“It’s an old, old saying that the whole is greater than the sum of the parts.

“Esh Group is proof of that - as your results and achievements show.  The magic ingredient?  It has to be great teamwork.

“As a true North Easterner I love to see north east businesses use their talent and ability to raise their game.

“I have come to know people in Esh Group very well and the more I get to know about the Company the more impressed I am.”

This is an extract from Sir Bobby’s speech on Wednesday, 17th March 2004 when he was guest of honour at the launch of Esh Group’s new headquarters in Bowburn, just south of Durham City.

Sir Bobby and Esh Group have been friends for many years now.  It’s an association which has grown out of respect and admiration and Sir Bobby has become what could be described as an ambassador for Esh Group and its many companies such as Lumsden & Carroll Construction, Dunelm Property Services, Stephen Easten Building and Dunelm Homes.

Sir Bobby’s connections with Esh Group are both business and social.  He impresses everyone all the time whenever he attends an ‘official’ engagement with the company.  He is, of course, charming and interested to meet and talk to as many people as time will allow.  When it comes to signing autographs he is meticulous.  Each one is identical, carefully produced in beautiful cursive hand writing;
“Who’s it to?  How shall I spell that?  Any special message?”  he asks.

Sir Bobby’s interested in getting things right, all of the time.  It’s a hallmark of his.

Well before he opened Esh Group’s new headquarters, Sir Bobby agreed to become a trustee for the Esh Charitable Trust which was set up to support young people and communities in the region.  It’s clear that he enjoys the fact that both his roots and those of Esh Group hail from the same West Durham communities near to Esh Winning and that benefitting the people of the North East is a mutual concern.

Over recent years his many visits ‘on business’ have included opening Lumsden & Carroll Construction’s offices in Leeds and Dunelm Homes’ show apartment at Elmfield Road, in Gosforth where he showed his keen interest in the design and creation of modern living space.  One occasion stands out particularly for Brian Manning, Chief Executive of Esh Group:
“We’d organised a night for our clients at the Live Theatre in Newcastle.  As well as being an excellent venue, one of our companies, Stephen Easten Building had just completed a £3m refurbishment and we wanted to show off the wonderful job we’d done.

“Freddie Fletcher, who worked with Sir Bobby at NUFC and is now one of our executive directors, arranged with Sir Bobby to come.  What we’d forgotten was that it was European Cup final night and ‘Man U’ was playing!  Sir Bobby was even more entertaining than usual and he took the opportunity to get in a few barbed comments about the clash!

“But as far as he was concerned - he’d made a commitment and he was sticking to it and he made certain everyone had a good night. Audiences are always captivated by his wit and charisma, his fantastic memory for facts – particularly football - and his plain-talking, no-holds barred views.”

A true gentleman, Sir Bobby reminded everyone of his strong values and principles when he opened a new road named in his honour in July 2008.  ‘Sir Bobby Robson Way’ is part of the road network at Newcastle Great Park just off the A1, north west of the City and part of a commercial offices development built by Lumsden & Carroll.  In classic form he said:
“I am both flattered and overwhelmed by today – I fully appreciate the honour bestowed on me.  I wish everyone well who uses the road – please make sure you always drive along it with courtesy and care!”

Michael Hogan, a major shareholder and Director of Esh Group is one of Sir Bobby’s close friends.  Their connection strengthened when Michael assisted with the purchase and refurbishment of Sir Bobby and Lady Elsie’s home.  The two men share a passion for sport and spend many happy afternoons following the racing.  Michael explains:
“My wife, Rita, and I feel very privileged to have become so close to Bob.  I regard him as a person of the highest integrity, he’s a man who affords mutual respect to all people no matter what their background or wealth and that quality comes naturally.

“We have a lot of fun together - I entice him to have a bet or two on various sporting events.  It’s a bit of a roller coaster but great fun!”

Sir Bobby is a popular guest at Esh Group Christmas parties and is well known for still being on the dance floor well after midnight!  It was just before such an occasion that Sir Bobby launched his cancer charity and he spoke about it in a very emotional speech to the staff.  Their standing ovation that evening was just the beginning of their full support for his recent efforts.  Brian Manning explained:

“It’s not just the big things that Sir Bobby gets involved with.  Just before last Christmas he popped in to join us for a few drinks we were having for John Davidson, a long standing employee who was retiring.  It goes without saying John was absolutely over the moon to have him there!

“We couldn’t wish for a finer person to be associated with.  Sir Bobby is a true friend in our business.  Whatever he gets involved with he gives 100%, straight from the heart.  Everyone at Esh wishes Sir Bobby the very best with his latest fund raising efforts and, as always, we’re really pleased to be supporting him.”