Well-known former GP dies
Well-known former Shetland GP and artist Bobby Robertson died at home in Brae on Tuesday night, aged 81. He was suffering from prostate cancer.
Dr Robertson grew up in Lerwick and practiced in Unst for 18 years during the ’60s and ’70s before becoming the doctor based in Voe and then Brae during the oil boom years.
He became renowned as an artist, enjoying sell-out exhibitions of his distinctive Shetland scenes and murals in watercolour and oils. In recent years he wrote a successful autobiography, Bombs, Boils & Brushes.
He is survived by wife Maureen, their three children Susan, John and Jane and their families.
His funeral is to be in the Brae Hall on Monday with burial at Lund in Unst. Dr Robertson had strong family links with Unst stretching back more than 300 years.
• There will be an obituary for Dr Robertson in next week’s paper, Friday 25th October.
Michael Hogg
I remember Dr Robertson from my time at RAF Saxavord in the 1960’s when he was the Medical Officer. He was always a very pleasant gentleman.
(Revd) A.Douglas Lamb
Bobby (Dr R.J.Robertson) and indeed Maureen were great friends of ours when I was parish minister of Unst for 8 years -both were hospitality to sooth moothers like ourselves. He was a very diligent doctor and in time became quite a notable artist. He and I had quite a number of “ploys” over the years. Endowed with a great sense of humour and many interests notably in ornithology he served as chairman of the Unst Council of Social Service (basically a development group). We were heavily involved in getting an airstrip, a new hotel, a fishing boat, a guide book etc with much support from the old HIDB (Highlands and Islands Development Board). His only fault (if you can call it such) was his handwriting – you would have to take it to a pharmacist to decipher it! Mind you that was no problem because he carefully dispensed the medicine himself. A really “good guy” and a Shetlander through and through. As I recall his Unst forbears came from the Muness area of the island. It is fitting that he will be interred at Lund in sight of the sea which he often painted. Douglas Lamb, now in Laurencekirk
Chris Ingram
With fondness I recall many pleasant times shared with Bobby (Dr R J Robertson)
and Maureen during the ’60s when visiting Unst as the School Dentist.
We attended Nick Barnham’s art classes where Bobby’s abilities flowered, returning
to his home afterwards to share a cup of tea and listen to his jokes and stories.
I still have slides of our summer school art class when we visited the furthest corners of the Islands to paint with joyfull intensity, and enjoy picnics on far away beaches.
It was a pleasure to meet Bobby last year – from New Zealand – shake him by the hand and thank him….and Maureen… for those hospitable and happy times.
Chris Ingram. Retired Dentist, New Zealand
October 24, 2013