“A man who earned both respect and trust.” Eric William Robinson 1920 - 2008

It is with great sadness that one of the region’s best known legal firms announces the death of its founder. Eric William Robinson, who was one of the most active supporters of the city of Southampton and its community, passed away peacefully on 11 th September 2008.

Born in Bitterne in 1920, Eric Robinson served in the Second World War as a Rear Gunner in the RAF. After leaving the armed forces, he decided to study law by correspondence course and became a qualified solicitor in 1952. Having worked for a Southampton firm, Ronald Cross, for ten years he started out on his own in 1964 with just one secretary and an office at 447, Bitterne Road.

‘Eric’s new office was directly opposite the Red Lion pub,’ says Paul Bakewell, a former colleague and Partner at Eric Robinson Solicitors. ‘After completing his first piece of work, he took the fee he was paid and celebrated over the road by spending the lot!’

After four years of carrying out all types of legal work, Eric opened two further branches in Chandlers Ford and Hedge End, the latter which he managed himself. Over the next two decades, the firm acquired offices in Hythe and Southampton City Centre, employing over 130 people. Whilst the company grew, Eric never lost his individuality and, at times, eccentricity.

‘Eric once told me that the reason I became a Partner was because we were of the same height and build,’ recalls former Partner, George Howard. ‘He would often joke that he was no longer the smallest Partner in the Firm!’

Eric retired in 1990 at the age of 70 years old, and handed over the running of his branch in Hedge End to its current Office Partner, Mike Dyer. ‘Eric and I got to know each other well through a shared passion of golf,’ recalls Michael. ‘I remember being slightly apprehensive when he asked me to manage the office that was his pride and joy, but he left me an efficient practice with a solid foundation on which to grow.’

Eric returned for the firm’s Christmas Party every year and would take great delight in both catching up with former colleagues and meeting new members of the firm with animation and enthusiasm.

‘Though he was a very gentle man, Eric exuded a positive energy that pushed him to be a dynamic and successful businessman’ says Paul. ‘His success was partly due to tremendous goodwill from the local community. He was a man who earned both respect and trust, as well as a great deal of loyalty from many people.’

Having lived in Bitterne for over fifty years, and survived his wife of many years, Irene, after she died in 2005, Eric was an eminent figure in the region and well-known for being instrumental in setting up projects such as the annual Southampton Boatshow and organisations such as the Southern Parishes Conservative Club in Hedge End.

A keen horseman, he took great pleasure in riding and looking after his own horses. He enjoyed a wide range of sports including badminton, football, waterskiing and golf at the Ampfield and Stoneham Golf Clubs. Eric was a social member of the Trojan’s Rugby Club and a very enthusiastic yachtsman - he had his own traditional wooden boat built at the back of his office so he could watch the progress being made.