully in James Paget Hospital on 20th December 2021 after a short illness. Below is the eulogy, written and read at the funeral by his son, James.
My dad was a lot of things to a lot of people: husband, father, friend, brother, merchant navy man, committee member, RNLI supporter and the list goes on. In his early years he was a bit mischievous; from hitting his headmaster in the forehead with a catapult…apparently by accidentally, to being with friends around a fire and laughing at a zen cookery book, with quotes like “treat the yeast with love”. Which are still remembered by his friends today. He enrolled himself as an engineer in the merchant navy as a young man and made his family very proud including granny Buncombe. Travelled the world and would tell us loads of stories from his time abroad such as going down a river and if the ship changed direction by more than a degree it would capsize, the whole ship was holding its breath and didn’t move too much because they liked being dry (who knew). The sea never left his heart, and he became actively involved with the RNLI. He helped with agendas, raising money for them ensuring the charity boxes from the Anchor were emptied often. He had a passion for the ships and could tell you all sorts of weird facts, he showed how to look at any boat in the world thanks to the new medium of “Google-ing”. My dad lived in Walberswick for the majority of his life and has done everything from raising donkeys to running car parks, bar man at the anchor to being a committee member and much more. In fact you would be hard pressed to find something in Walberswick that my dad didn’t help with.
Anyone that knew my dad or even spoke to him for 5 minutes would know one of his biggest passions was Walberswick. He’s been referenced as a pillar of the community. He was community minded and was never afraid of getting stuck in. The British open Crabbing Championship was a great example of this, he was always there from the planning stage to the clean-up afterwards always sporting a very stylish and fashionable hat. He was a chairman of the parish council, always looking on how to improve Walberswick while preserving its traditional values. This was an ideal role for him as he would always listen to what people had to say no matter who they were and wasn’t afraid of getting into a debate as I’m sure some of you know. He always helped individuals as well, if they asked for advice on getting a new home, help recover deleted files on the computer, helping people with their own personal issues, if not sure on how to help he would go away and find the answers himself. My dad knew everybody it seemed across all generations, and he remembered stories for all of them. He was a “true friend to Walberswick” and even though he isn’t here any longer the pillar he built will remain always.
Growing up in Walberswick there were always about 2 main seasons, which were summer when kids from all walks of life would come to Walberswick and the rest of the year which had the core kids of the village and all of them knew my dad. In fact Some of the kids thought that my dad was the mayor of Walberswick and that made me immensely proud. No matter how many different hats that my dad had one of the biggest and proudest hats was that of his family. He was a loving husband that would always look out for his wife. My mum is a strong and independent woman who gets stuff done and rarely needed help, that didn’t stop my dad from being there helping, cheering and encouraging every step of the way.
He made us feel the luckiest kids and was always up for entertaining be it; a flipping pancake race around the terrace, to swimming pool trips and making sure we had the best Christmas’ with a particular trick with our letters to santa. He gave us all strength if we ever faltered because he always saw the best in us and believed in us even when we couldn’t believe in ourselves. I’m becoming a father in the very not too distant future; ourchild will never get the chance to meet his granddad which is a shame. However they will see the result of everything that my father stood for, the lives that he touched and the village he cared so much for. If I will be even half the father, his grandchild will be very lucky.
I have told you a few memories that we hold dear of him, I'm sure you all have some memories of your own as well please share them with me and my family. I would just like to finish with:
My dad was incredible
My dad is Walberswick
My dad will always be my dad