Roberta Routledge, who died on 26th November 2009, came to KES Witley in September 1952 as one of the first 37 girls to be admitted. It was a unique time in the life of the school, as the boys, as well as the male members of staff, had to adapt themselves to girls and female members of staff. Suddenly, they were confronted with girl’s uniforms and girl’s chatter. All the girls entered the junior forms and it was in this atmosphere that Bobby, as she was universally known, joined the school in class UIIa.
Those of us who were in the class with her, remember her as a quiet, but very able person who seemed to know the answer to most questions put to her. I think the tributes paid to her by some of her friends and class-mates as well as Bill Fox, who met her at university show why she will be remembered by us all.
Eileen Carter (née Bradshaw)
My memories of Bobby are that when at school I remember her as always winning prizes for academic subjects, but never being a sporting person, she always seemed so serious and more grown up than me! I didn’t see her again until a few years ago and found her to be such a warm, kind hearted person and enjoyed her lunches with others of us that she was in touch with. At one of these she confessed that she smoked at school!! I could not believe it! I will miss her very much indeed.
Margaret Broadrib (née Ramsay)
I think back to over fifty years ago and in my mind’s eye still see Bobby sitting at the front of the class, on the left, absorbing all that we were being taught. Because she was so clever, she could so easily have been superior in her attitude to the rest of us, especially me, who were not nearly so committed in our studies, but she wasn’t. She was always gentle and kind, in particular to the younger girls, who were feeling homesick. Bobby was clever but never superior or judgemental of others and she had a lovely sense of fun. We all loved and respected her.
Violet King (née Price)
Roberta Routledge, fondly known as Bobby, was from the age of 12 a real character. I had never met anyone like her, nor have I since. She must be sadly missed, by those who were close to her, after school days. Bobby had been brought up in an adult world, by her father, so she was different; very intelligent, more aware of the adult way of thinking than most of us at the time. I will miss her enormously. She was a very memorable special person.
Bill Fox
Roberta (I always think of her as such) was, to me, one of those people who had brains that worked more efficiently than mine. She was one of the first girls to come to King Edward’s. It was bad enough for us boys that these peculiar people could swim like fish and beat us at tennis as well, but to cap it off with brains -very formidable. Later I met Roberta when she and I were at King’s College London. She was studying Law and I was reading Theology. We met occasionally and she still was wiser and academically considerably more proficient than me. Although I never came to know her very well, I am glad that I met her and that she forms part of the varied pattern of people who have enriched my life by their quiet presence.
Cath Strange (née Hudson)
It was by pure chance that I met up again with Bobby through our respective professions. By then she was a mental health social worker caring and supporting certain vulnerable people in the community. After she retired she continued to look after some of them and was a significant part of their lives. Her home was always open to them and at Christmas and Easter they shared the festivities with her.
Bobby’s lively sense of humour, warmth and generosity impressed those who met her. As Chrystabel Lambert (née Constantine) commented when we went to her retirement party “she has grown into her age”. She really was a remarkable lady
Jane Joslin (nee Harding)
I came upon a book of poems written by Bobby, entitled Bobby’s Nursery Rhymes Composed in a Latin Exam and during Prep. This is a sample.
“ Bobby dear, Bobby dear, will you take maths?
You shall not do sine rules, nor even those logs
But sit in the form room and make a fine mess
With calculus, apple pie, exams and tests”.
15 Feb. 2010
