Robert was born to Mary (Cawthorne) and Robert Swallow during the final quarter of 1918 in Whitechapel, East London. He was the eldest of five children and one of two sons. He served on the HMS Belfast during WWII and subsequently became a builder by trade.

When young lived in Bethnal Green in Approach Road, Cyprus Street, and Sceptre Street. He joined the Royal Nayy in 1939 on HMS Collingwood and HMS Kimberley and served on the HMS Belfast as a Sail Makers Mate from 1944-1945. His action stations role was as Joy Stick Operator for Pom-Pom guns. He was on the Belfast when Shanghai was liberated and bought back Japanese prisoners of war. One of these prisoners thanked him in 2005 on the BBC Remembrance Show. His campaign medals included the African Star, Atlantic Star and Pacific Star

In 1951 he married Dorothy Tuck. Together they raised five children. Denis (adopted), Debra, Wendy, Robert and Amanda. Wendy and Robert were twins born in North Bucks around July 1957. Deborah was born on 3rd December 1955 and Amanda in January 1963.

The family lived in Bletchley until 1963 when they moved to Norwich for work. Around 1965 the family moved to Woodford to be nearer wife Dorothy's family. Dorothy died of cancer when she was 53 and Wendy similarly in 2000. Bobby moved from Woodford late in 2009 to live with youngest daughter Mandy in East Ham.

The picture above is circa 1939. Other pictures including an annotated copy of their wedding photo can be found by clicking on the following link: Robert Swallow Photos.