It's not altogether a surprise – he was getting on in age, and he had been feeling unwell and slowing down for at least a couple of years.
But still, it is the passing of a great, colourful, larger than life character.
I can’t remember when I first met Bob, but I've known him for close to twenty years.
He was actually the first person I saw at my wedding on my wedding day... because he was leaving.
I was late —which frankly is a bride’s prerogative— but he was so cross at how late I was that he stormed out of the wedding, bumped into me outside, fortunately turned around and went back in.
And then afterwards, he gave me a rundown of the things he enjoyed and didn't enjoy about the wedding, inducing: could’ve kept the champagne and canapes going for longer and could've skipped the dinner.
He gave some pretty unusual life advice.
When I was pregnant with my son, we had dinner with Bob one night and he spent a long time telling me that my son would wear me out because boys are energetic, and that if I had a girl next I would probably think there was something wrong with her, and might want to take her to the doctor but there would be nothing wrong with her – boys are just more energetic than girls.
He was right of course.
Not everyone loves Bob. I know that. He was a polarising character, but he had something that many of us could learn from, and that was a wicked sense of humour.
He laughed a lot. He played pranks. He enjoyed mocking things he didn’t like.
He was incredibly wealthy, but not pretentious – e grew up in a state house in Naenae after all.
And he was very clever. Read anything he’s written – you’ll wish you could write like him.
I count myself lucky to have known Bob Jones.
He's one of those characters we seemed to have had a lot of in the 70s and 80s but don't seem to make nowadays.
As someone else said today: New Zealand is duller without him.
Heather du Plessis-Allan is a journalist and commentator who hosts Newstalk ZB's Drive show HERE - where this article was sourced.
3 comments:
Heather, i posted this in David Farrar column also. Oddly enough a mate and I were sorting out the world's problems late 1 night a few nights back and how very few people laugh now days. Bobs name popped up about him also agreeing that very few in this country have a sense of humor. I then told my friend the following story.....
I didn't really know bob well, but we always acknowledged each other. I had discussed several things with him over the years.
This particular night i was in juniper with a friend. We were around the back and no one else was there. This chap walked in, it was Bob. He headed straight for us. He walked over to me and put his hands on my shoulders and said " I've booked this whole place out, you chaps are going to have to leave immediately " he declared. My friend and I looked at each other and then back to Bob. Then a big smile appeared on his face, then he started to laugh.
He had got me good.
I turned to him and said " F@#k off Bob ". He left with a smile.
I tell people the story of the day I told the great SRJ to f off . Even with more fondness now.
RIP Bob.
Like you I will miss sir Bob and his piercing wit and various comments and posts.
I recall clearly voting for his party The New Zealand Party.
I also bought his book "Letters" back in the 90's and found it very interesting and enjoyable.
Farewell Sir Bob . RIP.
Any chacters like Bob are now suppressed by consideration of cancellation or political correctness. His wealth and status granted much exception but not total. Bob withdrew his court case against the smart arse maori girl who challenged his appropriate maori observations. With a myriad maori business and maori dominated govt deaprtments and agencies and Counils I guess considerations of the risk of a boycott of leasing property from his empire prudently prevailed.
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