Fenland Branch
Rob Rowling Fenland members and CAMRA members further afield will have been saddened to have learned of the death of Rob Rowling. Rob was an early member of CAMRA joining in the first years after the campaign came into being. When he moved to Boston he joined the Fenland branch. Although his name first appears in the minutes in April 1977 he had already been playing a full part in branch activities before then. He then served on the committee and a little later he became Chairman remaining in that role for a number of years until he and his wife, Tish, moved to Cambridgeshire. During his tenure as Chairman he saw the branch further consolidate its position as a campaigning organisation promoting Real Ale throughout its area and also making a contribution to the national campaign. As a scientist, a PhD having studied agricultural botany at Aberystwyth University and then working as a plant breeder, he had good organisational skills and an eye for detail. He put these skills to particular use when he led the organising and managing of several successful branch beer festivals including those at Horncastle and most notably those held for many years at the Eagle in Boston. At committee meetings in the months and weeks before, Rob would be compiling lists of equipment, helpers and, most importantly, beers. As the festivals drew nearer there was no doubt that Rob felt the mounting pressure but, on the day, we would see the stress drain away from him once he realised that success was assured and he could at last relax and enjoy the more sociable aspects of a beer festival. Rob’s enthusiasm for Real Ale and CAMRA inspired his brother John, living in Victoria, British Columbia, to form the first Canadian branch of CAMRA and it’s still going strong and thriving. Once on a holiday out there Rob gave a two-part address to the branch; part one, CAMRA and Real Ale in the UK then, quickly donning his Bateman’s tie, part two, an illustrated talk on Batemans Brewery. Whilst in Cambridgeshire Rob was involved with CAMRA branches there; he helped at the Cambridge beer festival once or twice but his heart was always with Fenland branch. He kept in touch with the branch and regularly helped at Party in the Park beer festivals. Then when he and Tish moved back into Lincolnshire to Stamford we saw more of them again. Aside from CAMRA Rob was good-hearted and always showed an interest in what others were doing and was also happy to offer help and support when it was needed. He took a keen interest in most sports, particularly rugby and cricket, both of which he played and coached for many years. Sadly, a few years ago Rob started to develop Early-onset Alzheimer’s. The condition is brutal and it’s destructive both for sufferers and their families. Immediately Rob was diagnosed he had to stop driving and using machinery. Consequently he soon had to give up work. As the condition worsened clearly he was able to do less and less; a tragedy for someone who had formerly been very fit and active. However he faced his situation with courage and even humour and carried on doing what he could. He still visited the gym a couple of times a week and was a member of a walking group in Stamford going out most weeks with them. Last September he even completed a sponsored walk in aid of the Alzheimer’s Society. He was also able to keep his CAMRA interests going and continued to enjoy the odd pint. He attended the Peterborough beer festival last August and his last appearance with Fenland was on the Pinchbeck/Spalding walk, again in August. In September he helped recce the October walk around Ufford but unfortunately was not well enough to attend the actual event. And now as an appropriate memorial to Rob, given his keenness for walking; he walked both the Coast to Coast and the Cotswold Way, Jackie Scutt is going to walk the 186 mile Pembrokeshire Coast Path starting on 4th June. She plans to take around two weeks and expects to be joined by a few friends from time to time to keep her company over some sections. Jackie is raising funds for the charity Dementia UK. She would very much welcome some sponsorship, so if you would like to support Dementia UK in its aims to improve quality of life for all people affected by dementia follow the link below. It would be a fitting tribute to Rob and a way of saying thank you to him for his commitment over the years to CAMRA, locally and nationally, and for his friendship. http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.justgiving.com%2FJacqueline-Scutt&h=19e36
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