Biography of Robert N. M. Robertson

Robert Nelson McQueen Robertson (1912â€"1991) was born in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, son of Alexander. When Robert matriculated at the University of Glasgow in 1931 his father kept a boarding-house at Rothesay, Isle of Bute. Robert graduated MA in 1934 and LLB in 1937.

Robert Robertson was a talented athlete who turned out for the University in long jump, sprints, and the Rugby First XV. He was awarded Full Blues for athletics in 1933 and for rugby in 1934. He was also involved in sports administration during his studies, serving as secretary of the Glasgow University Athletic Club in 1933â€"4.

Robertson was among the best long jumpers in Scotland during the 1930s. In 1934 he was Scottish and British Universities' champion and the same year set a Scottish Universities' record of 23ft 4.5 in / 7.12m (the Scottish national record at the time was 7.14m). In 1933, 1934 and 1935 he was also Scottish national champion.

In 1934 he won international honours for Scotland when he was selected for the British Empire Games in long jump. Earlier, in May, he won the long jump competition when representing Atalanta Club (Scottish Universities) against Achilles A. C. (Oxford and Cambridge universities), Milocarian A. C. (Services), and French, German and Swedish club teams.

Upon the outbreak of WW2 in September 1939, Robert was quick to join up. Before leaving to begin his military service, Robert married fellow University of Glasgow graduate, Lorna Tillotson, in the University Chapel of the 27th of December 1939. In the wedding photograph Robert is wearing his new uniform. Robert Robertson was placed with the Royal Army Service Corps, and attained the rank of Captain. Robert was heavily involved in the long Battle of Normandy in 1944, in back up operations with RASC Supply and Transport. By October 1944 he had been promoted to the rank of Major.

After the war, Robertson moved to St Andrews where he worked as a solicitor. He then went on to work as Registrar and Secretary for the Universities of Dundee and Southampton. Major Robert N. M. Robertson died in 1991 in Dundee

Sources

Other Online Resources

• Commonwealth Games Federation, athlete search
• Gilmorehill Globe, search Robertson
• R. N. M. Robertson, 'Southampton Meeting of the British Association for the Advancement of Science', Nature, 18 July 1964, pp. 235-7
• Reference to Robertson's work at the University of Southampton, University of Southampton Special Collections: MS 101/7
• Report on international clubs match, May 1934: 'British Clubs do well', The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser, 5 June 1934, p. 15
• Scottish Outdoor Championships, men 1883-1968 (field)

Archival Materials

• Glasgow University Magazine 1934-5, Glasgow University Athletics Club supplement, DC198/1/42
• Matriculation album 1931-2, R8/5/52/9
• Matriculation album 1936-7, R8/5/57/9
• University of Glasgow register of members of the General Council, 1965, DC183/11/90

Other

• Daughter, Susan Robertson

Summary

Robert N. M. Robertson
Born 1912.
Died 1991.
GU Degrees: MA, 1934; LLB, 1937;
University Link: Graduate
Occupation categories: registrar; solicitors
English snippet: Canada-born Arts and Law graduate who represented Scotland in long jump at the 1934 British Empire Games.
Record last updated: 27th Mar 2019

Country Associations

Canada, Alberta, Calgary

England, Southampton

Scotland, Glasgow

University Connections

University Roles

• Graduate

Images

GUAC athletics section, 1934-5