Rob Franks

**Robert James Franks** (more commonly known as **Rob Franks**) is the creator and a writer of Engines of Eight.

## Details

Name: Robert James Franks

* Born: May 12, 1945
* Birthplace: Birmingham, England
* Nationality: British
* Occupation: Episode Writer
* Years in the Job: 25 years
* Parents: Thomas and Margaret Franks
	+ Siblings: One older sister, Emily Franks
* Marriage/Children: Married to Rebecca Franks, three children: Henry, Emily, and Oliver Franks
* Death: Still Living

## Biography

Robert James Franks was born on May 12, 1945, in Birmingham, England, to Thomas Franks and Margaret Franks. He had only one older sister, Emily Franks, who was born on January 19, 1943. Rob Franks began his writing career at a young age, penning short stories and poems that showcased his vivid imagination. As he grew older, his passion for storytelling only intensified, leading him to pursue a career in television writing.

Rob began his work in the industry on March 25, 1964, at the age of 18, when he joined a local television station as a scriptwriter. At the time, he did this job as a way to gain experience and learn the ins and outs of television production. Eventually, on March 4, 1968, one of his friends told him about a company called Dockyard Films and that they were looking for episode writers for their IPs. He decided to give it a shot and submitted his writing samples to Dockyard Films. To his surprise, he landed the job at Dockyard Films and began writing stories and ideas for Victor Vicar, Jizzle the Clown, and Alberto El Pato.

In December 1968, he paired up with Dockyard Films' then CEOs, John Smith and Emily Johnson, to work on making the upcoming Engines of Eight, with Rob assisting the two CEOs and, according to John, being "our right-hand man throughout the entire process." He eventually became a writer for Engines of Eight and helped shape the narrative of the show as he continued to contribute his creative ideas and insights to the team. Critics and fans alike praised the several episodes he authored for both Series 1 and 2.

During Series 3, everything was shipped over to the United States so Crownmire Enterprises could begin work on the series. Rob moved to the USA during this time to help his cousin, Tim Franks, write the scripts for Series 3. According to Rob, "Tim did follow my advice on creating quality stories, but Crownmire hampered the living daylights out of us with their constant demands and changes. I guess Crownmire thought that our standards were too high and wanted to bring them down to appeal to a wider audience."

Frustrated with the disastrous results of Series 3 in 1986, both Rob and Tim left the States and went back to the UK, where they continued to work on new projects. They remained dedicated to maintaining their high standards and creating content that resonated with their audience. On August 23, 1989, Rob officially retired from his occupation as an episode writer after nearly 25 years. Although he retired from his occupation, his impact on the industry would continue to be felt for years to come.

In his personal life, Rob became friends with many people in his primary school days, one of whom would become his future spouse, Rebecca Compton. The two became friends rather quickly and eventually wed on May 14, 1963, and remained happily married for the rest of their lives. They had three children together: Henry (born in 1964), Emily (born in 1967), and Oliver (born in 1970). His family always managed to support him throughout his career and provided him with endless love and encouragement. After Rob retired, he spent the rest of his days remaining somewhat active throughout his community, volunteering and pursuing hobbies such as gardening and playing golf.

Today, Rob is alive and well and continues to enjoy a peaceful retirement and a fulfilling and purposeful life, thanks to the support and encouragement he received from his family and his friends.

## Trivia

* Rob's birthday is the same day the first book of The Railway Series (The Three Railway Engines) was published.