Tributes to Bob Samson – a lover of life on land and at sea

BOB Samson hitched rides on bombers during the Second World War, built racing boats by hand and ran a Broughty Ferry company employing up to 50 joiners and apprentices at its peak.

He died on March 19 aged 94, just over a week short of his 95th birthday.

Mr Samson had been chairman of the firm Robert Samson funeral directors, founded as a joinery firm in 1913 by his grandfather, also Robert Samson.

Mr Samson received his primary school education in Monifieth before moving on to Grove Academy.

His son David said his father always had a passion for working with wood, so a move into the family business was a logical step. He joined his father George in the firm aged 15 in 1941.

Mr Samson was too young for war service but joined the ATC. It was at this time he and his fellow cadets made frequents forays to airbases in the Dundee area.

They managed to get exhilarating flights on almost every aircraft flying at that time, including a Halifax bomber and a Sunderland flying boat.

In 1947 Mr Samson met his future wife when he was invited to tea with the Morris family.

David said: “Sheila’s father Bill asked him for a go on his motorcycle. My dad asked if he thought he could handle it. Off Bill went in a puff of exhaust. Later, Bill showed my dad all his motorcycle trophies.”

Another of Mr Samson’s passion was sailing and he built his first boat in his youth before joining Royal Tay Yacht Club in the late 1940s.

It was during this time Sheila, then his fiancee, earned the distinction of becoming the first woman to attend the yacht club’s annual meeting.

In 1987, Mr Samson took a step back from day-to-day operations but remained as chairman until 2000 when David took over as managing director.

Mr Samson remained a committed sailor until well into his 70s, David said.

His passion for working with wood continued and he built most of his own sailing boats including Flying 15s and Kittiwakes. He sailed mainly around the Tay, the Fife coast and out to the Bell Rock.

Mr Samson’s last boat, Solan, was a five-berth cruiser. It was a sailing boat with a back-up engine.

In summer he would sail it to St Abbs and Sheila would follow by road.

Both Mr and Mrs Samson were made honorary members of Royal Tay Yacht Club.

In his younger days, Mr Samson enjoyed skating at Dundee ice rink and playing informal ice hockey games.

His passion for aviation continued throughout his life. He flew from Riverside and almost completed the required hours to gain his private pilot’s licence before a period of ill-health set in.

In the mid 1990s Mr Samson combined his love of Hawaiian music and his interest in travel by taking his wife to the Pacific island.

By contrast, they also visited Antarctica by flying to Chile and sailing south before returning via Buenos Aires.

Mr Samson was also a longstanding member of Abertay Probus Club.

David said: “My father was a gentle man and a gentleman. He was a fair man who was skilled in wood, fair in business, well liked and a great communicator.”

At the start of December last year Mr Samson took ill and was admitted to Ninewells Hospital, Dundee. He was later transferred to Royal Victoria Hospital, Dundee.

Due to the coronavirus

Bob Samson lived a packed life but was most happy when with beloved wife Sheila.