King’s Lynn, South Wootton and Castle Rising borough councillor Pat Robinson obituary
Pat Robinson, who has died aged 97, was active in education, politics and voluntary work in Lynn for more than 50 years.
Patricia Helen Robinson was born in 1924, in Birmingham. She worked as an occupational therapist in the war and then studied social studies at Birmingham University where she met and married Peter, a dental student.
She worked as a child welfare officer in Wolverhampton before the family moved to Lynn in 1953. They initially lived above Peter’s dental surgery on London Road, later moving to Wootton Road, South Wootton and Castle Rising before returning to the Chase for their retirement.
She was a founding member of the King’s Lynn Swimming Pool Association which raised money for an indoor-heated pool in the town. In 1962 she started the Dolphin Club as the junior branch, raising money and also teaching generations of children to swim.
She was elected to the borough council in 1969 for Gaywood, campaigning for the swimming pool, which finally opened in 1974.
She was a governor of most of the schools in Lynn during the 1970s and 80s, including chairing the four St James’s schools. She took enormous interest in them. Perhaps the finest example was her campaign for indoor toilets at Highgate Infants, culminating in a protest march!
She chaired the Trustees of the West Norfolk and King’s Lynn Girls’ School Trust for 20 years. This continues to give financial assistance to girls and young women in the area.
She enjoyed getting to know and help individual applicants. She also helped adults learn to read.
She was a founder member and first president of the King’s Lynn branch of the Soroptimists in 1974 and was president again in 2000 for the 25th anniversary.
She was chairman of Castle Rising Parish Council, dealing with street lighting, the bus shelter and rights of way, and gathering evidence for a public enquiry which established an important footpath.
She chaired the West Norfolk branch of the Norfolk Society, later CPRE, for many years.
She had a wide circle of friends and acquaintances. Peter died in 2012.
She leaves three children, Richard, Mary Anne, and Catherine.
