Tributes have been paid to Bob Castle, an Ipswich legend who brought the iconic ski slope to Wherstead – and taught Sir Bobby Robson himself how to ski.
Bob Castle has certainly left his mark on the Ipswich landscape. A born teacher, Bob believed passionately in the concept of ‘sport for all’ - that everybody should have access to sport, from the most experienced players right down to beginners.
“His enthusiasm was infectious," said Bob’s son, John Castle. “If you’d have asked him how he would like to be known, I think he would have said, ‘I’d like to have made a difference.’
“He enjoyed doing things for his family, but it went further than that.”
Bob was born in Kent on August 28, 1941. After moving to Bristol to complete his schooling, he progressed to Loughborough College.
Bob qualified as a teacher and spent a short time teaching PE and geography at schools in London and the midlands before moving to Ipswich in 1971.
Here, Bob began work as a physical education advisor for Suffolk County Council, which was when his interest in outdoor adventure sports began.
It was Bob’s responsibility to investigate exciting new sporting opportunities for Suffolk schoolchildren, carrying out inspections to ensure that everything was safe.
He would even go on trips to resorts and hotels ahead of school trips, visiting ski resorts in Niederau in Austria and Forni di Sopra in the Italian Dolomite Alps.
Canoeing was a particular passion of Bob’s during the ‘70s, culminating in the formation of the Ipswich Canoe Club, where he becme known as Mr Canoe-ing
In the 1980s, Bob became consumed with bringing a ski slope to Ipswich, an attraction still popular to this day.
The Suffolk Ski Club had been established in 1980 with this aim, and, with Bob as the central driving force, a location was found in Bourne Hill, Wherstead.
With grant assistance from the sports council and financial and mentoring support from David Coe and Coes of Ipswich, Bob’s dream became a reality.
“The development of the ski centre was my baby,” Bob told the Green’Un, Ipswich’s former Saturday night football newspaper.
"I wanted to pass on my love for outdoor activity to other people so that they, too, could experience the magic of the mountains.
“Fellow skiers will understand what I mean. When you have learnt to ski, then you have acquired a lifetime skill in an environment that is truly unmatched. Skiing knows no class or age barrier.”
Over the years, Bob taught many to take their first hesitant steps on the slopes. John would help him in the early days, and remembers one particularly memorable visitor in 1982.
“One day, lady came in, and said: ‘We’d like to learn to ski. My husband’s here, but he’s a bit unsure,’ explained John.
“We told her we could help. We didn’t recognise the lady, but we went with her – and around the corner was Bobby Robson!
“We took him out with Lady Elsie, and he had his lesson on the ski slope.”
John and Bob were bemused, but incredibly proud to have mentored the Ipswich legend in his heyday.
Bob climbed the ranks of ski-instructors, eventually gaining an English Ski Council Coach award.
Some of his most memorable moments were trips away with Belsteads School, teaching children with physical challenges to learn to ski.
Bob was still skiing at 77, when he lived out ‘Grandpa’s Dream’ of taking to the slopes with all five of his grandchildren, who would encourage him to try ever more daring routes.
Bob Castle died on February 10, 2023, aged 81. He is survived by his son, John, his daughter, Sarah, his wife, Mary, and their five grandchildren.
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