When Bob Flynn joined his wife's U3A writing course, it didn't take him long to find he had more than a few stories to tell.
Forbes in the 1940s and 1950s was fertile ground for childhood adventures and as Anna provided story topic prompts to her small group of students, Bob's memories flowed.
Writing became such a joy that Bob and Anna continued to host their writing group long after the formal course ended - right up until COVID-19 put a stop to such gatherings.
It wasn't long after that the Flynn family soon recognised these memoirs as incredible family history - and the fact young Bobby had an early talent with a camera has added to their value.
Now they've been bound into a beautiful pictorial book, and Bob came home to Forbes to share them with family and friends at his 85th birthday celebration.
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The book tells Bob's story, as the eldest son of Jim Flynn and Ella Agnes (nee Barton), and he's recorded his experiences of schooling at the Convent School and later Marist Brothers and Red Bend Catholic College.
Bob grew up around the family business, Flynn’s Fruit Mart, later known as “Flynn’s Fruit Box” and he made deliveries on his push bike to the Vandenberg Hotel, where his birthday and book launch were celebrated on the 15th of February this year.
Just a few of the memories of that era include the 13-hour train journey to Sydney on the Forbes Mail, getting picked up from school in Nana Barton's horse and sulky, and getting a "short back and sides" haircut at Joe Rogan's barber shop.
In Bob’s childhood there was much family excitement when a telephone was installed and an STC refrigerator became a saviour for the family of eight, followed by a family car, all in the early 1950’s.
Bob completed his automotive mechanics apprenticeship at Paddison's Holden Dealer, then he met and married Anna (Ans Dolle) and the couple raised their family in Forbes and later in Sydney.
Bob has donated a copy of his memoirs book “Those were the days” to The Forbes Library.
