Stonehouse councillor Bob Vick dies (From Stroud News and Journal)

Stonehouse councillor Bob Vick dies

3:00pm Tuesday 11th March 2008

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FORMER Forest Green footballer, school teacher, town councillor and family man Bob Vick has died aged 66.

Mr Vick played for Forest Green in his younger days, having supported them since his youth, and taught at local schools before becoming a Stonehouse town councillor in his retirement.

Born in Newmarket, Nailsworth on November 4, 1941, Bob attended Stroud Technical School and played for Forest Green Rovers in the 1960s.

He met his wife Joan while studying to be a teacher at Loughborough College in 1963.

"He was a caring person," said Mrs Vick. "He got everything out of life that he could.

"We're terribly proud of him in everything he tried to do.

"He loved being with people and he was interested in everybody. He thought everyone had something to offer."

The couple married in 1966 on the day England won the World Cup.

"Our relations have never forgiven us for choosing that date," said Mrs Vick.

The couple moved to Stonehouse in the same year and Mr Vick became a member of the congregation at St Cyr's Church.

He taught woodwork, metalwork and technical drawing for more than 20 years at Maidenhill School before moving to Rednock School.

Sadly, only a year after retiring in 1997, Mr Vick was diagnosed with cancer and given a short time to live.

But instead of giving up, he stood for election to Stonehouse Town Council and he became governor of the Children's Centre and Park Infant School.

Mrs Vick said: "He just felt he had to live his life and show everyone that even if you've got cancer, you can still do your best."

"He was a great craftsman in wood and silver and even made silver jewellery," said Mrs Vick. "He enjoyed all the arts and crafts."

Town clerk Richard Lacey said: "Bob Vick was a quiet, modest man who brought to many local organisations a wonderfully innate sense of humour.

"A man of true faith, he put his belief into practice in the most practical way by serving his community in a dedicated and unselfish way.

"Bob's presence in the Stonehouse community will be very sadly missed."

The Stonehouse Millennium Stone on the Town Green was Mr Vick's idea and commissioned under his guidance.

Sadly Bob died in Stroud General Hospital on Sunday, March 2.

He is survived by his wife and sons Thomas and Daniel.

His funeral will be held in St Cyr's Church, Stonehouse on Friday, March 14 at 1.45pm, with a private cremation afterwards.

Mr Vick requested mourners to wear bright ties or scarves to symbolise his attitude to life.

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