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MICK ROBINSON
Sadly and suddenly passed away on July 1st 2002, aged 83.
He left a Wife Joan, they were married for 58 years, a son Michael and his partner Sheena, a daughter Theresa and son-in-law Dave, his 2 Grandchildren Michelle and David and his only surviving sister Margaret and her family.
The highlight of his week was when Michelle and David came to visit, always slipping them a pound or two as they left for home! He watched them grow up with pride and he loved them very much
He was a very fit man for 81 years, hardly ever visiting a doctor, but he had several stays in hospital in the last 2 years.
The first when he remarked that he had ‘a bit of a blind spot’ - which turned out to be a detached retina ! next he had a tumour in the bladder removed and finally he fell off his bike in January this year, broke his femur and had a half-hip replacement within a week Who else would get that sort of service? He definitely didn’t enjoy all his visits to Moorefield’s, Ashford, St Peters and the Middlesex Hospitals but all the staff looked after him very well even though he was not the ‘perfect patient’.
Mick was born in West Stanley, County Durham in 1918. The family moved to Wraysbury when he was 13 as there was no work “Up North”. He went to the Catholic school in Staines where they had great difficulty understanding his then broad ‘geordie’ accent.
His first job was with Jack Sparks, the fishmonger, in Edgell Road, Staines where he helped to “Smoke the Bloaters” and Bloater Paste on toast remained his favourite, his son and daughter searched super markets high and low to stock up his supply. His career as a Plumber started at Fosters in Wraysbury High Street but was interrupted in 1939 when he signed up for the Royal Navy. Mick and Joan were married during a weeks leave, in November 1943.
During the war he had some great escapes, the main one being transferred from HMS Eagle a couple of weeks before she was sunk losing a third of her crew. He saw action throughout the Mediterranean including the landings in Sicily and had a couple of survivors leaves in Alexandria. Come D-Day he was driving landing craft onto the beaches. He made it, but a couple of his landing craft and lots of his passengers didn’t.
On returning from active service he resumed his plumbing career at the Gas Board in Staines, then with Fosters in Edgell Road and finally for Staines District Council from 1963 to his retirement in 1983. Many of you may remember him riding around on his trade’s bike and some of you may have had leaky tanks and pipes replaced by him and his various apprentices. We don’t know how he got his work done as he seemed to know everybody and always had a happy smile and the time for a chat. A 5 minute trip over the shops could take an hour! On hearing of his death a shopkeeper in Edinburgh Drive was heard to say “this funeral could be a big one – he was a legend”
Mick loved his sports.
He played football in the 30’s and 40’s for St Peter’s, Wraysbury and he captained the McLaren’s team (later to become Petters) in the Surrey Senior League.
He was a great Darts player, winning the Staines and District singles once in the 60’s and the pairs with his son Michael as well as many club championship trophies. He played most of his darts for the ‘Lucan Arms’ but finished his career with the Staines Ex-Serviceman’s club.
He started playing Bowls in the late 70’s and helped to form the Staines Ex-Servicemen’s Bowls section in the early 80’s. He also played for Staines Water Board, indoors at Egham Bowl’s club and latterly for Woodthorpe. He will also be remembered in Reading where he went on Tour with his son’s bowls club for the last 11 years.
Mick started to use the Staines British Legion as a lad and in his later years served on the committee and was their President for many years. He has also run the Christmas Loan club there since the late 60’s. Ron Rawlings will be saying a few words on behalf of the Club later.
Mick attended many funerals over the years; his family jokingly called him ‘the chief mourner’. For many years he represented the Ex-Servicemen’s club in the November Remembrance parade in Staines.
His immediate family and extended families in Staines and Wraysbury would like to thank you all for attending today. We will celebrate his life with a drink at the Staines Ex-service men’s Club after this service
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Dad’s War
