Bob Symes

Bob Symes (also sometimes credited-as "Robert Symes-Shutzmann" or "Bob Symes-Shutzmann") is the stage name of inventor Robert Alexander Baron Schutzmann von Schutzmansdorff.

Descended from an Austrian aristocratic family, Bob Symes became a familiar face to British TV audiences of the 1980s through his appearance on popular shows including "Tomorrow's World".

In addition to his appearances on "Tomorrow's World", Bob also presented his own "Model World" programme dedicated to the hobby of modelling, on the BBC in the late 1970's.

A railway enthusiast, Bob's other activities included setting up the Border Union Railway in the 1970s to try to reopen a disused rail line in the north of England and restoring vintage tractors. Around the end of the second world war, Robert married Monica Chapman who later became Producer of BBC radio programme Desert Island Discs and Your Concert Choice. In January 2007 he married Dr Sheila Gunn, Works Manager at Boston Lodge, on the Ffestiniog Railway. His interest in railways also includes model railways such as Gauge 1, he has a gauge 1 railway in his garden that was created in 1980, many years later a 7¼ railway was also built in his garden. He is also the president of a Guildford based model railway circle called Astolat MRC.

Bob was also instrumental in setting up the Institute of Patentees and Inventors.

He lives near Guildford, Surrey, United Kingdom.

External links

* [http://www.youtube.com/bobsymes Bob Symes' youtube channel]
* [http://www.pefs.us/viewvideo.php?id=7F3M7JL1m-s Bob Symes' garden train set]
* [http://www.gaugeone.org/ Gauge 1 Website]