Bob Close – 1932 - 2021 - British Model Flying Association

Many members will have met and known Bob over the years either in the UK or at the US SAM Champs in Muncie or Henderson when he, his grandson Alex, sons Anthony and Julian, attended events over the years. He was a Dr. of Analytical Chemistry and a Fellow of The Royal Society of Chemistry and worked his whole career for the Clayton Analine chemical company in Manchester where now stands the great Manchester City football ground and training facility. Bob also served in the British Army Royal Signals in Germany after the war. He retired early from Clayton to take care of his sick wife,  Doreen before her passing in October 1985. Bob later met and married his second wife Margaret, and enjoyed a wonderful thirty years of world travel and adventures together before Margaret sadly also passed in 2018.

Bob was a long time member of the BMFA, SAM 35 and 1066, and Model Engine Collectors Society but also a member of several various model flying clubs in the Manchester, Macclesfield, and Norwich areas over the years. Bob attended events as often as he could at venues such as Old Warden, Middle Wallop, Tatton Park, Barkston Heath (Bowden Trophy), the European Championships, Wasserkuppe Germany with his friend Herr Holger Menrad, USA SAM Champs in Muncie Indiana and Henderson Nevada and many others, and participated in flying, or in latter years, just went to watch and chat with colleagues.

Bob had many fond memories of flying in the USA and Germany especially with his very good friend from San Diego, the late Charlie Yost and was fortunate to win one or two events – and loose a few models at these wonderful flying venues in the process.  Known as being rather outspoken, and not always PC, Bob was an encyclopedia of knowledge from all aspects of life, especially classical and choral music (he was a member of several choirs), world history, British history, chemistry, literature, classical and comical verse and poetry, latin, science, physics, industry, geography, transport, and of course model aviation, the history and development of human flight and aircraft, and especially model engines and full sized engines and mechanics such as the examples to be found in the museums at Old Warden and Duxford, two of his favorite haunts.

Bob was also fondly known for what was once described in Aeromodeller magazine as his “Scruffy” models…. in many cases – scruffy would have been a generous compliment on his radical, careless building and repair techniques (you should have seen his workshop!), although many of his models did fly surprisingly and rather well, especially his version of the L. S. Wigdor “Wasp” powered by a rare Milford Mite 1cc diesel, of which he owned and ran two of the last existing four! He was lucky enough to be featured or pictured in many model publications over the years and SAM Speaks news items also being a frequent contributor to SAM Speaks and for a while, a SAM 35 Committee member.

Bob was also well known for his considerable generosity amid the modelling crowd. Not just with helpful (even if not always asked for) advice, but also letters, free sharing of plans and building articles, building materials, engines or engine parts, historical aviation documents, and much more. He never asked for anything in return.

By far, Bob’s favorite venue was Old Warden. Being close to home, Old Warden offered so much that fascinated and delighted Bob, especially the earliest examples of the Shuttleworth museum’s collection of flying machines and the Box Kite in particular. Not the easiest place to fly and possibly retrieve/loose a model aeroplane, dad loved the OW activities, the museum and of course the cafeteria where he always found time to grab a lunch of sausages or fish and chips accompanied by a Spitfire beer. He also attended many of the yearly museum flying events at Old Warden, being a long time financial supporter of the museum, The Shuttleworth Veteran Aeroplane Society, and events and also donated books and information to the OW Shuttleworth library and exhibits. At model flying weekends he would almost certainly spend a considerable span of time rummaging around the stalls looking for anything of interest and bantering with the vendors. He certainly spent a lot of his pension at those tables!

Model events at OW were a mix of sporadic flying efforts with one or more of his unconventional models (as long as one of his kids or grandchildren would act willingly – or not, as a “Fetchermite!), or visiting his buddies and often helping with engine problem solving – especially challenges with diesel engines, his area of expertise . Bob was almost always accompanied to flying events by his lovely wife Margaret and his brother,  John Close and his wife, Joy Close. John and Joy always camped on site in their motor home which my dad nicknamed “The Gin Palace”. John, wildly known for his love of unconventional tailless and plank models, was also a very keen and accomplished model builder and flyer and the two of them grew up in Staffordshire building and flying models from an early age.

Unfortunately, John Close also passed away a few months before Bob.

Written and submitted by Bob’s son Anthony.

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British Model Flying Association

British Model Flying Association

Bob Close – 1932 – 2021

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