Bob was born on 12th February 1927 in Newtonards, County Down, Northern Ireland, where he grew up the eldest, and last surviving in a family of 8 boys. Adventure played an early role in bob's life when, as a 12 year old he ran away from home and, with a friend, took a coalboat to England. The two boys reached as far as London and were eventually spotted by a policeman sitting on a wall in Trafalgar square, reading comics.