Cllr Steve Adams and Gio Spinella wrote a tribute to Alderman Roger Robinson has died, who had died aged 86. The Camden New Journal have written an obituary to one of the 'founding fathers' of Camden. You can read it here, and we thank them for the picture.
Gio and Steve's tribute is in full below. While he was a Labour Councillor he had dedicated his life to Camden.
Roger was one of the “founding fathers” of Camden, one of the first Councillors elected to the newly created Camden Council back in 1964.
From its creation, Roger served on and off for decades, as Mayor, as Labour group whip and in many other positions.
The Roger we knew by the time we were elected, was very much the elder statesman of the Council, steeped in the history of the community of St Pancras which elected him, of the Labour party and of Camden (the latter two often coinciding).
He knew the song and dance of council politics, he knew the exigencies of the borough and the demands and requirements of the role of the Councillor.
Such was the affection the Labour group had for him, he retained his status even when he voted in Council against a motion on staying in the EU.
A life-long Labour man and to the left of the party, he was able to rise above partisan and factional barriers and build relationships with Councillors of opposing parties. He especially bonded with Claire-Louise Leyland over their shared service in the British armed forces.
For a man so rooted in Camden, Roger’s life was perhaps unsurprisingly very cosmopolitan, with his children living abroad and him travelling when he could to visit them.
And Roger’s record of service pre-dated his time on the council, having served in the military. He would make reference to the Suez crisis as a lived experience and not a page from history books.
He was the champion of the disabled in Camden. When panels were assembled to discuss service provision to the disabled, Roger would be there, explaining the unique requirements of these residents, educating earnest but less well-informed Councillors along the way.
Roger was a warm man, with strong passions which however, never overcame his innate warm decency and his ability to relate and connect with people.
His appointment as Alderman of Camden, a few years ago, was a fitting tribute to decades of selfless public service.
All the Camden Conservatives send their deepest condolences to his family and friends and join them in a saddened but warm remembrance of this exceptional man.
Gio Spinella
Past Leader of the Conservative Group on Camden Council
