Robert Hobson

Robert was born in 1940 in the village of Downe, Kent. From the age of 15 he worked for a Lloyds insurance broker, and in 1969 established a flourishing insurance business which was sold in 1995.

A keen cricketer, Hobson played for the Old Dunstonians until Father Time caught up with him, and he turned his attention to golf, becoming Captain of West Kent Golf Club in 1995.

Today, he continues to support the club which lies in a valley just a quarter of a mile from where he was born. More recently Hobson had the honour of being made the Master of a City Livery Company – The Worshipful Company of Distillers.

Some twenty years ago Hobson discovered secret documentation relating to this late father’s wartime experiences as a Lieutenant Commander in the Royal Navy, and the unique underwater weapon known as the “Chariot” or “Human Torpedo”.

There was little published information about this fascinating and important aspect of naval warfare, or the remarkable achievements of the men involved, so Robert set about creating memorials, a museum exhibition and finally a book – “Chariots of War”.