Milkman turned coach boss 'Rocky' dies aged 84

Robert 'Rocky' Adams had been ill since suffering a stroke at Christmas. He died at the Manor Hospital in Walsall on Friday.

He was described as a larger-than-life character who loved a pint with friends at the end of the working day.

Mr Adams started the family coach business, Adams Tours, in 1971 with one red Commer minibus.

It followed years of holding down three jobs - as a milkman, furniture remover and a minibus driver.

Adopted at the age of three, he worked with cattle on local farms after leaving school before joining the Merchant Navy where he worked on The Eastern Prince, which was acquired by the Ministry of Transport in 1945 for use as a troopship.

He did his National Service in the Army but his time was cut short after he was shot in the leg and had to be flown home to recuperate.

It was after leaving the Army that he got a job as a milkman with the Co-Op, starting his 18-hour working day at 5am, driving a horse-drawn milk cart from the dairy in Bloxwich to his delivery round in Penkridge. Later he took over the round on the Mossley estate in Bloxwich, where he lived.

In the afternoons he worked for Dawson's Furniture Removals, finishing the day as a driver for Dawson's Coaches, transporting teams between pubs for darts and dominoes matches.

The father-of-eight took over the driving business when he started up on his own, expanding to do trips for schools and clubs and general tour trips. Much of his work was with special needs children. The company is now run by two of his sons David and Robert.

David said: "Dad was a hard-working man and he passed on that work ethic to his family.

"But he also loved a pint and he loved socialising. There was nothing he enjoyed more than a Banks's Mild at his local, The Sir Robert Peel, at the end of the day.

"He was known to everyone as Rocky, a childhood nickname. When he was on the coaches, a lot of his work was with schools. He often played Father Christmas, giving out presents, children loved him. Then he was taking their grandparents out on club trips and days out as well. Everyone knew and loved him."

Mr Adams and his wife Doreen, who lived on the Mossley estate all their married life, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in January(2014).

He leaves five sons Andy, Mark, Paul, Robert, and David and two daughters Susan and Karen - son Steve died from a heart attack in 2009 - and 75 grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

The funeral will take place next Wednesday(11th) at Streetly Crematorium at 2.15pm followed by a reception at Bloxwich Memorial Club.

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