Obituary: Filmmaker and musician Rob Goodwin of Weymouth

Rob Goodwin, 68, of Weymouth, passed away on January 26 at home with his wife Jane by his side.

The much loved dad and 'pops' had been diagnosed with motor neurone disease and frontotemporal dementia but his children Hayley, Jack and Emily said their dad was 'still cracking jokes, loving them and helping others' right until the end.

Originally from Hyde, Greater Manchester, Rob and his wife lived in the Berkshire and Surrey area in the 1980s and 1990s and came to Dorset when he bought his business, Champagne Film in Weymouth.

Rob also played drums in local band Replay. At the age of 15 he became a professional drummer playing gigs in the north of England and soon on stages across the UK and Europe. His love of music would later lead to him playing in Berkshire-based band The Monty and going on to join Weymouth band Replay.

Playing in both bands gave him a 'great sense of joy', his daughter Hayley said.

After a professional drumming career spanning 15 years Rob became a lighting designer and sound engineer at Lakeside Country Club in Frimley Green, where he worked with some of the biggest music and comedy acts of the time.

Many friends and family enjoyed Rob’s stories from his times working with the likes of Bradley Walsh, Bobby Davro, Chuck Berry, The Shadows, Cannon and Ball and his favourite, Bob Monkhouse. Rob also worked with the BBC on their darts television coverage at Lakeside.

Rob Goodwin of Champagne Film

It was perhaps this connection with television which sparked his interest in buying video production company, Champagne Film in Weymouth in 2001. Rob and his wife Jane had met in Weymouth some 16 years prior while Jane was dancing at the Pavilion, so it was one of those 'it’s meant to be' moments when they managed to buy the local business and move their family to the seaside town.

Rob soon became a valued and loved part of the Dorset business community, making films for local businesses and charities, while also playing a pivotal part in the successes of awards events and charity fundraisers. He brought his years of experience and creativity to events such as the Dorset Business Awards and the Wessex FM Local Hero awards and helped charities such as Julia’s House and C'siders. He also contributed a lot to the local Lions Club's charitable and community activities.

Rob’s creativity saw no bounds, having also directed the world famous Cottle and Austen Circus for five years in the late 90s/early 2000s. He was also invited to design the lighting of the London Eye for the Golden Jubilee.

In Weymouth he contributed silly and fun ideas to his children’s school fetes at St Andrew's, where he came up with the ‘dunk tank’ which saw students plunge their teachers into a huge pool of water and the ‘jelly fight’, which caused chaos across the school playing field.

His family said: "Rob’s creativity, kindness and generosity led to a full life, one that inspired his family, colleagues and friends. He will be sorely missed, but his legacy will no doubt live on."