We are saddened to report the death of Professor Keith Robbins on Thursday 12 September.
Professor Robbins attended Bristol Grammar School from 1949–1958, later serving as President of the Old Bristolians Society and on the School’s Board of Governors.
After leaving BGS, Keith Robbins studied Modern History at Magdalen and St Antony’s Colleges, Oxford. His academic career began at the new University of York in 1963 and he went on to Chairs at Bangor and Glasgow universities. During his distinguished academic career Professor Robbins was President of the Historical Association and gave lectures around the world. He received honorary doctorates from the Universities of Wales and the West of England and his books on political, military, cultural, religious and international history have been translated in to many European languages. He played a prominent part in establishing what is now the UK Arts and Humanities Research Council. He became Vice-Chancellor of what is now the University of Wales Trinity/St David and subsequently also served as Senior Vice-Chancellor of the University of Wales. He retired in 2003 but continued to publish on various aspects of modern history including, in 2010, Pride of Place: A modern history of Bristol Grammar School.
Professor Robbin’s continued friendship and support for BGS over the years since he left the School has been very much appreciated by the School community and he will be greatly missed.
His funeral will take place at 2.30pm on 3 October in the University Church of St Mary the Virgin, High Street, Oxford with a Memorial Service planned to take place in Pershore Abbey, probably on Saturday 26 October.