‘Ipswich has lost a stalwart historian, author and a mine of information; a sad loss. Bob gathered his information from a number of sources including his work (for the EADT), as a researcher and simply from his love of boats, the sea and associated ports.’ 

(John Norman, Chair of The Ipswich Society)

 

‘From adventurers and pirates, traders and tragedies, dreams and danger, Robert Malster, known affectionately as Bob, tackled a number of topics within his writing. Known for his diligence and all-round thoroughness, his talents will live on in his work.

Born in Norwich in 1932, he became a Freeman of the city following on from his father.’ 

(Eastern Daily Press obituary, 23.4.2023)

 

‘Bob greeted me cordially in a household that betrayed some of the strains of collecting large amounts of historical material. He had become a publisher – Malthouse Press – as well as being a writer. At the moment he also edited the Babergh District Council newsletter…

Bob had unfortunately arrived in Ipswich at the height of “redevelopment” in the early 70s , and he launched into a Seymouresque* denunciation of local politicians and planners. “If anything was ‘old’, they wanted to pull it down. I wrote my book on Ipswich partly to show people what they’d got”. ’

(Don Mathew: Cycling through Suffolk, 2002)

 

Having served his National Service in the Royal Air Force, Bob began his career as a journalist on the Lowestoft Journal. This led to his fascination with the fishing industry of the town and of East Anglia, the lifeboat service and so much more. He became a feature writer for the Eastern Daily Press and then the East Anglian Daily Times. 

 

His many books and articles are treasure troves of imagery and information, all presented and written with passion and flair. The Editor’s favourite is The Wharncliffe companion to Ipswich: an A to Z of local history (2005) which offers 262 pages of those nuggets about our town which frequently make the reader stop and think: ‘Well, I didn’t know that!’.

 

To those with an interest in local history, Bob was a familiar figure at the meetings and talks organised by clubs and societies. He was a regular at Ipswich Society events and had close involvement with The Ipswich & District Historical Transport Society and The Ipswich Maritime Trust, as well as giving occasional lectures.

 

Bob Malster died at Ipswich Hospital on Sunday, April 16. He was aged 90. He is survived by his daughter, Andrea.              

RG

[* After Seymour Krelborn, the main character in The little shop of horrors.]

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