Silsden Moor man Robin Oldfield passed away on February 15, at the age of 44, after a long illness that he took on with enormous courage and a total lack of bitterness.

Robin was born in York and spent his first five years there. The family then moved to Ilkley, where Robin went to school, first at All Saints, then the middle school and finally at Ilkley Grammar School. It was a very happy childhood.

After leaving school he worked for a short time at a local glazing company, where first he was nearly sliced in two by a falling plate glass window and then he hit the headlines when he managed to crash and roll the glass van he was driving, blocking the main Ilkley to Otley road for most of the day. He was sacked on the spot!

It wasn't long before he was back in work though, and this was when he started out in the fibreglass industry, an industry he worked in for the rest of his life.

In 1981, Robin set up his own company, "Glass Fibre Specialists", based in Bingley. The business manufactured just about anything out of fibreglass and quickly became established and successful, supplying many local and national businesses and gaining many excellent clients along the way. He continued to own and run the business until his illness made it impossible for him to carry on in June 2003.

Robin had a number of spectacular road accidents during his life, which led many of his friends and family to believe that he was trying to go out in a blaze of glory and become Ilkley's answer to James Dean! There was the time he was in a head-on involving a "driverless" Mini. And a truly terrifying collision with a stolen Ford Transit that cut the car he was in, quite literally in half. He walked away with just a few cuts and bruises, but it had been a very close call and it left the rest of his family in deep shock.

Throughout his life, Robin suffered many tragedies.

He lost his mother to cancer in his early 20s, his father and grandfather passed away a short time later and then his brother Mark died unexpectedly at the age of 32. All these setbacks he faced with a strength that beggared belief, and he remained composed, positive and good-natured throughout his ordeals.

He has two lovely daughters -- Hilary from his first marriage, and Hannah with his partner Becky. These three girls made his life complete and gave him fulfilment and all the security and love he needed for a very happy family life.

He was an excellent water skier, having learned the sport at an early age whilst holidaying with his family at his favourite place -- Kippford in Dumfries, Scotland. He was a patient and competent instructor too. With his encouragement and praise, a great many of his friends and family learned to water-ski.

Motor sport also played a big part in Robin's life. He had competed on-road rallies and auto-tests in the early 80s whilst a member of Ilkley and District Motor Club, and later he purchased a Lotus 7 and joined the Lotus 7 motor club. He recorded many top results but none sweeter than his victory at Harewood Hill Climb on July 4, 2004, in his last ever-competitive event! It was a remarkable feat by a remarkable and determined man.

Robin's strength and attitude during his illness made life a great deal easier for those around him. For long periods of time it was easy to forget that there was anything wrong with him at all, such was his spirit. Indeed visitors often found themselves pouring out their own troubles and ailments to him.

As a loving partner to Becky, a doting father to Hilary and Hannah, and an honest, true and reliable friend to those who became close to him, he will be terribly missed. It was a privilege to have known him. We just wish it had been for a little bit longer.

by David Gaunt