Robert, whose wife suddenly passed away last year, will walk the entire British coastline (and beyond) to raise money for charity in her memory
“She was everything to me, absolutely everything,” says Robert, whose wife died in December, aged just 68.
"I came back from work and I found Linda and she’d sadly passed away, it was completely out of the blue. I went through some really, really, terrible times. Mental health just fell apart."
As we chat on a bench along Brancaster boardwalk, Robert tells me they were together for more than 22 years.
“I’m not over-exaggerating when I say she was the kindest, most incredible person you could ever meet, she would put everybody above herself.
"She loved other people, she loved children, she was just amazing in every possible way.”
The lovely Linda
Next April he will start a walk in honour of Linda - which he's calling Linda's Legacy. To raise money for two local charities, Tapping House and East Anglia's Children's Hospices.
“I’m going to head east and literally cover the whole of the country, the mainland of Great Britain, I’m also going to do the Isle of White and Anglesey.
"It’s going to be at least a couple of years, and if it takes a lot longer than that then so be it. I’m going to come down this path that we’re sitting on, head that way, and one day I’ll come back!"
"I went to very dark places and it was awful, but this has given me such a purpose,” Robert continues.
“A certain amount of time passes and you don’t in any way come to terms with things, but you sort of realise this is the reality.
“And I was inspired, in various ways then, to actually not give up and move forward. And I’ve taken Linda’s inspiration really to walk to raise money for charity."
“The main aim of me doing this walk is raising money, but I’ve also had a lot of interaction with fellow people grieving, to chat with other people that have undergone similar circumstances has been really comforting.
“A lot of people around the country have already contacted me, and said when you’re here I want to walk with you, there’s a cafe here we’d like to buy you lunch - which is wonderful."
The walk will begin on what would have been Linda's 70th birthday, "Every step is helping other people, whether it be through charitable donation or if someone sees me and it helps with their grief."
He's done a million steps since the end of March, in training. I ask what Linda might think of his venture.
“She’d think I was completely potty, we did love walking, we did love exploring, and a lot of people have said that she would be proud, and I just really hope that’s true - I’m doing it for Linda.”
I imagine she is immensely proud.
Wishing you all the best Robert - we shall be at the boardwalk to wave you off next year!