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David Robinson OBE (29 August 1927 - 25 July 2017)

David Robinson, President of Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust died this morning, Tuesday 25 July 2017 at the age of 89

We regret to announce the death of David Robinson, President of Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust. David died this morning, Tuesday 25 July, at Diana Princess of Wales Hospital in Grimsby, aged 89. The Trust will deeply miss David and his devotion to nature conservation.

David lived most of his life in Lincolnshire and was one of the county’s greatest experts on natural history. His passion for Lincolnshire inspired a lifelong quest to understand and protect the landscape, history and wildlife of the county. A great friend of Ted Smith (a founder member of Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust), David was instrumental in the early years of the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust. His considerable knowledge of natural history helped the Trust to establish itself as Lincolnshire’s foremost body for nature conservation.

David Robinson

David Robinson - Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust

Born and schooled in Horncastle, David spent all but a few years of his life in Lincolnshire. He gained an MSc from the University of Nottingham for his thesis on the Lincolnshire Coast and worked as a school teacher, University Tutor and Editor of Lincolnshire Life magazine. His professional work was complemented by an astonishingly wide range of voluntary activities and by an equally impressive volume and variety of publications.

David was a man of many parts: scholar, teacher, editor, author, and administrator. To whatever he did he brought an enthusiasm and determination; an ability to articulate ideas and interpret phenomena, and not least a sense of humour which seldom failed even in the most trying circumstances.

David’s first contact with the Trust was through Gibraltar Point where as an undergraduate at Nottingham he was involved in survey work in 1950. Whilst teaching in Grimsby he became a member of the Trust's NE Lindsey Regional Committee, a forerunner of our Area Groups, but it was in the field of publicity and promotion that he soon made his mark, becoming chairman of the Trust's first Publicity Committee in the early 1960s and then in 1969 succeeding to the post of Honorary Secretary a position he held for over forty years.

David’s dedication and organisational ability made a particularly valuable contribution to the development of the Trust. In particular his skill in editing has helped to make the Trust’s membership magazine Lapwings one of Lincolnshire’s most popular publications.

David Robinson

David Robinson and Ted Smith show Prince Charles around Gibraltar Point NNR in 1971

The breadth of David’s experience and knowledge of the county and its organisations have been a source of great strength to all the affairs of the Trust.

David also devoted much time and energy to the national Wildlife Trusts movement. He was the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust's representative on the Council of the Royal Society of Nature Conservation from 1969 to 1988 and was also chairman of the Education and Promotions Committee where he oversaw the introduction of the first national members’ magazine Natural World.

Nature in Trust

Left to right: Barrie Wilkinson, David Robinson and Marson Peet examine the film reel for the documentary Nature in Trust in 1968

Following his retirement in the early 1990s David continued his involvement with the Trust as a Trustee, Vice-President and ultimately President. He continued to edit Lapwings into the 2000s and was an active member of a number of teams and committees. In 1997, he was awarded an OBE for services to journalism and services to the people of Lincolnshire.

David was a firm believer in the voluntary principle in which he set an outstanding example. His devotion to Lincolnshire and his conviction of the importance of protecting Lincolnshire’s wildlife and wild places will continue to inspire the Trust.