Bob

So a slightly different sort of blog this time…

For the purposes of the Portslade Facebook history page, the following is a bit of a bio about my Great Uncle:

Henry George ‘Bob’ Berry was born in January 1919 in Brixton, South London at Hackford Rd, which was just off the Brixton Rd.

As his family grew larger they moved to Camberwell New Rd opposite a park not far from the Oval cricket ground, and from a young age he became very streetwise and could well look after himself in more ways than one in the pre war backstreets of Camberwell.

He left school in 1932 when he was 13 and got a job at Smithfield meat market near the Holborn Viaduct. This meant working long hours, but over a period of five years he achieved the status of ‘Master Butcher’ by the time he’d reached 18.

Wanting to do something different, in 1937 he joined the Army as a private in the Royal Artillery, ultimately serving in many different theatres of war, starting in India, then on to the African desert through to the Gustav line in Italy, and finally on to Palestine to keep the peace between the warring factions there at the time.

Back home in London during 1941/1942 his sister, Joan Berry had joined the Women's Royal Army Corps (W.R.A.C) and was duly posted to Invergordon, Scotland near the Cromarty Firth, and Bob’s youngest sibling Sid (my Grandad) joined the Royal Navy and was part of the Royal Naval Patrol Service (R.N.P.S) based at Lowestoft before being sent overseas.

During the war their house in Camberwell New Rd was bombed out, effectively making the whole family homeless (where their house once was is now somewhere between Bolton Crescent and Midnight Avenue, SE5), but fortunately Bob, Joan and Sid had family on the Sussex coast in ‘Upper’ Portslade, to assist in providing a residence.

They had an uncle called Charlie Berry, and he lived at 77 Southdown Rd, just north of the Old Village. A very popular chap, my Dad was even bestowed the middle name of ‘Charles’ in tribute of him.

Circa 1943 Charlie started a property merry-go-round by additionally purchasing 3 Downsview Rd and effectively renting it to the Berry family, incorporating Bob, Joan, Sid…and of course their parents Henry & Sarah.

Henry George Berry and Sarah Ann Berry (Budgen)

The house was very near to the south side of Broomfield's Farm, at the end of Southdown Rd (which was not yet the complete structure that’s present now).

In 1946, having ultimately achieved the rank of Regimental Sergeant Major, Bob’s career in the Army ended.

Returning to civvy street, he took employment at Greenfields (NOT the removal company), which was a national allotment area in the dip of the Old Shoreham Road where Hove Fire Station is now located. He also had a part time Saturday morning job at ‘Venners’ the butchers in the Old Village.

During 1947 Bob’s brother Sid married Lily Emma Flicker, and their sister Joan married Reginald ‘Jack’ Greed – both couples soon having children (my dad Sid, and his cousin Bobby respectively).

In 1951/52, Sid & Lily moved to 48 Easthill Drive, and Joan & Jack moved to 21 Wickhurst Rd. Not long after they had moved on, Bob took full ownership of 3 Downsview Rd, and in 1954 his parents also moved on (due to failing health) and went to live with Sid & Lily.

Bob wasn’t on his own for long though as he soon invited his friend Phyllis Kirkby (or Kirby?) to live with him. Phyllis was known to the family for a while, and indeed she had a sister called Bertha who lived at 74 Southdown Rd and was a good friend of Uncle Charlie’s.Upon Uncle Charlie's death, another branch of the family (Syd and Lilly Budgen) bought 77 Southdown Rd and rented a room to yet more family (!) – cousin Arnold and his wife Iris.

In 1953, Bob had changed employment again and became a bus driver with ‘Brighton, Hove & District’, soon becoming a regular driver on the 15b route (Patcham to Mile Oak, terminating at Chrisdory Rd) – and this was a job he would ultimately do for the next 30 years.

Bob's bus!

In 1958, one final addition to the first generation of Berry’s born in Portslade came along in the shape of Sid and Lily’s youngest son Christopher, but this joy was short-lived for the family as later that year (October 22^nd) Bob, Joan and Sid’s father Henry George Berry (senior) passed away with cancer. Indeed my Dad relates this as being one of the saddest days of his life as he was particularly close to his Grandad – a man he describes as very caring and loving, and in many ways similar to Bob.

In the 1960’s, as well as working on the buses, Bob also had a part time job in a butchers shop in Boundary Rd / Station Rd called ‘Carpenters’, and he worked there for about five years.

Over the years Bob pursued hobbies on three main fronts.

He had a great love of gardening, was a dedicated animal lover, and also he ventured into brewing many homemade beers and wines.

Directly related to this latter hobby, was the fact that he also kept Bees! This resulted in some superb honey from which he made his very strong, delicious and, dare I say it, famous Mead!

As far as pets went (excluding the bees!) over the years he had two dogs (Trixie and Sue), and also had a Siamese cat, who Bob called ‘Ming’.

Ming was very ill when Bob took him in, and was not expected to live more than a couple of months, but with a lot of love and attention the cat survived for a further ten years.

He retired from driving buses in the early 1980’s and enjoyed a peaceful and relaxing life as a homemaker. Always a social chap, whilst at Downsview Rd he made some good friends with many of his neighbours; notably the Gilbey family (who lived opposite) and in particular he often spoke of Ron and Betty Sanders.

Very sadly, Phyllis passed away not long after Bob retired. Typical of the man though, he kept his spirits up and soon enough became friends with a lady called Pat, who remained his companion until his own sad passing in 2001.

Bob in the 1970's

When he died, it undoubtedly created a void in the family – unsurprising given that he was such a ‘larger than life’ upstanding character with immense personality and charm. Indeed my Dad often remarks that he had immeasurable love and respect for him – maybe more so in some ways than he had for his own father, such is the tangled web and intricacies of family life.

My Dad (Sid) and Bob (1990's)

My Dad waxes lyrical about how Bob was a very kind and gentle hearted man, ever sensitive to the welfare of his family, standing by them in his younger days through rain and fire – though he was also as hard as nails to anyone who was not his friend or until he got to know you! He never lost his military discipline, but any excuse for him to unleash his contagious laugh was always welcome. Without doubt as a human being, people would always look up to him.

My own memories of my Great Uncle Bob undoubtedly centre on his positive approach to anything and everything. From as far back as I can remember (I was born in 1975) our family would always pop in to see him every Christmas day morning, when he would never fail to mention that I looked more and more like my mum every time he saw me! He would also often give us a taste of his superb home brewed Mead – and one Christmas he got my brother (aged 5) drunk on his homemade red wine and lemonade… and ALWAYS gave the family children a Cadbury's selection box. In fact, he even bought me my first ever wristwatch and I've never been without one since.

Me and my Great Uncle Bob (1985)

The thing I will most remember him by though was that he was always smiling or laughing. His death was very sad for us all and I think it's fair to say that when he passed away, we lost a special part of our Christmas mornings forever.

The last photo of Sid, Joan and Bob together (2000)

RIP Henry George 'Uncle Bob' Berry - and in fact rest in peace and thanks to them all, the first of the Berry Portslade residents:

Bob, Joan and Sid

(1919-2004)

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