Traditional send-off for Mexborough landlord Bob

TRADITIONAL Scottish pipers played as a popular publican was laid to rest yesterday.

Fife-born Bob Lowrie was licensee at Mexborough’s Park Hotel, where his sociable nature helped him make many friends from behind the bar.

The 62-year-old died just weeks after doctors discovered he had untreatable cancer and a brain tumour.

But loving wife Maria said the traditional bagpipes were a fitting send-off for Bob and something that would have made him proud.

“We got into the pub trade about four years ago,” she added. “It was my idea, because after an operation on my back I wasn’t able to do the driving part of my job as a financial consultant.

“I was fed up with being at home, so Bob sold his cleaning business and we moved to the Park Hotel.

“He took to it very well, although he would always prefer to be in front of a bar than behind it.

“He would make friends quickly and easily, he was a very sociable person.”

Bob, who is also survived by his two daughters and four grandchildren, joined the merchant navy at 15.

His family moved to England while Bob was serving, and he re-joined them south of the border afterwards.

He worked at Cortonwood Colliery for a short time, and then joined a gas company working on the roads.

Maria (63), said: “Bob was keen on fishing, and would often go on trips for the week.

He ran a racing club through the pub, and would organise days out at the races.”

After Bob complained of feeling unwell last month, doctors first thought that his diabetes was deteriorating.

But further checks revealed that he had several inoperable tumours.

“Bob had diabetes, and we lived with that as many people do,” said Maria. “When he wasn’t well we thought it was that getting out of control. But then they found tumours on his brain, his lung and elsewhere.”

His funeral took place yesterday morning at English Martyrs Catholic Church, followed by a wake at the Park Hotel.

Maria said: “We had a traditional piper in a kilt and all his regalia playing music in front as everyone went into church.

“Nobody else knew I had arranged it, and it was something Bob would definitely have approved of.”