Let’s start with the most important woman in every man’s life……his mother :-) Rob’s mum Janet Williams wasn’t laid on roses all of her life, she experienced hard times which formed her – like it would have done to all other people as well – in a special way. She got to know Rob’s dad, Pete, when her daughter Sally was just one and a half years old. She wasn’t only a single mum, but as well a widow. She already had to suffer the loss of her big love in her early years.
Janet Farrell – which was her maiden name – grew up in Tunstall, her great-grandparents had come from Kilkenny, South-eastern of Ireland. Rob is completely right when he reveals to have Irish roots.
Janet got married again in 1970, namely to Peter Williams. 
Surely she wasn’t always right and surely Rob has not always been happy with his mum when he was a lad, but it can be said that she was behind him when it was necessary, she was something like a seatbelt for him. Although Jan intended to have a family after her marriage, she became a single mum shortly afterwards – the wedlock didn’t last for long. In 1976 Pete Willams left Janet, Sally – which he treated like his own daughter always and most probably still does – and his son Robert as well. Jan did what mothers have to do when they have to take care for a family – she battled her way through this difficult situation. She was self-employed with different businesses, so she ran the “Red Lion” herself for a while and had a boutique and a flower shop later. She didn’t have that much time for Rob, of course, but she tried to make his life as cushy as possible, in regards of the financial aspect at least. When Rob was into his drug and alcohol addiction deeply she spoke for him unremittingly. Jan attended a training as a drug counsellor, drove to London and searched for him everywhere . Finally she found him, made him complete a withdrawal treatment and turn to life again. Last but not least we want to mention her financial skills, without her help Rob would probably have cancelled the Take That contract without getting a penny. Altogether Rob has a good relationship to his Mum as it can be seen and heard clearly….”Mum, this is your son singing….. I love you!”

We have already mentioned Rob’s sister Sally. She is nearly ten years older than her little brother and Rob has always been proud of her. She was one of the promoters of the Take That fan club during Rob’s time in the boy band, which had not less than 70000! members after all. When Rob left Take That she was suspended but furthermore she received her salary. Finally she got her notice of cancellation the day Take That split for good. In 2001 Sally gave birth to Freddie, her son and Rob’s nephew. Rob dedicated the Brit Award of 2001 to him. Sally got involved with charity – like Jan – is full-time-mum and an enthusiastic rider. Her mare “Shannon” was a Christmas gift of Rob. Rob’s song “Phoenix from the flames” is dedicated to Sally. In 2004 she married her long-term partner Paul Symonds, a golf pro, in Las Vegas

Every person has not only a mother, but also a father (at least a biological one).Let’s talk about Pete Williams, Rob’s dad. He was born in Tunstall in 1943 and grew up there as well. He started a career at the police after he had finished school. Pete’s father was a bricklayer, his mother Betty (Rob’s beloved Nan) worked in one of the potteries. Young Pete didn’t dream of a lifelong career as an uniformed officer, but as an artist on stage. The first step on his “walk to fame” was the adoption of a stage name. There was already an artist named Peter Williams in Stoke-on-Trent, and so Pete Williams decided to take the name “Conway”. He earned his first spurs by doing small time in bars and made an application at “New Faces”, a talent contest, when he was sure to be good enough. He won the competition for Stoke, but he settled for his family and rented the “Red Lion” a pub in Burslem. He didn’t feel at home really, one year later he left Stoke (no, not to fetch some cigarettes ;-), but to go to see a football match.
He didn’t find the way back, somehow, he left his family. We will never know if he could fulfil his dream, but the big breakthrough never appeared. Pete hired out as a comedian in holiday camps, hotels and bars. All kinds of stand-up-comedy and songs of the “Rat Pack” were presented in his repertoire, which may be a reason for Rob’s love to the Swing era.
How serious took Pete Conway his duties as a father? Judging from what Rob said he had been more buddy than daddy, he attempted pub crawls with his teenage son at times, but he has never been a father figure. This fact may be the reason for the sometimes difficult relationship between Rob and his dad in the past time. Rob worked out some of his emotions in the song “My Culture”. Rob has grown-up in the meantime, and seems to have learned to live with the mistakes his father probably made in the past, so they look quite relaxed now when they meet. Time will show if Rob makes the same mistakes with his future kids.

Rob didn’t seem to be totally satisfied with his parents all the time, but it looks a bit different with his grandparents. His Nan Betty, a warm hearted woman who was favoured everywhere, does not only have a special place in Robs heart. The tattooed “B” behind his left ear stands for grandma Betty, Rob said about his Nan once: “She would wrap me up in cotton wool, if she could do. She couldn’t bear me being out of her sight, to be playing with the big boys or doing anything dangerous. She was an amazing woman that killed me with love. She’d got that much love for me.” The first song Rob wrote himself completely was released on “Escapology” – “Nan’s Song”. The intensity of the feelings Rob still has for his Nan could not be expressed any better than in this gorgeous Song.

Another attachment figure in young Rob’s life was Jack Farrell, Jan’s father. He is eternalized on Rob’s body as well, namely on Rob’s inner wrists, which wear the writings “Jack” and “Farrell”. There isn’t too much to say about Jack Farrell. He was a soldier before he became headman in the building industry. He tried to be a bit of a dad for Rob, but he died when Rob was only five years of age

Unfortunately we coulden`t find anything about Phil Williams, Pete`s dad and about Jan`s mum.

Not only relatives are family, people who become sort of “family” because of their deep friendship can be counted as well. Surely we can talk about such a deep friendship in the case of Rob and Jon Wilkes. Rob’s and Jon’s mothers know each other for ages, and so it’s not surprising that Rob and Jon got in contact somehow, too. Jon is five years younger than Rob and had been quite a lard-arse when he was little. He is a pretty popular actor now, not even a suggestion of a lard-arse any more ;-).
Rob and Jon, they are like “Me and my shadow”. They stick together like wallpaper and paste, and Jon was the one to take care of Rob, the one who encourages him and who tries to take away Rob’s nervousness before he has to enter the stage. Jon explains their relationship like “younger brother/older brother”, but he always underlines that Rob is his hero.
Jon is married to Nikki Wheeler, one of Rob’s dancers, since 2004 and since April 2006 he is proud father of little Mickey……of course Rob is Godfather. Although Jon is happily married and already a dad, the rumours about a homosexual relationship between Rob and Jon are not fallen silent. Most probably both of them take these reports with humour, what else could they do? Jon steps out of his famous friend’s shadow more and more, he presents TV shows, is a successful actor at the Theatre and has gigantic voice, which we got to hear in Rob’s Swing Show already (by the way, he has an amazing presence on stage!). Rob and Jon are a lot more than “just” friends, their relationship shows it very clearly. Therefore Jonathan Wilkes’ position in the family hierarchy is more than fair.