Robert Webster – Former Chief Barker (1981)
Variety, the Children’s Charity wishes to express its great sadness on hearing of the death of former Chief Barker Robert (Bob) Aird Webster on 16th April 2019 peacefully at home. Beloved husband of the late Tricia, much loved father of Catherine, Amanda and Ross and grandfather of Emily, Charlotte, Edward, Ellie and Charlie.
No flowers please, but donations if desired to Variety, the Children’s Charity.
Robert (“Bob”) Webster was the film booking director for ABC/EMI cinemas which, during his time, was one of the two most powerful cinema chains in the UK, the other being Rank’s Odeon and Gaumont operations. Born in Canada, he became Chief Barker in the year that an International Convention was being held in London, making many of the delegates from the US and Canada feel even more at home. Bob was instrumental in ensuring that Variety Club was well placed to stage Royal Film Premières because of his ability to make very large cinemas available to Variety, and is remembered for his generosity in doing so on many occasions.