Rob

Finding community, purpose and peace of mind at Broadleaf House

Rob has always been a man on the move. From travelling the world in search of the finest ceramic tiles to helping neighbours as a volunteer driver, he has filled his seventy-eight years with activity, conversation and business deals.

Six months ago, he moved from a large house in Sutton Coldfield to Broadleaf House, an Adlington Retirement Living community. The decision, prompted by a desire for more camaraderie, has given him a new circle of friends, plenty to do and a lighter heart.

Early years in Smethwick

“I was born and bred in Smethwick,” Rob begins, sitting in his ground-floor apartment with Toby, his Bichon dog, snoozing by his side.

At seventeen he landed a trainee post with Henry Hope & Sons, a window manufacturer beside the West Bromwich Albion ground. “That gave me a grounding in engineering, sales and the art of talking to people. We were making plastic windows under licence from a German firm long before most people had heard of UPVC.” He studied part-time for an ONC and HNC.

After five years the company was taken over by asset strippers. “I could see the writing on the wall,” Rob recalls. “I’m a commercial animal so I thought if I joined a smaller outfit, I could make a big difference.”

A new direction: from windows to tiles

A chance meeting with a Midlands entrepreneur, Philip Batty, launched Rob into ceramics. He joined the Midland Tile Company in 1970 and, within a year, secured a contract worth a then astronomical £150,000 to supply tiles for the refurbishment of Château Impney near Droitwich.

“That got me noticed,” he laughs. “Tiles are not complicated. The trick is to spot beauty, know your margins and talk straight.” Travelling to trade shows, he was captivated by Italian design. “I told Phil we needed to hop on a plane to Italy, find an agent and import the best.”

Founding his own firm

In the middle of the 1973 three-day working week, Rob opened the doors of his own business. “Generators were keeping sites going, the economy was on its knees, but I thought what have I got to lose.” Fifty-one years later the company is still thriving. Rob handed full control to his son Adam last year.

“I gave him the lot,” he says simply. “He worked in the business; he deserved the chance. My daughter Sarah had the family house.”

Running a tile firm brought travel that a grammar-school daydreamer from Smethwick could never have imagined. There were buying trips to Japan, America and Europe. A favourite tale involves being bumped up to first class on a flight from Tokyo to Hong Kong. “They poured champagne, apologised for the mix-up and next thing you know a white Rolls-Royce is whisking us to the Mandarin Hotel. We had a fantastic time on that trip. The food was outstanding. I remember thinking the fruit platter on crushed ice was worth more than my house!”

Not every culinary adventure appealed. “Raw fish still puts me off. They tried to give me the eye of the fish as a delicacy. No thank you. I liked the Tempura and I did enjoy the Kobe beef, but sushi really isn’t for me.”

Marriage and family 

Rob met Linda at a youth club in the late sixties. They married in 1970, set up home in Halesowen and later moved to Sutton Coldfield. Sarah arrived in 1973 and Adam in 1977.

In 1992 Rob and Linda parted ways. Rob moved into a friend’s house, then bought a modern property on the Walsall Road that he expected to keep only briefly. “I called it Stepping Stones, but stayed there for thirty years.”

Volunteering and friendship

Rob is a big believer in giving back to your local community. “I am not a religious man, but I have Christian values. If you are blessed, give a bit back.” He has raised money for Cancer Research and the British Heart Foundation, driven friends to appointments and now visits a local care home every Friday with Toby.

“Two of the residents, Jean and Eileen, light up when Toby arrives. They adore him. Some cuddle him, others just enjoy his soft coat and calming presence. Watching a room full of people smile because of your dog and knowing that we’re bringing them a bit of joy, that’s priceless.”

Toby is a four-legged icebreaker at Broadleaf House too. “He loves people watching. On warm days we sit outside, and he surveys his kingdom. Visitors stroke him, homeowners call his name. The vetting process for pets was thorough, which I appreciated. Not everyone wants animals under their feet, so manners matter.”

Why Broadleaf House

By early 2023, Rob found himself spending more time alone than he liked. Golf and snooker were out of reach after a knee operation and peripheral neuropathy made long walks painful.

Rob toured several retirement villages. “Broadleaf House struck the perfect balance. You own your home, staff are on site all day and my dog was welcome.”

He chose a two-bedroom ground-floor apartment that opens onto landscaped gardens. “The view from this lounge sold it to me. I can step outside with Toby, watch the sun move round and see what the gardeners are doing. I paid a bit more for the view and it has been worth every penny.”

Moving day was painless. “I bought here before I sold my previous property, so there was no chain. Adlington arranged solicitors, removers, even the paperwork. I kept the furniture I loved and gave the rest to charity.”

Everyday life at Broadleaf House

Rob’s diary is full again. On Mondays he plays bridge at the golf club. Every Thursday he joins an exercise class in the activities studio, and on Fridays after taking Toby to visit the local care home, he joins the walking group in the gardens followed by coffee on the terrace.

“Being part of the community is a huge plus. The activities really help foster that sense of connection. You can get as involved as you want without feeling pressured. That was important to me.”

He often has lunch in the restaurant. “Yesterday’s Sunday roast was superb. I wrote it in the comments book. I like to give praise when it is deserved.”

He has started ‘Bobby’s Bingo’ – he laughs that no-one calls him Bobby, but it sounds jolly – and he plans to join a group trip, organised by neighbour Gloria, to see War Horse.

New friendships have blossomed. “Tony is eighty-seven, sharp as a tack, a chartered surveyor. Chris and Judy moved in last month. Vera, aged ninety, joined the walk last week. Six of us sat in the gardens afterwards sharing gin and tonics from the honesty bar. I picked up the first round, someone else will get the next.”

Staff are a reassuring presence. “Becky, Amanda, Marta, Charlotte. They’re all great. They fetch parcels, sort my phone when it plays up and they are here at three in the morning if you pull the cord. You are not pestered, but you know help is there. That matters as we get older.”

Advice to would-be movers

Rob has watched friends hesitate. “People say they will come when they are ready, but often they leave it too late to enjoy the freedom. I’d say, do not wait until illness forces your hand.”

He urges prospective homeowners to visit other communities, speak to homeowners and imagine daily life. “Ask yourself: do you want to clean gutters or sit in the sun with friends? Do you want to drive miles to see a doctor or press a button and have help on the way?”

Rob is frank about finances. “Service charges are money, of course they are, but weigh that against a leaking roof, gutter cleaning, gardens and security alarms and it is good value. The guest suite here beats any spare bedroom and saves you heating and cleaning a room that sits empty.”

Looking ahead

Rob insists he will never be idle. “I have pictures to hang, books to read and Toby to walk. If my legs give out, I will get a scooter and explore anyway. The point is life here makes that possible.”

Although Rob currently enjoys driving his electric car, he’s practical about considerations for the future. “There is a scooter bay ready for the day I need one. Bus stops outside the gate take you to Birmingham or Tamworth. The cinema does a Wednesday morning club. Five pounds gets you a film, coffee and a biscuit. I had not been on a bus for years, but it is liberating.”

Has the move lived up to expectations? He pauses, watching Toby twitch in his sleep. “I settled in quicker than I ever thought. Loneliness has gone. I see more people now than in the previous twenty years. You keep your independence, you gain companionship, and you shrug off the worry.”

In typical understated style he adds, “I am not sure I will ever feel completely settled, maybe that is just me, but this has certainly been a big improvement. I’ve joined in more. I’m making more connections and those good friendships are a huge positive in my view.”

As afternoon sun pours through the patio doors and lights the freshly planted beds, it’s hard to argue with him. Rob Willis has found a place that matches his energy, his values and his need for community, and Toby seems to approve.