Robert Furnival(1928-1988)
- Writer
Robert was educated at Aske's School in Lewisham and was conscripted into coal mining during WW2. After the war he gained a place to study English Literature at Hertford College Oxford, one of the first working-class young men to make that transition. He then became a staff writer at the BBC.
Having lived for many years in an 18th century house in Twickenham, he relocated to a cottage in a remote part of Wales where he learned Welsh and attempted to integrate with the locals.
He had four daughters.
After his divorce he moved back to Twickenham where he lived in a houseboat on Eel Pie Island.
He died in 1998, drowning in the Thames just outside his local, the Barmy Arms in Twickenham. He was heading back to his houseboat, and decided to swim rather than using the footbridge.
Having lived for many years in an 18th century house in Twickenham, he relocated to a cottage in a remote part of Wales where he learned Welsh and attempted to integrate with the locals.
He had four daughters.
After his divorce he moved back to Twickenham where he lived in a houseboat on Eel Pie Island.
He died in 1998, drowning in the Thames just outside his local, the Barmy Arms in Twickenham. He was heading back to his houseboat, and decided to swim rather than using the footbridge.
