Robert John Stewart Skelly was born on 6 May 1946 in Birkenhead. He passed away at King’s College Hospital, London, on 3 August 2024, aged 78 years.
I write this tribute as someone who has known Bob for almost 60 years. We met as students at Oxford in 1965. Both of us were reading English: I graduated in 1967, Bob in 1968. We then spent time together in Paris with Operation Mobilisation, learning French with a view to becoming missionaries to the French-speaking world. In fact, neither of us was to take this career path and we each ended up from 1970 teaching English – Bob at Alleyn’s School in Dulwich and myself in Gloucestershire. Christian mission in France was still on our hearts, however, and we both served for many years as trustees of France Mission, a UK-based missionary support charity.
Bob took early retirement from teaching after 30 years and entered local politics as a Liberal Democrat councillor for Southwark. He was executive member for education between 2002 and 2004. He served as Mayor of Southwark for 2007/8 and was chair of Bermondsey Community Council in 2008/9. He stood down from the council at the 2010 elections.
Bob was a committed Christian and this was reflected in his selfless engagement with many local charities. As a lay preacher, he was invited to speak in many churches across greater London, and was involved in the Young Pilgrims initiatives at Southwark Cathedral.
Bob loved to travel. Early in his career, he spent a year on a teacher exchange in New York state and a sabbatical term visiting almost every country in Eastern Europe. For many summers, he spent a month in France with Operation Mobilisation. He initiated a civic twinning link between Southwark and Clichy-la-Garenne, just north of Paris. He took part in many visits organised by the London Mayors’ Association.
Bob never married and in his later years became somewhat of a recluse, devoting himself to his many books (French Reformation history was a specialist area) and to frequent visits to London art galleries and museums. Ill health gradually came to dominate his life and was to result in a prolonged spell in hospital before his eventual passing.
It was a privilege to have known Bob for so many years. I know that he will be sorely missed.
Peter Farley (peterfarley1946@gmail.com)
You are invited to add your own memories to this website by using the form below. The website will stay active until the end of 2024. Together, let us “remember Bob Skelly”.
Below is the "valete" published when Bob left Alleyn's School. What a rich legacy!
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I never knew Bob, but I'm very sad to hear of his passing. I am a current Mansfield student and the room I live in is dedicated to him, so I wanted to know more about who he was. His name still lives on at the college which I think is fitting, considering his love for Mansfield.
I well remember Bob Skelly from Oxford days when several of us started recruiting our fellow students to go on OM. Maybe that's how Bob ended up with OM in France, and then on to France Mission - I can't now remember Bob's own personal journey in that respect . But I do remember Bob as chirpy, cheerful and full of good humour. In more recent years Bob used to come to the New Years Eve dinners for ex-OMers 'of a certain generation' at the home of Peter & Birgitta Conlan. The conversation and reminiscing stories told over dinner were invariably hilarious, with Bob a great contributor to the general bonhomie. I could somehow never put together in my mind the student Bob that I had known so many years earlier with the Bob who was Mayor of Southwark, but there is no doubt that he was remarkably versatile both in his varied roles and in his wide spectrum of friends. He will be sorely missed.
BOB SKELLY RIP - TRIBUTE BY SIMON HUGHES
Bob Skelly and I had many things in common. Born in Cheshire (though not in my case a Port Vale supporter), from early years with a strong and lifelong Christian faith, privileged to be first in our families to go to Oxbridge, we both moved from the north to settle in Southwark for more than 40 years, both committed to education and with particular links to AMMA, the Association of Assistant Masters and Mistresses (later to become part of the National Education Union), and then for decades first foot soldiers and then elected representatives of Liberals and Social Democrats ( later merged into the Liberal Democrats) in our borough.
Bob was clearly highly educated, greatly cultured, highly principled and committed to the highest standards in education and public service. Bob Skelly the education union national committee member, council candidate and councillor was one of those whose year-round door-knocking helped Liberal Democrats in 2002 for the first (and sadly so far only time) to win more Southwark votes and council seats than any other party and take over from Labour to lead our borough - which we then did for two terms. Bob’s career made him the natural choice to be the first and very effective Southwark Liberal Democrat executive member for education. Though mostly quietly spoken but always a no-nonsense northerner, Bob’s views once too colourfully expressed led to him stepping back from his executive role after two years - but only to re-emerge as the Council’s elected choice as first citizen for 2007-8 and the following year as Bermondsey Community Council chair. Both roles were carried out with huge commitment and competence - and gained popularity and respect across and beyond political parties.
The fact that Bob had stood for election in three different wards in the south, middle and north of the borough in four elections and over more than twelve years, before becoming a Bermondsey Grange Ward councillor for two successful terms shows his commitment to politics, principles - and really hard work. With all groups – from tenant and resident associations (and particularly no-nonsense Bermondsey female leaders) to union and council officers and fellow councillors and Mayors – Bob’s company and engagement were really appreciated. And Bob’s championing of Southwark twinning in 2005 with Clichy near Paris in his beloved France is a lasting and very live legacy. When Bob decided not to stand again, he helped to make sure that all seats in his ward re-elected Liberal Democrats – even though we lost overall control of the council!
Mr Skelly was I have no doubt a great Alleyn’s School teacher. Campaigner, councillor and Mayor Skelly was to me and many others a loyal friend and colleague. Local government and politics need more people like Bob. For many of us, Bob Skelly will always remain a political role model. Released now from deteriorating health may he rest in peace and rise in glory.
Bob was my OM summer team leader at Agen (1969 I think) and a faithful, reliable witness since at OM and France Mission events. Sadly missed, but he's with Jesus now.
Bob was one of my very first pupils — he began his second year at Mansfield College when I became English Fellow in 1966 — and it is a pleasure to have been in touch with him ever since. As a pupil, he was very responsive and industrious, and his warmth and loyalty carried over into years of friendship and into his lifelong devotion to the college. It was also a completely unsurprising pleasure, when I was at his school Alleyn’s as a visiting speaker, to see how much he was enjoyed and appreciated there among the dedicated staff teaching English. A modest man with a good deal to be more than modest about.
I can't say I have memories going back to the 60s (I wasn't alive!) but my overarching memory of "Uncle Bob" was his visits to our house in Minchinhampton. He graciously entertained me and my brothers in a way that engaged us fully (and now I am an adult I truly appreciate that this probably wasn't his first choice of activity when he could have been chatting about important academic stuff with my parents, or drinking wine!). He was the only one of my parents' friends who had the willingness to throw us around and give us "whizzies". Goodness knows how we never sustained an injury - I don't think children's shoulder joints are designed for such activities! Anyway - we loved it!!
I also know now that he was a dear friend to my parents, being their best man, and a faithful servant of the Lord Jesus. He suffered with ill health and frailty in the later part of his life and we can be encouraged to know he no longer suffers.
As for many others my memories of Bob go back more than 50 years to the late 60’s when he worked with our OM teams in France. Since that time his commitment to the work in France has never wavered; he regularly visited the summer teams during his vacation time and he was extraordinarily faithful in promoting the work of France in Britain via France Mission Trust.
But to be a little more personal, in many ways Bob was atypical…
If my recollections are correct, he came from a modest family and was the first to go to University. He subsequently proved to be an unusual scholar. He collected (and read) books as some people collected stamps; he could easily have been the founder of the “Book of the Month Club” although I would have changed the wording from month to day! His knowledge of the history of France and particularly the Reformation period was outstanding. We once did a weekend together on the contribution of Calvin to the history of the church in France and one of his talks was entitled : Ten things you didn’t know about Calvin!
Whilst respecting authority he systematically questioned almost everything, such was his quest for understanding the “reasoning behind the rule”. His “tongue in cheek” lite cynicism was frequently refreshing and thought provoking. His imitations of some of those with whom he worked, including me, were hilarious. His non-conformism meant that he could invest and be comfortable in different church traditions, politics etc. The breadth of his interests never ceased to amaze me.
He was a “bon vivant” who certainly appreciated the finer arts of French gastronomy and became quite a connoisseur of French wines! His incredible generosity meant that this went way beyond the theory as he frequently invited us out to meals…and I still have one of the bottles that he brought when he visited us!
A fitting tribute is well expressed in the letter that Paul wrote to the Philippian Church : “ I thank my God in all my remembrance of you”.
It has been a privilege to get to know Bob over the 30 years I have taught English at Mansfield. We discussed knee replacements, essay-writing, local history, the Reformation. He was a regular visitor to Mansfield and a stalwart supporter of his subject. He had the rare gift of attention and a lifelong commitment to learning. I will miss catching up with him at Mansfield events very much indeed.
Bob was an incredible friend to us at Mansfield College, Oxford University; an engaged and involved alumnus of the College, (having studied English from 1965) serving on our Alumni Association Committee for many many years, and a truly supportive champion of the college, particularly our work to widen access to the University. I was lucky enough to get to know Bob through Mansfield, and always enjoyed his visits to us for meetings - which he always wanted to do in person, stopping off at his favourite bookshop in Oxford en route, inevitably having made a purchase! Bob will be deeply missed here.
Bob's faithful et repeated presence along side me during many summers of OM summer events was a clear and deep expression of his love for French people who needed the gospel. His frienship during those years was such a blessing !
Bob added alot of depth to my understanding of French church history. I still have some books on my shelf he so willingly wanted to share with me.
Bob wanted to see the church advance here in France, and his commitment and involvement in France Mission Trust over the many years reflected this.
Now Bob has now entered the celestial city and is in the presence of his His glorious Savoir, the Lord Jesus !