When I think of Bob I think of wood - because Bob loved wood. I can see the logs neatly stacked to dry for winter burning in the stove, the woodstore proudly made by his own hands. I can smell the wood panelling in his favourite room. I can see the balsa wood model airplane currently under construction over by the window. I can see the bowl of hickory chips soaking in water in readiness for the summer barbeque which was always held on a glorious sunny day in August. He never did tell me how he managed to arrange that.
My friend Bob Couchman was a gentle, caring person who loved life, nature, children, order, and civilisation. He was a very special person to all who knew him in his professional life as a heating engineer, as well as in his personal life.
In the world of domestic heating he was a champion of solid fuel heating systems. A designer and consultant of national repute, he was a true innovator who relished the mental stimulation of a real challenge. "I wonder if that would work", would be the prelude to hours, days even, of drawings, mathematical equations and formulae of a scale and number beyond my reckoning.
He was a counsellor and problem solver to people with heating system difficulties throughout the length and breadth of Ireland. He would leave no stone unturned in his quest for the right result for his client. This, routinely, would require of Bob a time and energy investment in a project at a value beyond the return to him as a consultant.
In recent years he had the time to indulge his many and varied interests. In addition to airplane model making he enjoyed making his own wine, reading books about early British naval exploits, collecting comedy films, and country walking. Above all he loved to entertain children and was a masterful story teller. He had a child-like curiosity in things mechanical and enjoyed the opportunity when children called to test a model airplane and check to see if his model steam tractor could still generate sufficient energy to negotiate the driveway.
Bob Couchman has sadly taken his leave of us but he has left a legacy of wonderful memories which will remain with us forever.