Robert Bain is the Director of Education for East Greenock Council Local Education Authority. He is the father of Sue Lowsley and Vix Spark.
Robert Bain's daughter, Sue, the new science teacher, married Simon Lowsley, the deputy head, in Series 9 Episode 10. Robert wanted Simon to become the new headteacher of Waterloo Road in the same episode, but Simon walked out on the interviews, after lecturing Robert about his skills as a father. Robert had a wife who has so far remained unnamed and is deceased, and through his daughter Sue, he is the father-in-law of Simon Lowsley.
Series 8
In Series 8 Episode 26, Michael Byrne discovers that Lorraine Donnegan wants to charge fees at the school, and the two have a heated debate on the matter which leads to Michael resigning. Afterwards he calls Robert wanting to talk about the school's future. This is the first mention of Robert in the show.
Robert later makes his first physical appearance in Series 8 Episode 27, as he is meeting with Michael to discuss taking Waterloo Road back under LA control. The hearing goes well as Robert tells Michael the board were very impressed with his presentation. After putting a stop to the staff walkout, Michael is offered his old job back by Lorraine. In Series 8 Episode 28, Robert meets with Michael to further discuss taking the school into the Local Authority's jurisdiction, under the belief that Lorraine has signed off on the idea. After attempting to turn the school into a fee-paying academy and kicking out the kids who can't afford it, Lorraine eventually caves and she along with Michael both meet with Robert and come to an agreement.
During this agreement, Robert comes to an agreement with Lorraine and Michael which results in the appointment of Simon Lowsley as a new deputy head, along with Michael recommending Christine Mulgrew as his successor as head.
Robert is not seen for the remainder of Series 8.
Series 9
In the first part of Series 9, Robert is seen multiple times. He is first seen in Series 9 Episode 1 in a meeting with Christine, who is asking for a temporary budget increase to help transition the school out of being independent, with Lorraine no longer writing the cheques. Robert states that he's not making any major changes to the school's budget without someone permanently at the helm. Robert later states that he is advertising the post to start next term and that Christine was more than welcome to apply.
He is next seen in Series 9 Episode 8 visiting the school during Audrey McFall's History project. Christine takes him round the school showing what the students have been working on, although this goes south briefly after Darren Hughes and Barry Barry enter after eating mushrooms in the woods, and Darren vomits on one of Robert's shoes.
After getting cleaned up, Sue and Robert pay a visit to George Windsor to learn more about the Mandarin initiative, with Sue becoming suspicious over George's teaching of the subject. Robert also appears to be impressed by Connor Mulgrew, who is aspiring to be a chef. Robert tastes some of the food Connor has prepared including a seaweed bhaji, with Robert commenting that it's 'restaurant standard'.
Robert is also witness to Rhiannon Salt collapsing in the school gym, with Imogen Stewart revealing she had been fasting due to her weight. Thankfully Rhiannon was okay and Robert commented that hopefully it was an end to the day's dramas, only for that to not be the case when the missing goat Wally finds its way into the reception area where Sonya works.
Robert is seen a few moments later with Simon, Sue and Christine, when Simon is making a formal complaint encompassing a few incidents including the victimisation of certain staff, using pupils as cheap labour which caused Sue's accident in the previous episode, and employing a Mandarin teacher who has no qualifications in the subject. A debate ensues with Simon and Christine, with Robert putting both in their place by telling them that Audrey was the only one who took charge today and that they were not the only candidates for the school headship.
In Series 9 Episode 10, Robert is seen at the start of the episode revealing to both Sue and Simon that he's bought them a house, he is later seen in the episode preparing for the headteacher interviews and is disappointed when Simon withdraws his application, wanting to stay in the classroom. Simon scolds Robert for pushing Sue into a career she didn't want. After Christine's headship interview, Robert is seen offering Christine the permanent headship, which she excitedly accepts. After this, Robert comforts Sue after she questions whether Simon does love her. He is last seen at the reception for Sue and Simon's wedding and is surprised at the reveal from Vix that the couple have eloped, but he is still paying for the drinks.
In Series 9 Episode 19, Robert is seen with the board of education to see whether Simon's resilience education initiative can be rolled out to other schools in the local authority. The meeting however is derailed by Christine, who has relapsed on alcohol and accuses Robert of providing a bare minimum of funding to the school. After leaving the room and arguing with Simon, Robert enters and comments that whilst Christine may be determined to ruin her own career, he will not let her drag Simon down too. Christine comments that after today, golden boy can do what he wanted with this place and quits on the spot. Robert's last appearance in this episode is toasting to Simon who has become the new acting head of the school.
Robert's final appearance is in Series 9 Episode 20, where he's seen with the board of education at Christine's hearing after her relapse and arrest in the previous episode. Robert doesn't intend on letting Christine teach again but is persuaded by Simon following the events at the school in this episode, commenting that Christine seems to have a lot of support at the school. Simon says that if Christine steps out of line then he will take full responsibility being the head of the school, only for Robert to comment "Well, for the rest of the year, maybe." and its assumed that Robert had Simon removed from the headship after this, given he had returned to his role as deputy after the term's conclusion.
Robert is not seen after this, though it can be assumed he had met and hired Vaughan Fitzgerald as the new head of the school. Robert is mentioned once by Simon when he ends his marriage with Sue. Surprisingly, he's not seen for the remainder of the show's original run despite the major story being the council wanting to merge Waterloo Road with Havelock High at the end of Series 10.
Quotes
- "No problem, though I haven't told the board yet what this is about, I thought it best to keep it under wraps. I trust you felt the same?" (first line)
- "They're interested. They were very impressed with your presentation. Ah, there's still a long way to go, but we could be up and running by next term. And, when Waterloo Road is back under the body of the kirk, you can sit back and relax."
- "You know, I'm still surprised she agreed to this takeover. Why would you invest all that money then just walk away?"
- "I'll make one observation. Schools fail not because of poor teachers or badly behaved pupils, they fail because of a lack of clear leadership and direction, and for what it's worth, I think Michael knows more about leading this school than anyone."
- Robert: "I would like you to be acting headteacher, Christine."
- Christine: "Michael is the head here."
- Robert: "Well Michael's stepping down. Anyway, he's too much of a maverick for our LA tastes. You were Michael's recommendation."
- "Christine, you're only the acting head. I'm not about to make radical decisions about Waterloo Road's budget without someone permanently at the helm. I'm advertising the post to start next term, and of course, you're welcome to apply."
- Christine: "Was there a problem, Miss McFall?"
- Robert: "Ah, just a full-body search to make sure I wasn't bringing in contraband."
- "This better be some mistake, because I do not appreciate being sold a load of bull."
- Robert: "She's just trying to wind you both up. Place like this goes with the new job."
- Simon: "I need to get it first!"
- Robert: "Hey! You've got a great CV, a good track record, you're not gonna let me down now, are you, son, eh?"
- "How dare you criticise me? And how dare you show me up in front of that stuck-up mob?!"
- "To the new acting head of Waterloo Road!"
- "Oh we will. However, after this hearing, you may no longer be permitted to teach in our authority. Now, we'll make our recommendation to the General Teaching Council, and then the GTC will decide whether you should be struck off altogether."
- Simon: "If she steps out of line, then I'll accept full responsibility. I'm her headteacher."
- Robert: "Well, for the rest of the year, maybe. See you at Sunday dinner, son." (final line)