Christmas Day ‘murder’: Bob Eldridge, 71, fatally stabbed at Reynella East retirement village

Devastated neighbours say the 71-year-old brutally stabbed to death in his home on Christmas night was a kind man who drove the bus for his retirement village.

Robert Eldridge was stabbed to death on Christmas Day at his Reynella East home. Picture: Facebook

A tight-knit retirement community has been “rocked to its core” after the violent death of Robert “Bob” Eldridge, who was fatally stabbed inside the southern suburbs village on Christmas Day.

A keen snooker player, music buff and the volunteer village bus driver, Mr Eldridge was full of life and popular among residents at the Braes Retirement Village at Reynella East.

But it was all brought to a brutal end at about 9.40pm on Sunday night when a man known to Mr Eldridge is alleged by Police to have fatally stabbed him inside his home at the village.

Police and emergency services rushed to the scene, but Mr Eldridge was unable to be saved.

A 45-year-old man was arrested and charged with his murder.

Police at the scene of the alleged murder of a 71-year-man at a retirement village in Reynella East. Picture: Dean Martin

Neighbour Tony Harvey said Mr Eldridge was a “nice and lovely” man who opened up to him one afternoon in early September.

“We went to South Adelaide Football Club for one of the senior things ... for lunch and he was sitting next to me at the table,” Mr Harvey said. “He opened up to me.”

Mr Harvey said Mr Eldridge was a “family man” and was “so happy”.

“He was telling him he had a record collection of old records which were quite unique,” Mr Harvey said.

“He collected them over the years, right back to the big band era, the original 1940s.

“If you met him you would’ve liked him, he was a likeable man.”

Collin and Sylvia Wolverson built a strong rapport with Mr Eldridge after he moved into the village about six months ago.

“He’d do anything for anybody,” Mr Wolverson said.

“I’m just devastated, I couldn’t believe it,” Ms Wolverson added.

They said Mr Eldridge had a love for music and snooker.

“He recorded lots of music and he was a disc jockey,” Ms Wolverson said.

“It was through snooker that I met him,” Mr Wolverson said.

“I met him two years ago and we got on really well and everyone at the snooker club liked him.”

Retirement village residents Sylvia and Collin Wolverson remember their friend Bob Eldridge, who was allegedly murdered on Christmas night. Picture: Dean Martin

A neighbour and resident who organised the village buses said he had a conversation with Mr Eldridge on Friday.

“I was talking to him before and he said he was feeling the best he’d felt,” Brian Curry said.

Resident Rob Morris said the quiet retirement village, which is home to about 150 people had been rocked by the violent news.

“This is a very nice place and people come here to live a quiet life,” said Rob Morris.

“You don’t expect this to happen. This will rock the village to its core.”

He said officers with flashlights arrived late on Sunday night to investigate the scene.

“I won’t forget this Christmas in a hurry,” Mr Morris said.

Another resident, David Lamb said it was “just bloody awful”.

“It’s a lovely, friendly place. We had a volunteer lunch just the other day.”

Braes Retirement Village resident David Lamb said the stabbing victim was “a really nice bloke”. Picture: Dean Martin

Neighbours from the Braes Retirement Village discuss the tragic events after a 71-year-old stabbing victim was found dead in his home. Picture: Dean Martin

Mr Eldridge became a popular figure in the small community, offering to drive the village bus for its residents.

“He took us ladies shopping on Fridays, he was a kind man,” resident Jill said.

A spokesman from Aveo, the company who controls the Braes Retirement Village said they were “shocked and saddened by this news”.

“Our thoughts are with family and friends who may be impacted by this tragedy and we will provide whatever support we can to the residents of the community,” he said.

Officers from Major Crime Investigation Branch, Southern District CIB and forensic officers spent much of Christmas night and Boxing Day at the scene combing for clues and interviewing residents.

The man charged with Mr Eldridge's murder has been refused bail and will appear in Christies Beach Magistrates Court later this week.

The police would not provide any further details regarding the matter on Monday.