So Long and thanks for all the ghosts and hobbits: Robert ‘Bob’ Gilbert 6th October 1942 – 7th June 2026.

The Dad-Map is, of course, never really settled: borders and landmarks can shift and change. Well-trodden paths can suddenly, unexpectedly, develop surprising new forks and turns. However you choose to navigate this terrain, there will always be someone else doing it differently, coming at it from a different direction. So, what follows is no definitive guide, simply a brief tour of some of my own most memorable destinations. For me, mostly I picture my Dad located either at his desk in a study, or out walking, through a muddy field. Let’s begin with the study.