Tribute

I suspect my recollections of Robin will mirror those of many others… We all marvelled at his boundless curiosity and his gently socratic gift for teaching and drawing out the best of others by asking questions. These questions always came with such warmth and delight — like he was solving in his head some larger puzzle that provided endless amusement and joy. As a student, I think you dug a little deeper to find something useful to say, because you saw how an unexpected idea or connection could inspire such happiness for him. 

He was, in this way, an exemplary learner, and so a great teacher too. There are no big books by Robin though he surely could have written them. Instead, there's this remarkable legacy of organisations, initiatives, standards and networks — which in themselves were modes of production entirely consistent with his research and outlook.

A lot can and should be said about his intellectual influences and his analytic disposition. But his approach to leadership also merits close study. He started or was at the start of seemingly countless things, though he never took credit, or amassed titles and offices. Instead, he delegated instinctively. The virtues and practice of subsidiarity were, for him, an absolute article of faith. I think this gave Robin both his radical energy, but also his lightness because for all his building and success there was such a selfless modesty about it all.

And of course keeping him honest and forward-moving in every endeavour was his dearest Frances. What a wonder, these two people who had known each other since childhood. I think Frances' art mattered greatly to Robin, and in turn helped to fill their lives with beauty but also maintain a freedom and independence of mind.

One memory I'll forever treasure came seven or eight years ago when I visited Robin at his home and he was spending the afternoon with Joe. Some innocent speculation about the aerodynamics of paper airplanes quickly turned into a full aeronautical rally that overtook his living room. And there with all the books, and lovely posters and paintings, and lamps and light streaming through those big windows, we spent a happy hour making and remaking planes, and firing them across the room. It was Robin to a T — completely delighted to watch Joe try one thing and then another, to take joy in speculating on what might work better, to learn from Joe as he himself began to master the craft of it by trying and then trying again. This was love, learning, and mutual endeavour and for me it was the man.