A singer who delighted audiences in Hillingdon for decades has died aged 91.
Baritone Alan Hobson, who was happily married to wife Jean for 65 years, died on July 26. He also leaves three children – Paul, 63, Cherry, 61, and Roma, 51 – 10 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Born in Tunbridge Wells on July 9, 1922, Mr Hobson joined the Royal Academy of Music during the Second World War, and it was there he met Jean Wescott.
The couple were married in Uxbridge in 1947.
Mr Hobson joined Covent Garden Opera, but because it involved a lot of travel, he left to be closer to his family. He was a long-serving BBC employee, and retired at 60.
He found other ways to perform, and appeared at Hillingdon’s premier arts venues – Beck and Compass theatres, Winston Churchill Hall and Christ Church in Uxbridge. In more recent years, he performed with Pastiche Musical Theatre, set up in 1997 by Mrs Hobson and Jean George.
Mrs Hobson, also an accomplished singer, became a full-time mother when their first child was born. They last performed a duet together at their granddaughter’s wedding two years ago.
Mrs Hobson said: “He was very much a family man, and his children were the main thing in his life. He liked nothing better than to have them around him.”
Daughter Roma said: “People were enchanted by his voice. Even in his old age, he still had an incredible voice.
“Mum and dad very much came as a couple. They did everything together. He was always by mum’s side, and there for his family. He was so kind, loving, funny and generous, and also loved nature and animals.”
The family would like to thank Hillingdon Hospital and Hillingdon Carers for their kindness in caring for Mr Hobson. His funeral is at Breakspear Crematorium on Friday at 11.30am.
