The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
‘Larger-than-life’ bingo boss Bob Jones, 67
Bob Jones, who was in charge of Gala bingo halls across a large part of Scotland, has died aged 67. He was based in Fife for many years but retired to Cyprus with his wife Carolyn a decade ago.
Bob had worked for most of his adult life in the entertainment and hospitality industry across the UK before settling in Scotland.
His son Matt said: “He was a larger-than-life person, very sociable and interested in people regardless of background.”
He was born in Stamford, Lincolnshire, in 1955 to his parents, Kathleen and Edwin Jones.
His Welsh father was in the RAF and Bob was schooled on service bases around the world including in Aden and Kenya.
When he was 16, he moved to Anglesey and spent two years as a police cadet.
Matt said: “After his time in the police, he went to work in the hotel industry in Leicester, where he met my mother, and they married in London in 1977.”
Bob and Carolyn had two children, Matthew and Sophie.
After a period working in the licensed trade in London, he joined the leisure firm Granada to manage bingo clubs in the West Midlands.
His next move was to take over the company’s flagship hall, Wythenshawe in Manchester, before a move to Glenrothes.
In 1995, Bob was promoted to Gala’s regional manager for Scotland, a post he remained in for 14 years.
He was known as a manager who cared passionately about his business and took a great interest in developing the skills and talents of his team.
After he retired from senior management, Bob and Carolyn moved to Paphos, Cyprus, where they lived for the last 10 years.
Bob was a passionate follower of the Wales rugby union side and a dedicated bridge player, playing regularly for his local club, at international tournaments and helping to develop new players.
He was a keen golfer and, while living in Scotland, a member of Balbirnie Golf Club in Markinch.
He will be sorely missed by his wife, children, grandchildren, and many friends across Scotland and Cyprus.