Cole was a staunch supporter of the Printers Charitable Corporation where he was treasurer, and he was also almoner at the Stationers Company. But he was best known for his long association with Robert Maxwell Cole was Maxwells press officer, house manager and personal aide and had an incredible fund of Maxwell stories as a result.

One outlandish tale involved flying Concorde to America simply to deliver Maxwells dinner jacket.

He assisted the administrators after the collapse of the Maxwell empire and was the last employee to leave the organisation.

Polestar sales and marketing director John Ashfield remembered Cole fondly from his own Maxwell days. Bob was a real character, fun to be around and always up to tricks that Maxwell did not know about he ran champagne and Jacuzzi parties for the sales team at Maxwell House when Maxwell was away. The worlds a sadder place without him.

Cole is survived by his wife, Pamela.

His funeral will be held at Eltham Crematorium, South London, on Wednesday 14 January at
9.45am.