Rob Trueblood was a devoted teacher, union leader, and community advocate who passed away at the age of 73. He was originally from Benin City, Nigeria, where his mother Megan worked as a midwife and his father Alf conducted research on palm oil as an agronomist. During his upbringing, Rob resided with his maternal grandparents in Blaenavon, South Wales, which remained a significant place in his heart.
Upon his return to the United Kingdom, Rob relocated to Hereford with his family before moving again to Manchester, his father’s hometown. He secured a scholarship to Cheadle Hulme School and then pursued geography courses at the University of Bristol. After graduation, Rob began his teaching career in Bolton, where he taught geography at Harper Green School and, later on, at the Deane School. During his tenure, he became a long-serving secretary of the National Union of Teachers branch and an active member of the Labour Party.
After working for the Groundwork charity in Oldham and helping to eradicate poverty in the region, Rob transitioned to Rochdale’s Hopwood Hall Further Education College, where he assumed an administrative role that entailed revitalising the campus’ amenities.
Rob was a nature lover who enjoyed staying active outdoors, exploring the mountains of Scotland, moorland of Lancashire, and canals of Manchester. He was an expert on history, geography, and politics and enjoyed sharing his knowledge with others. He also founded and contributed to various community efforts, including the creation of a cycle path in south Manchester and a local history project called Artisan Naturalists.
During his retirement, he dedicated a significant amount of his time to volunteering at his local nature reserve, Philips Park, in Prestwich. In 2020, Rob was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis, which confined him to his house in Prestwich, restricting his mobility, but not his passion for participating in local politics and supporting community initiatives. Thanks to his efforts, a plot of land that he could see out of his bedroom window is now designated to become a green community garden.
Rob is survived by his daughter, Megan, her mother, Jo Smith, and his sibling.
