VERY SAD TO HEAR of the passing of Margaret Robinson yesterday. . . . a
very important member of the Hammer films in house company, and the
wife of Bernard Robinson . . more than that, she was an artist in her
own right, and the creator of beautiful paintings, marionettes and
masks. I first met Margaret in 1979, as she strolled around a convention
room, without a name badge. While queuing for a coffee, I struck up
conversation with Margaret, but not knowing her asked, if there
was anyone in particular she had come along to meet and chat with from
the Hammer films guests. She laughed and said, 'Well, I was rather
hoping someone would want to talk to me!' Puzzled and apologizing for
sounding rude, I asked, 'You are a guest?' 'Yes!' she laughed, '...my
husband was Bernard Robinson, the set designer for Hammer films, I am
Margaret, I made the masks for THE Hound of the Baskervilles!'
EMBARRASSED, and surprised, I introduced myself and while quickly
grabbing her a coffee, asked her if she would mind being interviewed? In
a hotel room upstairs, interviewed everyone at the event, I was
preparing the first PCAS audio magazine, and had started presenting my
first radio programme at a regional BBC radio station. Margaret was the
very first person I ever interviewed with a connection to Peter and
Hammer films.
During our two hours together, she had a sketch pad on her lap, I thought she was jotting down my questions and doodling. It was only after the interview, she presented my with a beautiful and detailed sketch...of me asking her questions! Signed and framed, it's one of my special things. We kept in touch until five years ago. Always light, unpretentious and extremely kind, she had a no nonsense approach, and much empathy for young people and the arts. Her husband, Bernard who passed at the young age of 57 is quoted as once saying as saying, It's not the LENGTH of a life that counts, but, the quality'. In Margaret's case, she certainly had both...
During our two hours together, she had a sketch pad on her lap, I thought she was jotting down my questions and doodling. It was only after the interview, she presented my with a beautiful and detailed sketch...of me asking her questions! Signed and framed, it's one of my special things. We kept in touch until five years ago. Always light, unpretentious and extremely kind, she had a no nonsense approach, and much empathy for young people and the arts. Her husband, Bernard who passed at the young age of 57 is quoted as once saying as saying, It's not the LENGTH of a life that counts, but, the quality'. In Margaret's case, she certainly had both...
COME JOIN AND FOLLOW US ON OUR FACEBOOK FAN PAGE : NOW WITH ALMOST 25,000 FOLLOWERS AND FRIENDS : JUST CLICK HERE
She was a fantastic artist and friend to so many. Even at the age of 96 she was as bright as a button, right to the end, and full of stories of her days, with Bernard, supporting Hammer films. She was one of a kind, an empathic listener who always had time for others, and was the beating heart of art in and around Chertsey, and we shall not see her like again. That was a life well lived.
ReplyDeleteIng-Marie Österlund
Hello Ing-Marie and Simon,
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for writing in here. I have heard from quite a few people who were friends with Margaret and even people from Chertsey, saying, just like yourself, how much she was loved and respected, not just in her community, but much much further a field too. You are quite right, she was quite unique, but never knew that and so had the ability to talk and touch everyone she met, so gentle and very, very kind. Thanks again . . .