A native of Manchester, Bob has lived in Cockermouth for 35 years. He founded Cockermouth Amateur Dramatic Society (CADS) in 1984, and its rural touring offshoot, the A595 Theatre Company in 2000. He has been associated with the Kirkgate Centre since it was first proposed in 1990. A teacher of English and Drama for much of his career, Bob started volunteering for the Kirkgate Centre when it opened in 1995, taking various roles including programme co-ordinator. In 2005 he started working for the West Cumbria Rural Touring Scheme (now Arts Out West) and later guided its transition from local authority control to Kirkgate Arts. He then became Artistic Director of Kirkgate Arts until his retirement in 2013.
With Chris George and Kate Parry he pioneered the Georgian Fair, and is now chair of Cockermouth Festivals Group, which organises the annual Cockermouth Live! weekend. He enjoys performing as a member of La’al Beggars Community Opera Group and Sing Owt Community Choir. He is currently clerk of the Cumberland Area Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers).