Mr Bob Eagle
For Bob, it started with a curiosity about how things work. That led to an undergraduate course in Natural Sciences, at Cambridge, and movement from physical sciences to studying how living systems work - hence a final degree in Biochemistry. After just a year of medical research a change was required, achieved through a course in chemical engineering at UCL. The combination was an ideal introduction into food research, latterly with one of the UK's major confectionery manufacturers.
After the "back room" of research came the limelight of external and public relations, using hard-won technical knowledge as the basis for corporate communications. Early retirement provided the opportunity to form a new company to continue these activities on behalf of the industry, pursuing such arcane matters as the European "Chocolate Directive". Chocolate was the trigger for a re-introduction to the Ri - helping out with the programme for the 200th anniversary Chocolate Day on Sunday February 13 2000. In 2004 Bob joined the Council with the purpose of ensuring that Members' interests are taken fully into account whilst Council drives the evolutionary changes needed for the Ri to continue to meet the objects defined in its Charter.
Bob Eagle is one of four existing members of Council who voted in favour of the refurbishment project in December 2005 - after a great deal of thought and discussion with the Honorary Treasurer, whose clear and unequivocal advice was that the project should be delayed until such time that funds had been fully secured. As stated at the recent Special General Meeting, when the scale of the financial problems became clear in early 2009, Bob discussed with the Chairman whether or not Bob should resign from the Council. He was persuaded it would be preferable to be part of the team which developed the solutions to the issues and therefore decided to stay.