Nick Robinson
1912 -1998

Nick Robinson was the 3rd generation living in the village and was, as "local historian", often referred to as Mr. Hamble. He was born in Quay House, now the Royal Southern Yacht Club. His father, Gregory, the maritime artist, had his Studio in Satchell Lane, next door to his mother (Nick's Grandmother), where the family later moved. It has remained a family home and is now housing the 4th,5th & 6th generation.

Living in Hamble, Nick also had strong connections with the water and sailing right up to his passing in September 1998. His Grandfather was a Captain RN his father was an RNR who was also a founder member of the Hamble River Sailing Club, where Nick carried on this passion of the water, and not only with his dinghy sailing. At some stage along the line he was Secretary, Commodore and finally, Life Captain of the Hamble River Sailing Club as well as Honorary Life Member of the Royal Southern Yacht Club, President of the local Sea Scouts and Guides and President of the Southampton Water Inshore Rescue Service (now known as Hamble Lifeboat) of which he was a founder member. He was also a founder member of the Solent Protection Society, was on the Parish Council for several years and has taken a long loving interest in the village and the river.

Nick only left the village twice. Once, when he was in the Metropolitan Police during WWII after which he returned in 1946 with his wife, Kippy and together they ran their own Printing Business in The Studio from the early 1950s until they retired in 1988. The other times he left the village was when he attended the International Boat Show at Earl's Court as the Dinghy Expert for two weeks on the Advice Bureau, annually over 25 years Hamble was his life and anywhere else was foreign to him. He used to laughingly ask if he needed a passport to go to the Isle of Wight and even Warsash!

Nick passed away on 20th September, 1996 aged 85. He had a healthy life until his final few months. It was a happy life and he was happy with his lot although he was sad about the enormous changes to this "little village" especially in the last 10 years. He will be sorely missed by all those whose lives he had touched.

Nick Robinson, author of "Hamble - A Village History". Many of his scraperboard pictures of Hamble are included on this website.