Martin Robinson 1917 - 2010
9 April 2010
William Martin Robinson, known as Martin to distinguish himself from his father and grandfather, both called William, was a Director of the noted vegetable seedsmen, W. Robinson & Sons, of Forton, near Preston, Lancashire. He died on 5 April just two days before his 93rd birthday.
Born in Forton he joined the family’s horticultural business after leaving Lancaster Royal Grammar School. He was the third generation to take over the running of the family’s horticultural firm, established in 1860, expanding the side of the business specialising in seeds of large exhibition onion, leeks and unusual vegetables and taking sales into Europe.
Proud to be born and bred in Lancashire, Martin was Secretary of the National Farmers Union Lancaster branch for many years and its County Chairman during the 1960s. Instrumental in the founding the National Vegetable Society, Martin was Chairman of its northern branch for 20 years and national President for more than a decade.
In 1978 he was awarded the RHS Victoria Medal of Honour and in 1986 made a Fellow of the Institute of Horticulture.
He was a member of the RHS Fruit & Vegetable Committee from 1981-2001, and continued for a few years longer on the Fruit & Vegetable Show Schedule Committee.
This year W Robinson & Sons celebrates its 150th anniversary and is now being run by 4th and 5th generations of the family.