Robbi Lambert : 31st March 1951 - 24th November 2016
Robbi
was born in Newcastle, Tyne and Wear, to parents
Jenny and Jack, and was spoiled rotten as child, that is until his whingeing
little sister Jackie came along six years later. He
went to Thomas
Addison High School Longbenton, where he excelled in art and design. Jackie
recalls Robbi getting a real bow and arrow set at about the age of 11 and his
mate fired at the target and missed, the arrow went straight through Robbi’s
cheek and perhaps that was the first of many trips to hospital. She also recalls
a lighter side that not many of us knew, when
he
would bring animals home (guinea pigs, cats and dogs) all of which his mum
and Jackie had to look after!!
Robbi trained as an artist
in Italy under an Italian master in the 1960’s, and was exhibiting in his own
studio in London’s east-end in the 70’s before establishing a successful career
as an illustrator to top London Advertising Agencies in the 1980’s.
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In
2004, Robbi gave up the bright lights of London and moved up to Tamworth to be
near his daughter Jessica. He bought and lived on a narrow boat and had access
to a nearby studio where he continued to paint – but this time it was images as
to what life would have looked like on boats and waterways, in the days gone by,
right up until his death in November 2016.
We first met at Riley Advertising well over 35 years
ago, getting to know each other very quickly as we seemed to have a lot in
common, Mostly pubs, Guinness, Port and Irish
Whisky!!
In
those days in the Advertising world it was all
‘work hard and play hard!!’.
On one occasion we
worked long into the night on a presentation for a Sainsbury’s advertisement
campaign - superbly illustrated by Robbi with pen and paper, -
This was way before the days of computers and instant
printers – when Apple or Blackberry were - well - just fruit!!
After we had finished we decided to have a glass of port or two, and ended up
with an “all-nighter” in a Pub called the Red Cow in Hammersmith -
Lock-ins happened a lot when you were with Robbi!!
The next day being a Saturday, we went to watch a
club game through very glazed eyes and Barry Nixon, playing Mum as usual, got a
loan of some towels and promptly sent us both to have a cold shower!!
But he did supply us with a couple of large
ports to keep us going while we were in there!
I joined as a social member – but soon began to run out with the guys on the
pitch, this was after Robbi convinced me - over a few large glasses of
port, to
go on Rugby Tour to Dublin. So my first game was on Irish soil!!
We continued to play well into the very late 90’s and Robbi rarely (if ever)
missed a game, we would run out on a Saturday and sometimes on a Sunday (but not
before we had a couple of large ports as we watched the opposition warm up), and
then you would often see Robbie after the game, standing at the same spot –
still in his rugby kit – cigar in mouth and another large glass of port in his
hand, as we, his team mates soaked in the large baths in the changing rooms!
His rugby and working career was nearly cut short by a squirrel! It happened
when Alison (his then wife) called out for help as there was scratching in the
extractor fan in the club kitchen.... Robbi grabbed the rodent, which latched
its teeth into his hand, and ripped a good layer of skin as he tried to throw it
onto the rugby pitch! He arrived at the hospital in his rugby kit to have it
stitched up, only for the nurse to fall about laughing...... Apparently her
words were "NEXT.... the rugby player who has been savaged by a squirrel". He
did return to the club after that for a quick glass of port and to play the
second half.
We also had our moment in Belfast, still blighted by
the “troubles” as Robbi, learning that I was going home for a long weekend
decided to join me. So flights booked, and after a few “Fog Stops”, involving
Port and Guinness’s and Irish whiskey, we ended up in a local night club, where
we managed to hold off the local natives in a punch up – only to end up in
hospital with various cuts and bruises!
When
we went back to work they christened us “The Black and Blues Brothers”
I am sure a lot of you will remember Robbi singing or saying: -
‘Get your motor Running’,
or ‘I come a zimba, zimba zaya, I come a
zimba, zimba, zay’. Or
‘Who’s the Donkey’
And also the infamous ‘six pack’
How would you sum Robbi up in one word, depending on who you ask, you might get,
Argumentative, Lovable, Creative, Loyal?
But if you asked him to do the same about us, you
would get, with a twinkle in his eye,
‘Anyone born
south of Birmingham was a "Soft Southern Nancy-boy" still smiling.!!
I also remember the night Robbi, Barry and I were
having a meal in Majorca,
‘’What would you like to drink”,
asked the waiter -
Barry replied
‘‘red wine’’
I replied
‘‘white’’
And Robbi
‘‘PINK’’
We had a few bottles of each!
I want to end by saying that Robbi was no angel, he did have his ups and downs
like so many of us, but he was
a person I just enjoyed being around,
and he touched the lives of all those who knew him with his
incredible sense of humor, and entertained all of us with fascinating stories.
An incredible artist, and a fierce rugby player, I am proud to have called him a
friend and I will miss him greatly, life has lost a true fighter!
Sleep well Robbi my friend, for there is no more pain!!