Robert and I met on the internet. At the time he was living in a cottage on the main Road just out of New Plymouth. He made the most beautiful stained glass art that I have ever seen. We kept touch intermittently as he made his home in a couple more homes until he found his Midhurst Studio. During those intervals I found him working on someones broken stained glass windows or at a church. First time was St Andrews Church where he was restoring some of the stained glass windows on the north side of the church. He and his mate would work out the best way to make a patch or pull the whole window out. I shared my lunch with him out on the scaffolding several times. Robert enjoyed working when the sun was shining brightly through the stained glass. When he was able to see clearly what he was going to work on for the day. Sometimes we just sat there all day eating food, sharing jokes, laughing and enjoying the most privileged view that no one else in New Plymouth had ever seen since the church was built. At St Marys church he had several windows to take out. He told me about how they nearly lost a couple of windows because they were very heavy. He was extremely careful that they would not implode with the weight. The stained glass windows on the south side of the church required complete glass strengthening so that they would remain there for another hundred years. Yes, he was a craftsman of his trade. He was very humble and would not admit it. He rang me one day and told me” You will never guess what we found up in the rafters of St Marys church?”. It was a cigarette butt. A roly. He left it there for posterity along with another memento and a few words of his own on a piece of paper. When he told me that, I wondered how many other notes or mementos he had left in other places of importance to social history Robert was a good friend. Thank you my friend. Wilhelmina xxx

to my darling younger brother robert it is with great sadness and a heavy heart that i must say goodbye to you today i have the fondess memories of you and shall never forget you you leave a great legacy in your beautiful stain glass dotted all around the world ive heard many fantastic things about you from many of your friends things i would never have known rest in peace my darling your loving sister sandra

In the mid eighties Rob was living in his housetruck at the end of Timaru Rd, down by the beach. He managed to cut a rakish figure in lace-up gumboots, and had the eternal company of his intimidating but thoroughly lovely Dobermann, Jenna. We were lucky to spend a Taranaki autumn with them around that time, as he started to find a more settled place for himself in the world he lived in. As a kid, I liked his laugh, and there was something pretty honest about how he talked to us youngsters. Some grownups were too cool to spare kids their full attention, but Rob was actual cool, he could have a two-way conversation and you felt as a kid like it was an exchange between equals - it reflected an integrity of Rob too, he wasn't wearing a mask. I knew he had some things going on in his life, but he was genuine, and kind, and those are the qualities of loved people. Much aroha to Rob's family. I'd like you to know that far from your gaze, he was as lovely to others as you could ever wish he was.

In the mid eighties Rob was living in his housetruck at the end of Timaru Rd, down by the beach. He managed to cut a rakish figure in lace-up gumboots, and had the eternal company of his intimidating but thoroughly lovely Dobermann, Jenna. We were lucky to spend a Taranaki autumn with them around that time, as he started to find a more settled place for himself in the world he lived in. As a kid, I liked his laugh, and there was something pretty honest about how he talked to us youngsters. Some grownups were too cool to spare kids their full attention, but Rob was actual cool, he could have a two-way conversation and you felt as a kid like it was an exchange between equals - it reflected an integrity of Rob too, he wasn't wearing a mask. I knew he had some things going on in his life, but he was genuine, and kind, and those are the qualities of loved people. Much aroha to Rob's family. I'd like you to know that far from your gaze, he was as lovely to others as you could ever wish he was.

Sadly, the world's become a lot less colourful. You will be missed, Rob, but you've left behind many beautiful works. I've enjoyed our friendship over the years and all the interesting conversations that not everyone could or would want to engage in, that we have. God bless you on your journey, Arohanui, Jennie.