Tributes pour in for community champion Bob

Robert Birsea

GLOWING tributes have followed the death of one of Saddleworth’s most respected luminaries.

Robert Birse MBE died on Tuesday aged 94 of pneumonia, and his funeral will take place next Wednesday afternoon (1.15pm) at St Chad’s Church, Uppermill.

Lawyer John Ainley, a past president of Saddleworth Rotary Club, said: “Bob was a real gentleman and well respected in the club for his outstanding and dedicated work both in Rotary and the wider community.

“He made a major contribution to the success of our club over the years and continued to attend meetings until the last few weeks. He will be sadly missed by all who knew him.”

Veteran minister the Rev Duncan Rhodes, said: “Bob was Mr Reliable, Mr Genial and Mr Willing. His record as an outstanding teacher, councillor, school governor and church choir member meant he became an outstandingly valuable member of the whole Saddleworth community. He will be greatly missed and very fondly remembered.”

John Hudson, an Oldham councillor, Saddleworth parish councillor and former mayor of Oldham, said: “Bob was a one-off — a born leader. He was one of Saddleworth’s special people. Everyone knew him and he had taught parents and their children. He was a truly great driver for young people.”

Scots-born Mr Birse enlisted in the RAF during World War II and flew Bristol Beaufighter strike fighters, protecting the North-East coast. After demob, he completed an emergency teacher training course and qualified in 1948 to teach history and PE.

He began at Clarksfield School, which later merged with Hathershaw Tech to become Hathershaw School. He retired from there as deputy head in 1983.

Married to Cath in 1958, the couple moved to Uppermill in 1964. and raised five children. He is survived by his widow, two sons, five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Mr Birse won a seat as a Liberal on the Saddleworth Urban District Council in 1972 and won every subsequent election until standing down in 2011, when he was approaching his 90th birthday.

He joined Saddleworth Rotary Club in the early 1970s, was president in 1978-79 and awarded the Paul Harris Fellowship, Rotary’s highest accolade, for his community work in 1996. His community work also brouht him an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in 1989.