He was in a car being chased by police. He got away and the police gave up. He then crashed his car. It was said that after this he shot himself.
Don Robinson (91). Larger than life character who was like a hurricane of fresh air when he became involved with Hull City. A man not to be messed with, as I personally found out when he threw me out of his office. He wanted editorial rights and a cut of the proceeds of a City fanzine of that time. I/we didn't agree. He told me I didn't listen, and in hindsight, he was probably right. I used to write to him in the days people still wrote letters and to my surprise the phone rang one Friday night at home and it was Don Robinson himself, no BS this, he asked for my opinions on various things Hull City. This happened for about three Friday nights on the trot, once he asked me who I would pick at left full back. I suggested Neil Thompson, a Hull lad playing for Scarboro at that time. I said he's got the best left foot in the lower leagues. Don didn't agree, and argued the point, said he'd 'never be more than a third or fourth division player'. Thompson signed for Ipswich a couple of weeks later for £100k. Don later persuaded ex Liverpool and England captain Emlyn Hughes to play for us by offering him more money then he ever earned at Liverpool! Robinson could talk for England and he talked Hull City up at every opportunity, I liked him and he was just what the club needed at the time. He brought the club fame and success and put us back on the football map. He invited me down to the ground to meet him on another occasion. I went and he showed me behind the scenes of the stadium, including the huge washing machines housed under the South Stand which were leaking and he said 'Can you fix those'? I did eventually fix the fence between the railway platform and the back of the East Stand, for free. He also asked me to get involved with the Supporters Club and get them to raise more money for the club, I forget the details now but it was a job offer, full time, and when I asked what he was paying he answered, straight faced 'I thought you were a fan'? I turned his kind offer to work for free for the club down. I had three kids and a mortgage, he was a millionaire, or at least very wealthy compared to me, and he was an expert at getting people to work for the club for nothing. Manager Colin Appleton even refurbished the changing rooms at Boothferry Park himself during one close season. Robinson wanted to own the club outright and the parting of the ways came when he realised that was never going to happen as the all important 'non voting shares' all belonged to Chris Needler. He eventually resigned from the Board and gave his shares away to supporters. I never got any. The nearest he got to getting City into the First Division and playing on the Moon was a fifth place finish in the old 2nd Division, a Play Off place today, under Brian Horton, a man he wrongly sacked the following season Never a dull moment when Don Robinson was the chairman of Hull City and he will go down in history as a man who left his mark on the club, he had a real go, and for that I thank him. RIP Don Robinson. UTT.
A sad loss but a very good innings. He was certainly a character and very good for the club at that particular time.
pauline collins, actress, 85.wife of city fan john alderton. one of the original tv liver birds. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pauline_Collins
connections: don robinson, former hcafc chairman pauline collins, married to hcafc fan john alderton gilson lavis, drummer of squeeze, who once included hull born bassist john bentley.
Former Top Gear and Fifth Gear presenter Quentin Willson has died at 68 following a short battle with lung cancer, his family said. In a statement, the family described Willson, who died on Saturday, as a “true national treasure”, who “brought the joy of motoring, from combustion to electric, into our living rooms”. The statement said: “The family of Quentin Willson, television presenter and producer, motoring journalist, author, and campaigner, wish to announce that he passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on Saturday 8th November, following a short battle with lung cancer. He was 68.
Many moons ago I had 10 minutes nattering with him outside the NEC at the bike show; was really surprised at his bike knowledge as i'd always had him down as just a car-nut. Nice guy - RIP.
