RobertUSHERWOODRobert (Bob) was born in Cinderford, the Forest of Dean, just before the end of the 2nd World War, to Audrey (nee Root)and Ernest (Bill). The family moved back to Romford, where Bob grew up as an Essex lad and began his devotion to Essex County Cricket Club. When his father's work took them down to Devon, Bob achieved four good A Levels and went to work for Devon County Library, in Paignton, where he met a lovely young library Assistant, Hazel Quick. They married in 1967 and had two much-loved daughters: Julie and Tania. He also had two sisters: Gina, who predeceased him, and Deborah.
Bob moved back to the South East and became a successful senior librarian, one of the youngest chief librarians at the time, at the London Borough of Lambeth. He also held posts at Havering and Sutton, and went on to teach at the Polytechnic of North London before becoming a lecturer and then Professor at Sheffield University, achieving a doctorate. He researched and published prolifically and continued to be very involved with the library profession. He became President of the Library Association. He also taught in many countries overseas and several of his books were translated into other languages. Following the death of Hazel in 2017, he married Margaret McCaskill in 2020, an erstwhile colleague who had taught at Loughborough University.
Bob was much loved by his family, colleagues and friends. He enjoyed cricket above all other pursuits but also country and western music and the theatre, especially Pinter. Above everything, he was a kind, gentle and loving man whose presence is deeply missed.
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