Bob Wade

[Richard Coombs]

It is with huge sadness that I post on here of the passing of Bob Wade.

A phone call from David Wilde earlier let me know the news, he in turn had been phoned by Bobs Sister.
Probably a few others in our community were also told , so this won't be a surprise to many who read this Board.

But I thought it best to put it on here so that nobody who would wish to know is left out.

This was on another site , and puts things into better words than I can:


We are very sorry to hear of the death of Robert ‘Bob’ Wade this Monday aged 98.
Bob was a top performer, and taking inspiration and guidance from Fred Tickner, became a highly respected puppet maker. Places on his teaching courses were highly prized and he set many a performer on the right road. He had high standards and was a force to be reckoned with, stemming from his days as a military physical trainer, but he put great care and thought into his all work. He entertained thousands, and his ‘Wade Puppets’ remain highly valued.

[Chris]

Yes, indeed a sad loss, but what a splendid age to reach.
I liked his puppets. They had a softer look than many Punch figures and I quite like this for today's Punch Show which often has a very young audience. Fred Tickner's figures also have a lightness which I find attractive.
I think both their figures rarely come up for sale, which suggests their work is treasured. They were both quite prolific.
Bob was surely unique in being the only British Punch maker who had his work pinched by Indonesian puppet makers.