ROBIN CHADBURN OBITUARY

ROBIN CHADBURN OBITUARY: November 1919 - April 2006

Robin Chadburn died on 22 April this year, aged 86. He had been diagnosed with Vascular Dementia some 13 years previously and cared for at his home until the last year, when he was transferred to a Nursing Home nearby.

Robin was born in Ollerton on 10 November 1919. His father was Francis, the son of William Jackson Chadburn, one of Mansfield Brewery’s founders. Sadly both Francis and then his wife Kate died young. Robin was just nine years old when his mother died leaving him and his two sisters to be brought up by a nanny and a governess. Robin was educated at Malvern School and then went on to study Geography at Oxford University (Exeter College). It was here that he met his wife to be, Dorothy (Bo) in 1939. Robin completed two years of his degree and then volunteered to join the army where he served with the East Riding Yeomanry. From here he was posted to Lulworth Gunnery Wing where he learned to drive tanks. An horrific motorcycle accident in which he nearly lost his leg cut short his army career. He spent upwards of a year in hospital.

Bo and Robin (still on crutches!) were married at Oxford in September 1942. Soon afterwards he attended Reading University where he completed a one year degree in Agriculture. They then moved to Lincolnshire where Bo had been brought up, buying Sudbrook Hill Farm, where Robin was to live for the next 63 years, in 1943. His first job after the war was as a Water Officer for the War Agriculural Committee based in Sleaford, laying on mains water to farms. Through this he met Gordon Benoy, an architect, who wanted to take on someone with agricultural experience to help with farm building architecture. Robin loved this role and stayed here until his uncle, Claude Chadburn, asked him to join the Brewery. Claude, Francis’s brother, who had succeeded their father, William Jackson, as Chairman, had lost both of his sons, one in the war and one in a motor accident.

From 1961 until his retirement in 1989 Robin remained at the Brewery, becoming Chairman in 1963 when Claude retired. During this time he oversaw, amongst many other developments, the purchase of Mandora and the acquisition of North Country Brewery in Hull. He loved all aspects of people management and took a great interest in everyone who worked for Mansfield Brewery during his time as Chairman. On behalf of the Brewery he played a very active part in the work of the Brewers’ Society.

Along with brewing, he was for some time a very hands-on farmer at Sudbrook, and took on the Chairmanship of a farmers’ co-operative, Central Wool Growers, in Stamford. He chaired the trustees of Stubton School which cared for children with disabilities, and of course was for many years a trustee of the Baily Thomas Trusts. He was elected onto the South Kesteven District Council and became Chairman of the Highways Committee.

His spare time was taken up to a large extent with his love of cars and everything to do with them. He was rarely seen behind the wheel of anything apart from sports cars and his wonderful Rolls Royce which he took years to bring to ultimate perfection from what looked like a farm vehicle it was when he acquired it. He was an ardent member of the Poachers Motor Club in Lincolnshire and of the Rolls Royce Enthusiasts Club.

Above all, Robin was a people person. Always interested in everything anyone had to say. An amazing listener with a charming manner. He is sadly missed by all those whose lives he touched, most particularly his wife, Bo, children Richard and Margaret and his grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Kind Regards
Richard and Margaret

ROBIN CHADBURN OBITUARY
November 1919 – April 2006

Also published in The New Marksman Newsletter 2006