Rob’s death in December 2025 has left an enormous gap in FoHC. It’s hard to imagine any single individual having the skills and commitment to step into Rob’s place. His passion for environmentalism was prodigious.
His contributions should be acknowledged and respected.
These are not all of his contributions, and, as Aristotle said, “The whole is greater than the sum of the parts”.
He designed, created and donated our outstanding website. He acted as webmaster, creating many smarts for the benefit of all who worked with it. As webmaster, he managed and maintained the site. He single-handed created the Nature section of the website, locating, photographing, identifying and describing 95% of the 793 species listed. He consulted and built up a network of 20 subject specialists, including many county recorders, and only then authored the species descriptions, ensuring accuracy. He was meticulous in that the photographs of species were taken in Heene rather than using “stock” internet pictures. Furthermore, he authored >20 engaging, succinct and informative blog posts and a further 10 on behalf of other Friends.
The exceptional quality of his photography reflected both his care and skill. His speciality was macrophotography, bringing into view tiny insects almost invisible to the naked eye. His favourites being, as many of us will recall, hoverflies.
He was passionate about promoting and protecting the biodiversity of Heene. His work to achieve this included: bringing to light Heene’s status as a Local Wildlife site. Suggesting membership of the National Federation of Cemetery Friends and submitting text and photographs to enable our listing with them. Submitting text, photographs and species lists for the FoHC listing with Caring for God’s Acre. In the months before his death, liaising with “Weald to Wave”.
Authored 11 articles for the Botolph Bell, 7 for Inside West Worthing, 3 for Worthing Herald, 9 for Worthing Journal, 1 for Sussex Wildlife Trust. Rob designed and produced 70 “Species of the month” posters, 65 “species totals” and a series of A3 colour posters all for the notice board outside the gates. https://www.heenecemetery.org.uk/blog/new-a3-colour-posters-for-the-noticeboard
Rob identified a need for a new and accurate Welcome board inside the gate. He designed it and produced the artwork which persuaded the council to pay for it as it meant that the bill for the work was minimal, Rob having completed the costly part.
Rob designed and created (using his photographs) 2 rounds of greetings cards, the printing costs being donated by another Friend. https://www.heenecemetery.org.uk/blog/new-greetings-cards-for-2024 These were for sale to help raise funds.
Rob worked alongside other volunteers with routine tasks such as being a keyholder, setting out tables, welcoming visitors and explaining the site’s natural history. He gave natural history tours on Open Days. He made numerous contributions to the Committee when it existed.
His legacy, which will live on, will be that he raised local understanding of Heene’s environmental value in the local community. He inspired many visitors to the site to appreciate the biodiversity and the need to protect it, being a lifelong teacher he always had extra time to speak to younger visitors.
He would have liked to have seen the species identified list reach 800 though.
Jane Tomlinson