Christ's Hospital
Robert (Bob) Brindle – ThA 43-50
Submitted by Simon Brindle
Bob was born on 13th March 1933 in Chipping Norton, in 1943 he went to Christ’s Hospital (Thornton A). At school he passed his school certificate in 8 subjects, and higher certificate in physics, chemistry & maths. He enjoyed his sports; rugby, swimming, shooting & boxing (winning the Sussex schools boxing championship). He obviously enjoyed his time at school, as in his later years he was very involved with the ‘Old Blues’.
In 1950 he left school and worked for as a pupil printer in Oxford, during this period he played rugby for Oxford Marathons and was a member of Chipping Norton Rifle Club. Then in 1953 he went to Nottingham University where he graduated with a BA in Industrial Economics. While at university he was Vice Chairman of the Conservative Association and continued his sporting interests. He always remembered shooting a Bren gun for the university rifle club at Bisley, and winning a trophy.
In 1956 he married Lorna, shortly after their wedding he was called up for his National Service. He then worked as a Cost Accountant in the finance division of Dunlop Rubber. In 1960, now with a son, Simon, he returned to Chipping Norton to work in the family printing & stationery business, his daughter, Audrey, was born soon afterwards.
Interested in local politics, in 1965 Bob stood as an Independent (although always with conservative leanings) for election to Chipping Norton Borough Council, while on the council he served as Mayor.
In 1964 after the retirement of his parents, Bob continued to run the printing business now as ‘Brindle Printing Ltd’. In 1971 he sold the company, part of the deal being a job for him with the buyer. Ultimately, by the time he retired, in 1998, he had been General Manager of James Burn Binders for 23 years, which was by then a division of the Standex Corporation of USA.
Throughout his career he was very involved with professional and trade organisations, he was President of the Oxford District Association, and Chairman of the South West Management Board of the British Printing Industries Federation. He was also Chairman of the British Binders and Print Finishers Association.
Bob’s second marriage was to Daphne, they celebrated their 47th wedding anniversary last year. He was proud of his growing family, saying that they had, between them, 3 children, 7 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren.
He enjoyed travelling and produced a list of 47 airports he had used at least once. Daphne and he enjoyed their holidays, cruising to, and touring, many different countries. They had their last holiday in Sidmouth in March.
In his later years Bob and Daphne were both active members of their local golf club, Bob becoming treasurer, surprisingly! He was a member of the Frewin Club in Oxford for over 20 years. He also enjoyed an active social life with his friends in Milton-under-Wychwood.
In June, after a short stay in hospital, he joined Daphne in Penhurst Gardens Care Home in Chipping Norton, where he enjoyed receiving visitors until shortly before his death on 20th July. A memorial service will be held on 21st August at Milton-under-Wychwood, please make any donations to the Thames Valley Air Ambulance.