Tributes paid to one-man mine of local history
MARITIME EXPERT DID ALL THAT HE COULD FOR COMMUNITY
TRIBUTES have been paid to a Northumberland historian who has died after a long illness, aged 78.
Robert Balmer, known as Bob, spent more than 50 years researching the history of Blyth and the town’s unsung heroes.
In 2011, he was presented with an OBE at Buckingham Palace by Prince Charles for services to maritime heritage in the North East.
Gordon Smith, chairman of the Blyth Local History Society (BLHS), said: “Along with his voluntary work, Bob was highly respected for his achievements in local and maritime history.
“Many people from all over the country and abroad benefited from his painstaking research.
“The local studies collection at Blyth Library also benefited from his unpublished work and has helped many local history researchers.
“Bob did lots of work with community groups such as Blyth Resource and Initiative Centre, helping many unemployed people, and he gave his time to help anyone in the community.”
In 1971, Mr Balmer, who grew up in Camperdown, North Tyneside, became a member of the newly formed BLHS.
After agreeing to take on “all things maritime”, he produced an index of vessels lost between 1291 and 1972, from Berwick to the Tyne and five miles out to sea.
Mr Balmer also created a register of Blyth-built ships and tugs going back hundreds of years.
His last project was to record all of the men from Northumberland who died in the First World War, as well as recording the reports of military tribunals.
Maureen Dyer, life president of the BLHS, said: “Throughout his life, Bob was interested in encouraging young people to take an interest in their history and to involve them in activities such as taking part in digs to learning how to crew a sailing ship.
“He was also involved with local groups and charities. Whenever you were in Bob’s company you never seemed to leave it without having learned some new fact about local history.
“I feel privileged to have known him and be able to call him a friend. He will be sadly missed.”
Mr Balmer, a former security officer at Blyth Shipyard, died in hospital on August 1.