During the war years, schoolchildren from school in Southampton were evacuated to stay with families in Bournemouth. Having won a scholarship to Tauntons School, Bob was evacuated in 1941, aged 11, to share the premises of Bournemouth School, alternating their ‘theory’ and ‘practical’ lessons in the mornings and afternoons each week with the Bournemouth School boys. He admitted that he was no great scholar, preferring the playing fields to the classroom!