Robert Roy Golding, known to many as Bob, passed away on January 4, 2022 after a short illness at the age of 84.
Husband of Her Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant for Bristol Peaches Golding, he was responsible for helping form the first collection for Jersey Zoo, running the Zoological Garden at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria and establishing the first RSPCA wildlife hospitals in the UK.
Bob, who was born and raised in Bristol, also made improvements to Cotswold Wildlife Park, Windsor Safari Park and supplied interpretative materials for a large proportion of aquariums in the UK and Europe.
He was born Robert Roy Golding on December 13, 1937 and his interest in the natural world was evident from an early age, never waning.
From observing snails with his grandmother in their Bristol garden, keeping reptiles in the garden shed and even a snake in the grandfather clock without his parents' knowledge, he expanded his fascination of animals.
He gained valuable experience in the care of exotic reptiles and amphibians at Bristol Zoo, while still at school and his desire to pursue a career in this area soon came to light when well-known naturalist Gerald Durrell offered Bob the job of assisting him on an animal collecting expedition to the Cameroons, West Africa in the latter part of 1956.
The trip lasted six months and is even the subject of Durrell's best-selling book 'A Zoo in my Luggage', where the Bristolian is referred to as Durrell's 'young assistant Bob'.
Bob's next opportunity came in 1963 when he took up the post of Curator, then Director, of the Zoological Garden at the University of Ibadan in Nigeria.
The University had a large academic, technical and support staff of Nigerians and many other nationalities from around the world and, here, Bob enjoyed such diversity while becoming involved in the community and it's hub, the university's staff club, where many a friendship was formed.
Bringing wildlife to the people - up close and personal
At the zoo, Bob gave visitors the opportunity to see wild animals up close and in a new light - something his loved ones say brought him great joy.
According to them, it meant a great deal to Bob to see that a zoo could stimulate an interest in people from a multitude of different backgrounds - something that is still part of zoological life to this day.
The zoo's collections were expanded through arrangements with other zoos and targeted additions from approved field trips. In 1965 and 1966, Bob returned to the Cameroon highlands to collect, with formal permission, small numbers of animals such as the brow-leaf or African giant toad.
Ten years later, he asked friends on a trip to the Cameroon highlands to take with them a jar with a preserved specimen to show local people and ascertain if they knew this toad.
Like the one he kept in his parents' grandfather clock as a child, Bob's love for snakes continued to grow at the zoo and at his home on the university campus, too, where he kept a huge Burmese python in the garage.
Late one night, during a party, police arrived in smart uniforms but not to put a stop to the party or deal with complaints about the noise, but rather to see Bob's famous snake.
Spreading his knowledge far and wide
Before too long, Bob's ever-growing experience at Ibadan in zoo development, animal breeding, exchanges with other zoos and scientific contributions in little explored subjects, meant he was expertly qualified for roles on numerous boards and committees of relevant organisations, as well as consultations and significant positions at managerial and director level.
From 1978 to 1988, these included posts at Chessington Zoo, Cotswold Wildlife Park and Windsor Safari Park, ensuring them to be successful enterprises and much improved attractions for the public.
In 1988, Bob then set up his own company, Natural Habitats Ltd, offering natural history products and services.
These were supplied to dozens of aquariums in the UK and mainland Europe and he continued to work with numerous other zoological and wildlife parks, museums and botanical gardens until his retirement in 2008.
The flower he loved most
In retirement, Bob created his website - www.bobgolding.co.uk - entitled 'Animals, Africa and other secrets...'.
It includes around 400 photographs of West African animals, people and places, as well as a number of true short stories, work with other zoos and zoo publications.
There's also a section on tropical hibiscus, as his delight at their amazing blooms in Ibadan led to a highly significant collection of hibiscus and other tropical plants in his conservatory in Bristol.
The Hibiscus flower even became his wife's signature, with a fresh flower in her hair everyday.
Bob loved to share this joy with others - a 'flower of the day' might regularly be emailed to friends, as would be timely and poignant messages inspired by world events, or simply humorous ones to tease curiosity with an unusual photo or fairy tale story for a bit of fun.
Bob’s short stories combined scientific interest and personal experience, in an accessible way. Particularly poignant is the story of a royal python born in the wild in Nigeria, and given to Bob for its safety in 1979, shortly before his return to Britain.
It lived in a vivarium in his bedroom in Bristol for 25 years, but he later doubted the decision to take it there, concluding that should he meet the Great Snake God in the Sky, he would have his answer ready: “Sorry!”
Proud of his family and all they themselves have achieved
Bob died in Bristol, the city he loved and where he lived for most of his life. He leaves behind daughters Amanda and Samantha, grandchildren and a great-grandchild, as well as his wife Peaches and son Charles.
Very proud of his family, he strongly supported his wife's own most interesting career, especially in 2017 when she became Her Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant of the County and City of Bristol.
They shared an interest in snakes, tropical plants, and the natural world at large, as well as a joy of travel, to America - Peaches’ home country and where Bob’s sister Jennifer lived for some years - and particularly Italy.
Their love of that country and its people inspired them to learn Italian to a high standard, and led to many friendships.
Bob was very proud of Charles and his achievements in the field of digital media, including design and delivery of complete stage sets, like those for The Brit Awards and the recent Earthshot programme.
"He ignited a fascination"
His wife, Peaches, spoke of the relationship between herself and her late husband, which she described as being "wonderful" and told Bristol Live: "The life Bob and I crafted in Nigeria and in the UK spoke of our joint love of wildlife, the environment and conservation education.
"Bob’s ability to introduce everyone he met to the wonders and beauties of the natural world was an enormous gift.
"Through his company ,Natural Habitats, and his website and writings in recent years, he ignited a fascination about and an engagement with, the animals, plants and landscapes within all our grasp.
"I am so inconsolably sad about his death, but incredibly grateful for all we shared and continue to share. His legacy will be an annual award to a secondary school pupil in the City whose interests align with ours."
Those who knew Bob have spoken of his personality and the fact that his achievements required great dedication, inspiration, and creativity.
They describe him as an excellent communicator, who inspired interest and a desire for knowledge in others and who had the vision, understanding and connection as to how things would be perceived by ‘regular folks’.
He believed that zoos had to move into a modern direction, centred on the public’s interest in animals and plants.
His interpersonal skills ensured lasting connections with people at all levels, from zoo staff to community leaders and experts in their fields, to the benefit of many.
They also describe time spent with him as being "full of interest and never boring" and describe themselves as being "fortunate to have known him and to have had his friendship for a very long time. He will be sadly missed by a great many people who will all have their own special memories. May he rest in peace."
Remembering Bob Golding - his legacy for the future
Bob's wife, Her Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant for Bristol Peaches Golding, will be holding a Memorial Service in celebration of Bob's life in Bristol Cathedral on Wednesday, May 11 at 2pm to which all are invited to attend.
Instead of flowers, she is asking for donations to a fund for an annual award to a secondary school pupil in Bristol that excels in conservation, environmental or wildlife studies - areas her late husband was passionate about - established through the Lord-Lieutenant for Bristol's fund held by Quartet Community Foundation.
You can donate here.
Robert Roy 'Bob' Golding's funeral will be held on Friday, February 4 at Memorial Woodlands in South Gloucestershire and Bob will make his final journey in the same hearse used to carry Winston Churchill's coffin.
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