Robert ‘Sid’ Hearn

Posted: November 6th, 2023

Former horserace form and page production man, ROBERT SYDNEY HEARN – Sid to all on The Sporting Life – was born on April 1, 1937, and died on November 5 [2023], aged 86.

Paul Duffett writes: A celebration of the life of Robert Sydney (Sid) Hearn will be held in Greenwich, London, on the evening of Monday, March 11, 2024.
All Sporting Life staff are invited to remember one of our great characters, so please put the date in your diary and join us for drinks and a buffet at his favourite pub during his many happy years living in the area. The event officially begins at 6pm, but feel free to come earlier and enjoy the lovely ambiance of the Plume of Feathers (19 Park Vista, Greenwich, SE10 9LZ). There will be those – myself included – at the bar in the afternoon.
The Plume is well located opposite Greenwich Park and a very short walk from Maze Hill station, with trains from London Bridge, Charing Cross and Cannon Street.

You can read an edit of collagues’ tributes to Sid here: Tributes to Bob Hearn

Paul Duffett: “The news about dear Sid was particularly hard for me, though not completely unexpected. We have been close friends for at least the past 20 years, and colleagues for many more than that, firstly as golf partners and later socially, with our partners. We stayed in touch and met often during his many house moves, from flats in south London, to Norfolk, and then back down to Greenwich before his final move up to Perth in Scotland.

“Sid was diagnosed with Parkinson’s a few years back, but with medication, and great support from his partner Mary Helen, who has been his rock for the last 16 years, he managed his condition. With the long-term in their sights, they decided to move up to Scotland where they bought a big house and made it into a fantastic home, to include Sid’s dream of a snooker room. Sadly, before that all happened it was discovered that he had an inoperable brain tumour.

“Sid and Mary Helen (always MH to us), were married in a civil ceremony in October 2021. MH insisted that plans for the snooker room went ahead regardless, and the dream was realised last year. On a visit to them this January, I’m pleased to say we played pretty much all day and I even managed to take a frame off of him – just the one, mind.

“But Sid’s condition was worsening and MH was absolutely the best person to be in his corner, caring for him at home with help from the excellent district nurses and Macmillan Cancer Support.

“There will be many great stories from his earlier days on The Sporting Life, but for now I wish to send my heartfelt sympathy to MH, his surviving sons Robbie and Thomas, and the family. Sid wanted a simple cremation so there will be no funeral, but a celebration of his life is planned for early in 2024 in Greenwich, south London. He would have been all over that, regaling us with his stories and jokes. RIP Sid.”