Hermits pay tribute to Rob

A TALENTED Oldham keyboard player, who toured around the world with Sixties supergroup Herman’s Hermits, has died of cancer aged 59.

Robert Birrell joined the famous band in 2002 and toured with them in Australia, America, Scandinavia and Germany before he left two years ago on health grounds.

Rob, who leaves a wife, Anne, and two children, was a popular figure on the Oldham music scene, sometimes going by the stage name of Rob Scott.

He was the resident keyboard player at the Hartford Social Club for a number of years, as well as playing at the North Chadderton Social and Bowling Club and other venues across Greater Manchester.

And it was the talent he showed off in Oldham’s clubs that caught the eye of Herman’s Hermits.

Barry Whitwam, the original drummer with the group, whose hits included “Into Something Good”, said: “When one of our guitarists left, we wanted to replace him with a keyboard player, so we could recreate some of the sounds from our early records.

“Rob had backed one of our members on the cabaret circuit, who recommended him to us.

“Rob was hugely talented. He was a great all-rounder, who was able to sing lead as well as play the keyboard. He was a really up-tempo character and a good laugh — we had a great four years on tour with him.”

Originally from Glasgow, Rob moved to Greater Manchester in the early 1970s, settling in Oldham in 1975.

His wife Anne, of Amberwood, Chadderton, said: “Rob was such a joy to be around.

“Everyone who met him thought he was wonderful. He made everybody laugh.

“Wherever we went, he would always jump on the piano or keyboard and have a go.

“When he played with the Hermits at our daughter’s wedding, the whole place erupted.”

Robert’s funeral will be held at Hollinwood crematorium at 1.30pm this Friday.