Robert V. Adams, Chair of the WGGB Books Committee from 2004 to 2009, and also a member of the Guild’s Executive Committee, died on New Year’s Eve at the age of 70.

He had a marvellous career, starting work as a gardener, hotel cellarman and prison officer at Pentonville, but before long becoming governor of a young offenders’ institution, resigning to become director of a Barnardo’s community project keeping young people out of the criminal justice system. He became an academic and held several professorial positions relating to social work.

Robert Adams edited and wrote many books about crime, protest, empowerment, social work and complementary health. But he also wrote children’s books, poetry, short stories and novels, under different names. His novel Antman was published in 2005 and is a psychological thriller about a man who uses ants to kill people. He also wrote the crime novel The Really Dreadful Crime Company and was a member of the Crime Writers’ Association.

Many of his books are centred on Hull and East Yorkshire, where he lived with his wife Yasmeen in a house they designed and built, with a garden running into unspoilt woodland, on the outskirts of the ancient town of Hessle, a stone’s throw from the Humber Bridge.

As Chair of the WGGB Books Committee, Robert was enthralled by the possibilities of new technology in publishing, and his big project was to set up the Writers’ Guild Books Co-operative, intended to help authors to publish their own works as ebooks and by print-on-demand. Unfortunately the project foundered, as most participants wanted the WGGB to be their publisher, rather than participating in a true co-operative, which was Robert’s vision.

But even when he became ill, Robert was still enthusiastically working out new ways to regenerate the idea of the co-operative.

WGGB General Secretary Bernie Corbett said: “Only a few months ago Robert was phoning me and emailing me, keen to get working on some new projects. We have lost a truly original and committed author. Everybody who knew him in one part of his multi-faceted life is amazed to learn how many other lives he was leading simultaneously. What an inspiring colleague we have lost.”

Robert Adams’s funeral will take place at 1.30pm. on Friday 16 January 2015 at Haltemprice Crematorium, Main Street, Hull HU10 6NS. Afterwards, Tranby Lane, Anlaby, for burial; at 3pm a reception at the East Riding Rooms on the Weir in Hessle.

Sheila MacLeod, former Chair of WGGB, said of Robert V. Adams:

“I was really saddened to learn of the death of Robert Adams, whom I knew from the Books Committee, of which he was Chair for several years – beyond the call of duty, it seemed to me.

“We had a really good committee (again it seems to me) in that we all liked and respected one another. Robert was the sort of person you instinctively trusted to take charge, whatever the situation might be. And whatever that situation might be, his integrity shone through and won the day.

“We did argue, but nothing ever got nasty or out of hand, thanks to the ever-temperate and judicious supervision of our Chair. Being of a more cynical turn of mind than Robert (and having been lobbied by many of our me-me-me members), I felt from the beginning that the publishing co-operative wasn’t going to work, but I really regret for his sake and for all the others who got involved that it foundered.

“On a personal level (which in fact probably comes down to a few conversations in the pub along with other colleagues after our meetings) I have to say that Robert was consistently sympathetic, responsive and friendly. I may have made him sound humourless in being such a good person (which he undoubtedly was) but in fact he was always witty and that twinkle in his extraordinarily blue eyes had us all captivated.

“RIP, cher collègue. I’m glad and privileged to have known you.”