Obituaries Australia

Born at Macclesfield on March 8th, 1883, Lord Robinson, of Kielder Forest in Northumberland and of Adelaide, died suddenly in Ottawa, Canada, on Friday of last week. He was the eldest son of the late William Robinson, and at the time of his death was away from his home in England on forestry affairs. He was the second Rhodes Scholar appointed in South Australia, and went to England intending to stay there for three years. We quote the Advertiser on Monday, which says 'He stayed on in England to become a world figure in forestry affairs. He was the first Rhodes Scholar to get his Blue for cricket. In 1908-9 he was a member of the Oxford University cricket eleven, in the athletic teams of 1907-9, and the lacrosse team in 1906-9. He had his first schooling at Macclesfield and then went on to Port Adelaide, where he won a Government exhibition of St. Peter's College. At 17 he was awarded an entrance scholarship to the School of Mines, and with 10 first-class and the second-class passes he went on to the Adelaide University, where he took his B.Sc. degree. As the Rhodes Scholar for 1905, he went to Magdalen College, Oxford, where he won first-class honours in the School of Natural Science, and took the Forestry Diploma in 1908. In the same year he was chosen as the Burdett Coutts Scholar. As Mr. Roy Lister Robinson, he became an inspector of the English Board of Agriculture and Fisheries in 1909. After holding successive offices, including positions in the Ministries of Munitions and Agriculture, 1914-18, he became vice chairman of the Forestry Commission in 1929. He was knighted in 1931, and since 1932 had been chairman of the commission. In 1947 he was created a baron. Lord Robinson married in 1910 Charlotte, daughter of the late H. C. Bradshaw, of Hampshire, England, and had two daughters and one son, who was killed in action in 1942.

In August and September of 1948 Lord Robinson came to South Australia and during the visit returned to his old home town, where he was given a right royal welcome, and many public functions were arranged in the community on the occasion. On Saturday last flags in the township were flown at half mast as a tribute to his memory.