Robert Sinclair Grant was born on 14th April 1932 and grew up in Hammersmith at 20 Rivercourt Road. His family also had local connections with Wolverton Gardens and Weltje Road.
Best known for his role as Jack Harper, the scheming and lecherous clippie in ‘On the Buses’, a label that he tried to shrug off for years. The popular television series ran from 1969 to 1973 and there were also three film productions.
For his National Service, he was commissioned in the Royal Artillery.
One of his early stage roles was in Lionel Bart’s ‘Blitz’ at the Adelphi. Later, he appeared at Stratford in the production of ‘Sparrers Can’t Sing’ and was also in the 1963 film version, playing the part of ‘Perce’.
Apparently when Bob married for the third time in 1971, hundreds of admirers managed to force the newly weds to abandon their hired Roller and they had to walk to the reception.
Two years later he appeared in a spin-off stage play titled ‘Busman’s Holiday’, which also starred Stephen Lewis and Anna Karen. The character names were altered from the television series and it ran at the Pavilion Theatre in Torquay.
In the 1980’s he suffered from acute personal and health problems. His final acting role was in ‘Hobson’s Choice’ in 1996. Bob became reclusive and tragically he was found dead in his garage on 8th November 2003, aged 71.
Rest in Peace.
Steve Russell