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Robert was born in Blackpool, Lancashire, England on the 3rd of September.

Robert was born at 2 Bond Street, South Shore, Blackpool, very close to the famous Pleasure Beach.

Robert was born at 6pm on the 3rd September, which was a Tuesday. he was christened at Station Road, Baptist Church, Blackpool, by Reverend Sydney Clark.

Weight at birth was 6 lbs, one month 6 lb 12 ounces, three months 8 lb 10 ounces, 6 months 13 lbs 3 ounces, 9 months 15 lbs 10 ounces, and at one year 11 lbs 4 ounces. Teeth first appeared on Saturday, 10th May. He crawled on August 27th. The first words spoken was Da-da on 12th July, aged 10 months 12 days. Robert stood alone on 12th August and eventually walked 1st March.

The family moved to Preston as his mother remarried William Ibison Rawcliffe, a Train Driver.

After a few years the family moved to Penwortham and stayed here many years in which two step brothers were born, named Ian and Trevor Rawcliffe.

Robert attended school at Middleforth C of E School and Penwortham Secondary School.

After leaving school he became an apprentice butcher working with the Co-op.

At the age of 18 years Robert left the Rawcliffe family home and lived on his own, by this time he was now working for Ian Lawrenson still as a butcher. At 19 years he moved to Kingston upon Thames as a butcher and sadly that business was sold. So at 20 years of age Robert was now at crossroads and uncertain. He took to selling and worked for English Waxes, selling to retail stores and this time in Birmingham. They gave him a Morris 1000 motor car and almost every weekend he took off back to Preston as that was where many of his friends lived.

Robert had, had very little selling experience and had to learn as he went along, sadly not very well and he returned to his own trade as a butcher. First in a retail shop that specialized in pork and eventually with Butlins Holiday Camp in Skegness. His 21st birthday was celebrated at Butlins and many adventures took place here.

Robert worked at Butlins for 9 months until the season finished and afterwards back to Preston and worked as a butcher for Edwards within the Woolworths store, in Preston.

After experiencing the freedom of being a salesman Robert started work as a Fire Extingusher Maintenence person with Pyrene, one of the largest firms in that business. He drove around in the firms vehicle a bright red Commer van.

This was followed by being employed with North Western Gas Board in the old showroom and followed by the new ultra modern showroom in Preston.

During this time period Robert had paired up once again with his old school friend David Gazey in Blackpool and also was seen often with a famous lady singing star of the day.

Employment was again changed and Robert became a Sales representative with British Sales, more famously known as Del Monte. Here Robert gained the sales training that he needed and also with Churchmans as a tobacco salesman. Working with the giant company of Churchmans he gained plenty of experience and for almost a year worked in Wales although at the same time living in Preston with his wife and child Mark.

Robert moved around with various companies as Churchmans reduced their sales force. He worked for Borden Chemicals, Coated Specialists, Joseph Gillott, BACO. Working for these various sales companies Robert was able to see most of England, Wales and Scotland and would often say that there was hardly a city or large town I'd not slept in. All paid well, plus expenses and the free use of a company car.

Robert had his sights set now at the world and moved to Rhodesia as he admired Ian Smith for his stance against England and Rhodesia was now in state of self declared independence.

Here in Rhodesia, he became a Traffic Safety Officer and although he liked and enjoyed Salisbury he was required to move to Bulawayo and eventually took over the regional office in Bulawayo as the Senior Traffic Officer left. He truly enjoyed this position and was daily in the newspapers, on radio and also television. Robert gave talks to children and adults on traffic safety, a subject which has always been his passion.

Here in Rhodesia he had many adventures, some with the animals that lived there and many with motor racing another of his passions.

A change in the country and a requirement to bear arms saw Robert leaving and lived in South Africa before returning to England. He spent the next year trying to leave and was eventually successful in gaining immigrant status to move to Australia.

The time in Australia was very eventful and would take up so much time and will be covered in my autobiography book, email me for a free copy and I'll send you a copy, CLICK HERE.

Also covered in the book will be all the earlier parts not covered and also the Australia parts, Thailand, Indonesia, USA, Costa Rica and Panama adventures.

Cheers for now

Robert Joy in San Marcos, Texas