A Wonderful Place (written by Robert)

As I climbed even higher, I listened for any sound from the high forbidding cliffs ahead.
Nothing! Only the eerie silence among the huge grey boulders.

My gaze traveled up and down, across the stark grey landscape but still, nothing.

For weeks I had climbed up the same route, every time I had been greeted with a loud screech from a ledge high above me. Today though all was quiet and still, I could not see anything. I climbed higher and at last there, on the very edge sat a grey fluffy object. Suddenly my heart skipped a beat, was it?? Yes! Better than I could have hoped for, a young Peregrine Falcon.

For the next few weeks it sat there, watching from its lofty perch. Each time it saw me below it greeted me with its usual loud call and then, pure magic, the parent birds circled above.

On my last visit, a grey morning, there was a stillness amongst the boulders. There was no sound from the cliffs above. I climbed higher. Still no sound. I felt sadness, had the young Falcon flown and I wasn’t there to witness it? It was suddenly lonely up among the cliffs.

And then suddenly, a feeling of elation as the familiar screech rang out. After some time searching, I spotted the young Falcon some way from its usual perch. An adult bird launched itself into the air and swooped low over me, screeching, then circling above.

Then, the moment I had longed for. The young Falcon launched itself off the cliff into the rising wind, it soared upwards and then wheeled backwards and forward before landing again.

Now that it had found it’s wings it repeatedly put on its ariel show for me.

As I climbed above the cliffs, I felt elation tinged with a little sadness, knowing that I may never see this wonderful sight again. But I will always remember my visits to this wonderful place.

ROBERT ASQUITH, known to many as Bob, was born 6^th August 1942 to Ben and Edith at Yewtree Cottage, Holmbridge – a younger brother to Donald.

Roberts earliest recollections came from when he was about 3 or 4 years old. His family lived on the Brick Row in Hinchliffe Mill. One evening Robert and his friends pinned homemade numbers on their vests and raced around the block.

Plenty of hide and seek around the back streets of Honley kept him and his friends very fit.

Just after the New Year in 1947 Robert moved to Honley during the famous snow. He was always out for adventure. Robert and his cousin Malcolm were always out on their bikes or running around the fields and woods above Hall Ing.

They climbed their first “mountain” when they were about 11, it was Alderman’s Mount in Greenfield, only about 1,500 feet but quite big for them, and for Robert it was the first of many mountains.

Robert joined the 6^th Holme Valley Scouts and ran in their sports events, doing quite well at the longer races.

In 1953 Robert moved up to Holmfirth Secondary School, where they did very little sport, but he was unbeaten at cross country in his 4 years there.

Prior to leaving school in 1957, Robert bought himself a road bike, a “Dawes Dalesman” with eight gears. He did quite a lot of cycling, training with his mates and his older brother Donald round the Honley-Holmfirth-New Mill circuit – a route still popular with cyclists today.

Robert even ventured into the 10 mile time trials in Denby Dale against mostly senior riders. Clocking 29 minutes as a 14 year old. Robert quickly learned that running was more natural to him than cycling.

In October 1957 Robert realised he wanted to take running more seriously and joined Holmfirth Harriers AC and trained with them twice a week on Holmfirth Cricket field. ….. Little did he know then that Athletics would play such a major part in his and later his family’s life.

Robert did well at school with all his subjects being good or very good – doing best in Mathematics, History and Science – on leaving Secondary school he secured a job as an apprentice painter and decorator at Joe Hinchliffes in Holmfirth.

Finishing work one day in Slaithwaite, he met a lovely young lady called Ann, who was out with her friend Gloria. Ann mentioned she was going to a dance at the Marsden Mechanics Hall and Robert decided to go over too in the hope he would casually bump into Ann again. Which of course he did, and attracted to each other their courtship began. Spending time together they enjoyed trips over to York, which became a favorite place for both of them, Ann riding pillion on Robert’s motorbike.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finishing work one day in Slaithwaite, he met a lovely young lady called Ann, who was out with her friend Gloria. Ann mentioned she was going to a dance at the Marsden Mechanics Hall and Robert decided to go over too in the hope he would casually bump into Ann again. Which of course he did, and attracted to each other their courtship began. Spending time together they enjoyed trips over to York, which became a favorite place for both of them, Ann riding pillion on Robert’s motorbike.

Saving up to get married their love for each other was witnessed in 1967, their lovely marriage service held on the 9^th September, at a local church, followed by a fabulous honeymoon in Ireland.

 

 

Setting up their family home in Brockholes, family life began: Richard born in 1978 and Steven in 1980.

Providing for his growing family, Robert worked in various roles: The Post Office, a Sports Shop, Candle Works and at Replan until reaching his retirement at the age of 65.

As a close family they enjoyed their shared love of the great outdoors, with many family holidays spent caravanning on the East coast, spending memorable days on the beach come rain or shine in the great British summers we all endured, which were non the less enjoyable.

 

 

 

Visiting Scotland, it was in 1990 that they all climbed Ben Nevis together, well they think they did, visibility was so poor on the top so… it could have been anywhere – and nearly was for Richard who wandered off into the mist.

Later Holidays moved to the Lake District, plenty of walking for all – come rain or shine… with Robert enjoying many Wainwright walks and hikes in the majestic fells, with spectacular scenery as a backdrop. They returned to the Lakes many times.

Fair to say, wherever the location, whatever the weather, they would always make the most of their holiday and experience the great outdoors.

RUNNING MEMORIES

After joining Holmfirth Harriers Athletics Club (HHAC) in Oct 1957, Robert’s first run with the club was on the 2nd of November – a paper chase, he remembered when an old lady cleared up part of the trail and refused to say which way the “hares” had gone and the run ended up with Robert falling down a gully, tearing his shorts and cutting his leg on barbed wire – not the best of starts!

He won his first club race in March 1958 in the Edgar Whitley Trophy, and his first open race, the Castle Hill Novice race in October of that same year.

In 1959 he took part in the Yorkshire, Northern and English cross-country championships and took his first (of three) Tinker Cup wins later that year, and he was club captain three times in the 60’s.

In 1964 Robert made his first appearance at the famous Three Peaks race finishing in 4 hours 14 minutes – he set his personal best of 3 hours 18 minutes in 1978. Finishing the race a total of 7 times between 1964 & 1979.

Ben Nevis was a race that had always had real appeal for Robert. In 1973, he began scheming a way to make the race start, eventually he persuaded Ann to take a later holiday than normal that year so they were in the area at the time of the race he finished in a time of 1 hour 46 minutes.

In 1982 he became a Vet (veteran) and from then on Vets Awards seemed to come in every race.

Other races of note, World Vets 10K road race at Lytham St Annes in 1985 (33mins and 02s) and the European Vets Track Championships in 1997, were he finished 9^th in 10 minutes 42 seconds.

He ran a mile in 3 minutes 48 seconds at the age of 43 (1985), even Steve Cram only managed 3mins 46s – Robert’s attempt was down hill…. but who cares!

He always fondly remembered the local race Thurlstone Chase, where he set the Vet 40 course record in 1986.

1986 was also the year he had the honor of carrying the Queen’s Baton for the Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh, a young Chris Beadle joined him that day along with local school children.

 

In April 1989 he toured the local juniors schools with an idea for a race and a few weeks later the “Sands Races” were born – they are still going strong over 30 years later… thanks to all those who have helped keep them going since, these races are now known to many as the Neiley Races.

It was hard work back then, dedicated he took a half day off work to cover the course set up. All entries and results were done by hand, there were no computers or even a family car in those days – he’d be at the dining room table into the evening starting work on the days results.

He followed that up with Ten Step, Milk in Action and Five Star Awards for the clubs juniors.

In 1990 he even managed to win his first Holmfirth Harriers Athletic Club club races in over 30 years at the Point to Point.

In 2006, he got a long awaited promotion – becoming a devoted grandad to Benjamin and later Holly, gave Robert a new and exciting focus, he of course encouraged and supported them as he had in years gone by with his own two sons.

Robert raced up to 2009 in local races (1st Vet 65 at Halifax 5K – first win for a decade), with a Park run once in a while until August 2017. His final race was the South Shields Monthly Mile in September 2018 – 9m 40s – the race winner that day was twice as fast…. half as old… and learnt to run from the old master – his Dad.Grandson Benjamin also raced that day making it a real family affair.

 

 

 

 

Most of Stevens earliest memories of his Dad come by the way of running in some shape or form.

Whether it was cold and miserable days out in the snow, or the searing heat at some obscure fell race, they were all days out that he looks back on fondly and feels that those days shaped the person he is today.

Robert continued to support and encourage both Steven and Richard for many years to come. He, on occasion, took Steven to work with him at Replan where they would work across the country in famous golf clubs and football grounds.

Stevens favourite memories of his Dad are the long walks they would take in the Lake District, conquering countless mountain peaks in the process. Steven talked about how Robert showed him how to push himself to the limit and that he could achieve more than he could imagine.

After Steven joined the Army and moved away from home both Ann and Robert would visit on many occasions, to many different locations. Robert, getting through the door after hours of travelling, would have the obligatory cup of tea and a chat about the journey, he would then slide on his trainers and disappear for hours on end to explore the new area he now found himself in, coming back with a full report of all plants, trees and wildlife. As Stevens children grew, Roberts priority for his visits shifted to watching his Grandchildren compete in their own competitions.

On one occasion at a track race in Newcastle Ben was disqualified for accidentally missing the 10 min call up and his Grandad then proceeded to tell the official exactly what he thought of him in front of a growing group of young athletes, he would then forever be known as a ‘total legend’ to all of Ben’s friends at Gateshead Harriers.

Some of Ben and Holly’s fondest memories of spending time with their Grandad were when we had the opportunity to return to Honley. We would go for long walks around the surrounding woods looking for the perfect sticks to make bows and arrows, admittedly these were also some of Stevens favourite times too. Stevens Dad was the kind of person that would help anyone (unless we’re talking about certain track officials) and certainly did by forming the Sands Races all those years ago to help young athletes get a head start. One of Stevens now greatest memories is being asked by his dad to go with him to the Sands Races that were held earlier this summer and present the awards to the winning children.

Steven misses their phone calls, catching up on the sport results. He misses his Dads terrible jokes and looking over at him while watching TV to find that his Dad had already gotten bored and fallen asleep, but always ready for him to wake up and ask ‘what did I miss?’.

Steven is so thankful that his Dad spent so much time with his Grandchildren, encouraging and nurturing them as only he could, and that they knew him and will remember him so well.

“I Love you” is something they said to each other far too little in all the time they had. For the most part it was taken for granted and went unspoken but was also something they both deeply knew.

From a son who loved his Dad.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proud of all their sons have achieved in life, Robert and Ann continued to be supportive and very family focused, the close bonds they shared with both of them ran deep.

Steven spent many years in the Armed Forces, taking him to many different bases, located in the UK and abroad. At such times Robert and Ann made every effort to visit Steven and his wife Helen and again many happy times were spent together. Also, holidays for Robert and Ann were spent in Dornoch, Gairlock, Northumberland, Amble, Anglesey and Isle of Wight.

After retiring in 2007 he played some golf for a year. Embracing life, living it to the full, in a milestone moment, Robert created a ‘bucket list’ which he endeavored to work through. Ticking off his list:

He flew a light aircraft over Northumberland, a Glider at Pocklington and also experienced the Corryvreckan whirlpool situated off the west coast of Scotland between the islands of Jura and Scarba.

 

 

 

 

Robert’s coached many a youngsters over the years. Through his selfless ways, generosity of time and total dedication Robert certainly improved many children’s lives and their self belief, like he had for his own two sons, he encouraged them to be their very best, to believe in themselves.

Slowing down a pace, Robert engaged in a spot of painting… not the decorating sort but creative oil & watercolours, with the odd painting by numbers for fun. Robert attended art classes and gained a great deal from this peaceful pastime. In 2000 at a Local Art Exhibition, his work was evidently appreciated by others as Robert sold three of his own paintings.

In the sadness of your grief, may you all find comfort knowing that Robert left this world in his running shorts, watching the Athletics on TV, knowing that he was very much loved.

May the love he gave you all continue to give you comfort and strength in your grief.

Music at the Service

• “Run for Home” Lindisfarne
• “How Long” Eagles
• “End Of The line” The Traveling Wilburys
• “Going Home” Mark Knopfler

Some of his race certificates from over the years below