It's wonderful that so many miss Bob Jones
To thousands of people he was the first-ever Police and Crime Commissioner for the West Midlands. But to his family, Bob Jones was a devoted husband, father and grandfather.
As hundreds of mourners were today gathering to celebrate his life at Wolverhampton Civic Hall, his widow Sarah Edmondson has been drawing strength and comfort from the hundreds of cards and letters she has received since he passed away suddenly in his sleep at the beginning of the month.
Mr Jones was just 59 years old and the cause of his death has still not been established. A private family funeral was also be held today.
Long-serving Labour supporter Mrs Edmondson, who married Mr Jones in 1981, paid tribute to her hard-working husband she met five years earlier when he had sought to cut his political teeth by contesting the then-safe Tory ward of Park in Wolverhampton. He would go on to be elected to Blakenhall in 1980 and serve for 33 years before relinquishing the seat after being elected Police and Crime Commissioner.
It was role he did not believe should even exist. He preferred the old system of police authorities that he had served on for decades representing Wolverhampton, but decided his experience made him the best candidate to take on the job.
Mrs Edmondson said: "He was always busy even before he became the PCC. He would leave the house at 7.30am and if he got back before 9pm I'd count myself lucky.
"Sometimes he'd ring me from the train or the Metro and say 'get me a pint in'." Mr Jones lived not far from the Newhampton Inn. He and Sarah had a shared love of beer and have been leading lights in the Campaign for Real Ale.
He enjoyed people's company outside of work. But he was also very much a people person at work. Mr Jones was insistent on having people around that would disagree with him and put the opposing view.
"He did not like 'yes men'," Sarah said. "He liked to be challenged so that he knew he was considering things from other people's points of view.
"If he was doing a job, his whole heart and soul would go into it," Sarah said. "He would listen to everybody and he'd do everything he could to help them. But he kept Sundays free for me."
What little free time Mr Jones had would be spent doing things with Sarah, her daughter from her first marriage Frances and granddaughter, Emma.
Mr Jones was a member of Talyllyn Railway in Wales. He also took a keen interest in the Kingswood Trust in Wolverhampton, which is a charity that gives children learning experiences in a natural environment. His family has asked that anyone wishing to make a donation in his memory can give to either of those organisations.
Sarah must wait to hear from medical experts what happened to Mr Jones, but said he did not have a heart attack. Mourners attending the Civic Hall today were being asked to wear something red. The cards and letters have been gratefully received.
"You cannot imagine until you go through something like this how helpful it is to send someone a card or some flowers. I want people to know just how grateful I am that they care so much.
"Bob believed in people. He listened to them. They decided his way of life. And he was always determined that they would have their say. So it's wonderful that they've been telling me that they miss him, too."
