Thanks for the rapid responses, I am grateful. 

In his youth, Rob was  a good gymnast, rugby player, and sailor.  He was not a true academic and was always destined for an active life.  He went to the Officer Training at Sandhurst, U.K. after school, and joined the Royal Welsh Fusliers, an infantry regiment with a 350-year history.  He boxed, played rugby and sailed for the Army.  He reached the rank of Major.  He did Special Air Service training (SAS) and despite his gentle and thoughtful style of writing and his consideration for others, he could stand up to threat and bullying; he was definitely not a man you would trifle with, ot without cost.  He worhed in many countires including, Canada, New Zealand, Nepal, South Korea, Germany, Norway, Fiji, and others.  He saw active service in Northern Ireland. He also worked in the Army Pay Corps in later years and became an expert in setting up computer networks for salary distribution in areas where the British Army were ensconsed.  After retirement, he became a Regimental Secretary to the Royal Welsh and looked after museums, royal visits, ran the magazine, visited battle sites and much else.  he died when he was 73 years old.

He had great hopes for Poet and we had regular conversation about it, but he has not lived to see the fruition we anticipate.  I apologise unreservedly for writing this on the main forum but thought you might like some background on his life  and might miss it on the off topic forum.

David