Remembering Grandpa – Hugh Robin Rowland (1915-2008)

When God was writing the job description for the role of Grandfather, I think he must have had our Grandpa in mind. He was the model of what all grandfathers should be. Kind, patient, seemingly all-knowing and great company.

Most importantly for a Grandpa, he was also a fantastic link to our heritage - connecting us naturally to values and a world that it would be easy to forget.

We all respected Grandpa because we knew he had really lived. Anyone who has settled in three different continents, risen up the ranks of the Colonial office, played off an enviable golf handicap of 14, had a sillouette which directly resembled that of Winston Churchill and outlived the reigns of 19 different British Prime Ministers, deserves respect.

Given his intellect, Grandpa could illuminate parts of history that we would otherwise be ignorant of. He once brought to life for me Harold Macmillan’s ‘wind of change’ speech, whilst walking on the cliffs above Birling Gap. He explained how it was a turning point in our country’s sense of identity and signalled the end to the colonial era. It directly affected Grandpa and Grannie – just four year’s later Nyasaland was independent of Britain and they returned to the UK.

At a time when many of us place a premium on personal happiness, Grandpa embodied the value of the ‘service above self’. I felt it was only right to ask the British Government to recognise the contribution that Grandpa made to Queen and country. I wrote to Douglas Alexander MP, Secretary of State for International Development and to his immense credit, I received a response within days paying tribute to my Grandpa and ‘his impressive career overseas working for the UK Government’.

But Grandpa was very long-suffering of his grandchildren. He had our number all right! He always knew when we were playing a prank and was happy to play along. I once provocatively asked him if he thought it would be a good idea if Britain got rid of the monarchy, a la France. He was quick to dispatch the question saying, ‘I’ve never heard such nonsense in all my life’. His mock admonishment was laced with a typical softness in his voice and a twinkle in his eye. The repartee that you could share with Grandpa was something special.

Although the world Grandpa was born in changed almost beyond recognition in his lifetime, ours was a contemporary Grandpa. He had a laptop and could surf the web before most of us! My first laptop was one of granpa’s hand me downs! How many other people had grandfathers who they could stay in regular e-contact with his family as they travelled to different corners of the globe? That was our Grandpa; open to new ideas and new ways of doing things.

More than anything, Grandpa was a true English gentleman – never imposing but honourable, humble and humorous.

This is our time to say goodbye to you Grandpa; to thank you for the love you poured into us; and to re-affirm our commitment to pass on to our children, your example of how to live with faith, dignity and grace.

ENDS