Sir Bobby Robson's nearest and dearest have come together to mark what would have been his 90th birthday.
The former Newcastle and England boss, who was born on February 18, 1933, in Sacriston, celebrated what was his last birthday by opening the Sir Bobby Robson Cancer Trials Research Centre in Newcastle.
The centre was equipped through the foundation he set up before he died aged 76 from the disease.
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As he officially opened the new cancer drug trials unit, he was surprised by a birthday cake and a chorus of Happy Birthday from the crowd gathered there.
His family and Newcastle Hospitals staff came together today on Friday to remember him in the cancer centre that meant so much to him, and to celebrate his legacy.
Sir Bobby’s son, Mark Robson, says: “Dad was receiving treatment for cancer when he launched his foundation.
"You could say he was taking on too much when he was ill but that was Dad. He was always very driven.
“He was diagnosed with cancer five times and it was because of those experiences that he fully understood the vital importance of the work funded through his foundation.
"He said it was like taking a bad situation and making a good thing of it.
“All the family were so proud of him, always, but especially so knowing how hard he worked to ensure the success of his foundation.
"We wish he was here today to see how much it’s gone on to achieve and to see the ongoing support it gets."
Sir Bobby’s birthday has been marked all week with the football community and Sir Bobby Robson Foundation coming together to remember him in a wide range of different ways this week under Bobby ’90.
Podcasts, fanzines, memories shared by his former clubs and more, Bobby ’90 is a week-long celebration of the wonderful legacy Sir Bobby left us in football and through his cancer foundation.
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Sir Bobby’s widow, Lady Elsie Robson, said: “Bob really loved his birthdays and he’d talk about them for weeks ahead of the day. He’d be just the same if he was here to celebrate his 90th and I wish he was.
“It’s wonderful that so many people are remembering Bob this week and celebrating what he achieved, in football and through his cancer foundation.
“It means so much to me that our foundation continues to go from strength-to-strength because I know how much good we’re doing.
"It was very personal to Bob and all the family are involved. We’ve had such marvellous support from football and I know Bob would just want us all to keep going with it.”
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