About Me……Robert’s Fishy Tale .1959 – 2009

I’m 5’2” and I don’t like heights, so anything over 5’3” is too tall for me’ says Rupert the Fish, more properly known as Robert Stephenson, in response to a recent offer to take a trip in the London Eye. He chose not to elaborate on the 160’ bungee jump he did at the Town and Country festival a few years ago as a dare from a local radio presenter.

Rupert was a part of Coventry’s Market’s tradition, his family links to the well known fish stall dating back over 98 years.

‘It was called Southall’s until I changed the name to Robert Stephenson about 5 years ago’ he said ‘and we are one of the five longest serving businesses in Coventry Retail Market.

Rupert is a Coventry kid through and through, his mother being from Coventry, although his father was from County Durham.

Born in 1959 in the maternity room of the then Keresley Hospital – now the Carvery Dining Room of the Royal Court Hotel – he admits that even though he looks East and West, North and South, this is still his town, although many of the charities he supports tend to be nationally based.

‘We raised about £15000 for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution before we moved to the new stall last year.’ he says proudly of just one aspect of his charity work, which encompasses BBC Children In Need, The BBC WM and Coventry and Warwickshire Christmas Toy appeal, The Fisherman’s Mission

the less well known Dogs for the Disabled association and the annual lime tree club bowls charity day.

‘I collect foreign coins and do sponsored walks for the Dogs for the Disabled. It’s rather like Guide Dogs for the Blind, but the dogs are trained to help their owners more physically, and it’s very important.’    

Rupert also supports the homeless and lonely in Coventry , this Christmas he collected 10 large hampers of tinned and packet food at his stall , and on Christmas day he collected a tonne of food from the big stores in Birmingham , all to be shared by Coventry open Christmas , a  night shelter over the Christmas period for the homeless and lonely of Coventry.

He was made an honorary life member of Coventry’s Lime tree crown green bowls club in 1999/2000 for his work in supporting the charity event the club holds each year , Rupert has also often been Auctioneer at the annual charity auction night the club holds too, although he freely admits he only play the odd game of bowls he really enjoys the company and friendship the bowls club have shown to him.

Rupert takes all his charity work in his stride. He is matter of fact about the emotional work of collecting for the families of the young fishermen who died in the Solway Firth trawler sinking a few years ago, which meant he was invited to the House of Commons to receive an award for his efforts.

Rupert’s efforts to help the fishermen’s mission recently have been ” fish filleting displays” at the lions and rotary clubs , then auctioning the lots off in aid of the fishermen’s mission.

‘There is always an opportunity to help someone, and I find there is always a way of re-cycling things for the benefit of others, especially money.’ He says with his wide grin

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So, how did he get the name Rupert the Fish ?

“Well, years ago the mid 1970’s my old boss Les Swan, owned two greyhounds, and every Friday night we used to go ‘flapping’(illicit dog racing) at Hinckley, and on the way home we always called at the Bull and Butcher pub in Corley for Les’ half pint of old and filthy. On this particular day I was proudly wearing the latest fashionable yellow check flared trousers, and as I walked in Landlord Roger Phillips yelled out ‘Here comes Rupert the Fish.” It’s stuck ever since.’

He is a well known name on local radio, frequently being heard on BBC Coventry and Warwickshire’s Annie Othen show, and on BBC WM’s Ed Doolan show. His e mail contributions are regularly read out, as is his expert advice on matters relating to his interests.

Robert’s home life revolves around his animals, flowers and more importantly his family as well as his being on the committee of the Fillongley Agricultural Society. He has his own web pages which elaborate on his wide ranging hobbies, including dogs, ferrets, tropical fish poultry, rare doves and associated other birds – the web page on rare birds had over 12000 hits last year – as well as his collection of dahlias and wild flowers.

He also spends time on the boat he has off Anglesey.

‘We go out with fishing tackle, a box of worms and a crate of Budweiser’ he said ‘and we come back hours later with fishing tackle, a box of worms and an empty crate.’

On the business front, Robert is proud of his involvement with Coventry Retail Market, and is on the committee of the Market Traders Association. He feels that the redevelopment within the market area has allowed more people access to the stalls.

‘The old stall in the outer area was so cold in the winter that one day I cut my self badly and didn’t know until someone told me’ he said showing the deep scar. ‘But now it’s warmer we all get a fair share of the business, and each of the fish stalls has it’s own specialty. Mine is shell fish and game.’

Robert has an amazing amount of energy, and devotes a lot of it to people. His personal philosophy is that ‘I felt that I had enjoyed a lot of life, but realized that some people have a rough time, and so I try to give a bit back to society. Make people feel warmer, and give some good news. We need a lighter touch and I want people to show they care about each other.’

Following a lightning accident in August 2003 , Rupert now has reduced a lot of his activities , but continues to help when possible.

He now devotes most of his spare time to tending his garden and travels the country taking photographs of poultry and livestock for U.K. Magazines , Fancy Fowl and Smallholder , in which he has had a number of article and photos printed and for www.poultrykeeper.com web site

Written by: Stephen Brookes, MBE © 2002 (Coventry Web Columnist)