Club
Obituary - R.M. ‘Bob’ Wilkinson
It is with deep regret that the Club must share the news that former player Bob Wilkinson, sadly passed away on February 1st after a short illness.
Bob will be remembered as one of the best lineout experts and skilful ball handling second-row forwards at the Blues. He attended St. Albans School, where his Bedford rugby playing teachers Peter Avery and Mike Nurton, nurtured his rugby skills and he was promoted to the 1st XV in 1966. He also featured in the school’s cricket and hockey teams and when Mike Nurton introduced basketball to the school this was a very useful key to Bob’s rugby development. From the 1968 season, along with another pupil and good friend Alan Towersey he travelled to Goldington Road twice a week for training. How ironic that Bob should die on the anniversary of his first game for the ‘Town’ which was against London Welsh in 1969 as a 17-year-old!
The next day’s ‘Sunday Times’ report by Robin Marler said:
“…the second row of Else and Wilkinson, young, raw and full of spirit were prepared to take on the entire Welsh pack single-handed…”
Bob continued his education at Cambridge University where he won Blues in 1971, ‘72 and ‘73. As an uncapped player, he was selected to play for the Barbarians in the famous match against the All Blacks in Cardiff in 1973. He went on to play 23 times for the Barbarians which places him 8th in their Roll of Honour.
His rugby career continued at the Blues, where he made 311 appearances before finally retiring in 1985. From 1976-79 he captained Bedford, one of the few to captain the 1st XV three seasons in succession and, of course, he played in the 1975 Cup-winning team at Twickenham.
Bob was capped six times for England. He was selected for the England tour to Australia in the summer of 1975 and made his full England debut in the second Test in Brisbane. In 1976 he played in the 23-6 win over the Australian touring side at Twickenham and in the four Five Nations Championship games. His second-row partner in all international matches was Bill Beaumont, the present Chairman of World Rugby.
Bob continued to work in the family’s fruit-importing business and made sure that there was always plenty of fruit at the Club’s children’s Christmas parties and other social functions!
From 1980-83 towards the end of his playing career, he became the Club’s Treasurer.
Bob met his wife Sally while at Cambridge and they began their married life in Putnoe, eventually moving to Haynes, where they still live. They have four sons Ben, Jon, and twins Matthew and Paul.
At this sad and difficult time, our thoughts are with Sally, the boys and their families.
