Anchor’s “Robert Burns” celebrates 100th birthday at Yorkshire care home

Primrose Court care home in Guiseley, Leeds, threw a 100th birthday party for treasured resident Robert “Bob” Yates during which he was surrounded by family and friends.

Bob was born on January 25, the same day in the year that Robert Burns was born. His mum decided to use the name Robert when the connection was pointed out by the midwife.
Home Manager Joanne Lawrence said:

I was delighted that Robert’s family and friends chose to spend this special occasion with us all at Primrose Court. 

The kitchen provided a cake which reflected Bob’s love of carpentry. It was also the first time we had seen a card from King Charles and we felt honoured to be part of this special occasion.

Bob has a lifelong love of fish’n’chips which started when parents Samuel and Mona bought a chippy – Bob will always tell people that’s where he was born! 

He met his wife-to-be Doreen at the Bramley Conservative Club dances and dancing was a shared passion. Doreen was also a keen walker and Bob came to share her love so that walking in the Dales became a family event every weekend.

Bob was also a keen cyclist and a member of the Bramley Wheelers – thinking nothing of cycling to Scarborough and back in the same day, a round trip of more than 150 miles.
Professionally, Bob started an engineering apprenticeship and became an engineer’s pattern maker, a very skilled job.

He did national service in the army and was stationed in Malta, supervising German soldiers who could not return home because of the destruction of major cities.

While in Malta, he became a Christian and on return from national service worked as a charge hand at Tates in Bradford before joining the pattern making department at Meltog Engineering, where he worked until retirement.

Bob used his skills as a wood worker to sell items for charity, raising many thousands of pounds down the years. He was also part of a singing group that entertain residents at care homes.

The couple were also keen travellers, visiting the Americas, central Europe, New Zealand and repeatedly returning to his beloved Malta. With his son, he cruised from Moscow to St Petersburg and down the Danube after Doreen passed away.

Bob and Doreen had three children and two grandchildren. Asked his secret to long life, Bob says: “I don’t drink beer!”

More information about Primrose Court can be found here.