Death of Bob Bickerdike at 89

by John Jefferies Sun Jun 14, 2009 12:30 (086) 3004573

Bob's funeral will take place in his adopted home town of Youghal on Tuesday next, 16th June. There will be an 11am service at St. Mary's Collegiate Church (Church of Ireland) which is in the centre of the town (off the North Main Street). Bob will be buried afterwards in the church grounds of this historic medieval church.

See link below for map of Youghal (No.20 is location of St. Mary's Collegiate Church).

by Contaminated Crow Sun Jun 14, 2009 22:05

Bob also played a part in the campaign against the proposed Merrill Dow factory in Killeagh, Co. Cork, from which I remember him fondly. Ni bheidh a leitheid aris ann.

by Margaret O'Regan. - SWP. Mon Jun 15, 2009 10:54

One of the activities in Cork City that I remember Bob attending was the demonstration outside the o2 shop in Patrick Street a few years ago. Bob, in his eighties, marched with us in a circle for a full hour in the scorching heat. We were protesting at the o2 mast erected in a residential part of Mayfield.

I also had the privilege of being present when Bob received his 'Working Class Hero' award from Cork Mayday Committee this year. He made a marvellously uplifting speech about a future socialist Ireland and world. Despite his frail appearance, his voice was strong, and, of course, his command of the English language, and the articulate way he spoke, was electrifying. He was a natural orator.

Bob is a huge loss - his actions and words will never be forgotten. To his family and friends, I extend my utmost sympathy at his sad passing.

by Eanna Dowling Mon Jun 15, 2009 11:22

Bobby was an inspiration for generations of activists and people interested in positive developments for their community. Known affectionately in Youghal as "Bobby Presto" in recognition of his roots as a clown and entertainer in the "fit ups" travelling shows, Bobby was self educated, articulate and fearless. His life spanned the period from the Irish War of Independence to the end of the Celtic Tiger and he kept a sharp mind open to local, national and international developments throughout those historic times.

He experienced poverty during his life on the road and he settled in Youghal to raise his family. Bob developed a strong sense of injustice when he surveyed the conditions of workers and unemployed alike. Bobby stood for election successfully to Youghal Urban District Council in the 1980s. He opposed the double taxation of water charges and was jailed because of it. His was a powerful clear voice during the Merrill Dow campaign late in that decade, a jobs v environment debate that split the community. Bobby was able to understand that jobs at the plant would have gone to highly educated technicians with specific pharmacological skills, with few core functions open to the local skill pool.

Well into his 80s, Bobby spoke out against injustice and war. He was one of the early members of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament in Britain in the 1950s and continued to oppose the use of Shannon airport as a US military stopover. He continued to contest local eletions until 2004, when aged 84, he failed to win a seat.

Bobby will be sadly missed by family, neighbours and friends the length and breadth of Ireland and beyond.

We'll not see the likes of him again.

by Ray - Cork WSM - pers cap Mon Jun 15, 2009 12:25

Bob's life was an example of active citizenship, an example that will live on to inspire future generations of socialist activists in the Cork region and beyond. I offer my sincere sympathies to his family - our loss in the activist community pales beside the loss of a father, grandfather, and friend. His memory will live forever in our heats - salud Bob!

by Fintan Lane - Anti-War Ireland Mon Jun 15, 2009 14:15

Yes, Bob will indeed be badly missed. He was a stalwart of the anti-war movement in Cork, regularly travelling the many miles from Youghal up to Cork city to attend meetings and events of the Cork Peace Alliance and, later, the Cork Anti-War Campaign. He was also a regular at anti-war demonstrations at Shannon airport and was particularly appalled at the support given by the Irish government to the US war machine.

A kind man with a good heart - his presence will be missed.

by Fiachra Ó Luain Mon Jun 15, 2009 14:43

Bob,
It was wonderful to meet you in Shannon that last time.
You and many other people were such an inspiration to me during the Merrill Dow campaign and your legacy lives on.
Codladh Sámh.
Fiachra Lamb

by Edward Horgan - Peace and Neutality Alliance Mon Jun 15, 2009 16:41

Bob Bickerdike has been an example to us all of the power and wisdom of a non-violence approach to peace.
I remember him on several occasions at peace vigils at Shannon, including one in September 2005 when 10 peace activists were attested at a sitdown at a roundabout. I hope to attend his funeral tomorrow if anyone wants a lift from Limerick. His belief and support for Irish neutrality is even more relevant now in the run-up to the second Lisbon Referendum.

Ar dheis De go raibh anam Bob Bickerdike.

by Tim Hourigan Tue Jun 16, 2009 11:28

I also have fond memories of meeting Mr. Bickerdike at Shannon.
We hope to plant a tree in his memory near the airport at some stage during the summer. His spirit lives on, and he will be remembered.

by John Jefferies Tue Jun 16, 2009 14:20

There was a great turnout in Youghal this morning for Bob's memorial service and funeral. The sun came out and glistened over Youghal Bay.

by Fr. Donal Hussey - St. Joseph's Church, Elko, NV Tue Jun 16, 2009 17:23 irlarmy at yahoo dot com

I knew Bob growing up in Youghal, as we all did, by the name 'Presto.' He got that name, I believe, from his interest in photography, and I still remember him for the great activist that he was. Though he was not popular in some circles for his socialist views, he had the courage of his convictions, even to getting elected to the local town council so that he could be a voice for those who did not have any. And certainly, in those days, without people like Bob, many would have been ridden over roughshod without his intervention and innate sense of justice. He did have an enormous amount of energy: he needed it to keep up with all his activities which were often centered in Cork City.
I remember him on one protest againt local refuse charges: again, he did not mind public derision as long as people's consciences were informed.
He also had a most pleasant wife, who run a hairdressing business for many years. I believe, sadly, she may have passed away from cancer some years ago.
We need the Bob Bickerdikes of this world lest we trample on people's dignity.

by Edward Horgan - Irish Peace and Neutrality Alliance Tue Jun 16, 2009 22:50

Today's funeral service in Youghal was a celebration of Bob Bickerdike's life as a peace activist and social activist. He is resting in peace overlooking Youghal town and harbour.
I suggest that we do a tree planting ceremony for him at Shannon, possibly on the weekend of 5/6 September 2009. This will coincide with a peace conference being held at the Park Inn hotel at Shannon on 5 Sept.
We would welcome ideas as to what Bob's choice of tree might have been.

by treestruck Wed Jun 17, 2009 00:51

A solid oak would be my first guess, but it takes a long time to mature. So other suggestions remain to be made.

by John Jefferies Wed Jun 17, 2009 09:51

I suggest a Rowan Tree, grows quicker than oak and produces nice orange or white berries which birds like to eat and humans can eat if heated. The Rowan has always been highly regarded in this country and was believed to have magical powers - used by druids for their staffs and to guard against evil spirits (like the US military presence at Shannon or Shell in Mayo). I'm sure Bob would have been able to say much more about the Rowan tree than I can.

by Treestruck Wed Jun 17, 2009 12:27

Nice suggestion, the rowan tree, also called mountain ash. Yes its plentiful pale red berries look good early in autumn. It grows well in urban surrounds as well as on acidic stony hillsides. In Gaelic it's called An Caorthann.

There was an eco-political magazine about 15 years ago called An Caorthann. Wonder if he read it?

Link: http://iol.ie/~mazzoldi/toolsforchange/zine/whatnext.htm

by Eanna Dowling Wed Jun 24, 2009 18:01 eanna.dowling at gmail dot com

I have recently come into possession of some tapes of interviews Bob did with Robert Allen a few years back, reminiscing on his life and times. I'm looking forward to transcribing them and publishing them. If anyone has any mementoes, photos or recollections of Bob that they could pass on to add to a tribute, could you please get in touch with me?

As for the tree, I have a selection of native trees in my garden that will need thinning out this winter. There's Rowan, Hazel and Oak amongst others. I would be glad to donate one to be planted elsewhere in Bob Bickerdike's memory. But I'd wait until the winter, until the growing season is done and the deciduous natives are dormant, before planting.

by Claudette Bickerdike Sun Jul 05, 2009 01:28 cbickerdike at imagine dot ie

Bob wouldnt bend in the wind. When he made up his mind nothing would change it. He was tenacious, hanging on reguardless of the outcome. Bob would face a firing squad for his beliefs.He reminded me of a Seqoia tree. Upright, strong and unmoveable. Bob liked all trees and would be tickled pink to think a tree would be planted in his honour. From a tiny acorn a mighty oak came. What a fitting tree for Bob.
On behalf of Bob, I would like to thank all you good people who stood with him through the years and took the time to see him through his final journey to a better place. He was delighted with the presentation to him as the workers hero of the year. A wonderful finale to his life that was dedicated to the working man, the environment, justice and peace. We married in 1963, a lot of changes took place in 46 years but we were always soul mates. Thankyou for your support to myself and my family. Claudette Bickerdike.