{CRRef Slingsby, W.C. (1908) In Memoriam: John Wilson Robinson. Yorkshire Ramblers’ Club Journal Volume 2 Number 8: pp328-330. Leeds: YRC.)
In Memoriam: John Wilson Robinson
Amongst British mountaineers the name of John Robinson is a household word, and the number of members of the Alpine and other kindred Clubs with whom he was on terms of closest intimacy, and who have enjoyed the privilege of climbing with him amongst his native fells is very large. To know Robinson was to love him, and when on August 20th, 1907, the hand of death gently touched him and lulled him to his last long sleep, all of us realised that a great personal loss had come upon us. He was essentially a lovable man, a most delightful and ever cheery companion, possessed of a rare sense of humour, which never flagged no matter how cold and biting was the wind, how heavy the pitiless rain, how dense the mists on the fells, or how dark the night. Physically as well as mentally strong, Robinson was a born mountaineer, one of the few climbers who could read the face of a mountain like the pages of a book. His knowledge of the much-loved Cumbrian fells was unique. His natural modesty often led him to attribute to others the success of a brilliant climb which was due to himself. As Mr. Haskett-Smith was undoubtedly the pioneer of first-rate Lake District Rock-Climbing, Robinson was the great local exponent of the craft, and it was fortunate that these two giants of the sport became fast friends over a quarter of a century ago. Each became a pupil of the other, and each found an able master and an apt pupil.
Ah! It was always delightful to face some hitherto unclimbed ghyll, buttress, or rock face with dear old Robinson, and many a time have I had this good fortune, accompanied by Messrs. Haskett-Smith, Hastings, Walker, Woolley, Charles or Edward Hopkinson, Solly, or other men tried and true. Many a tryst have we kept in Great Doup on the Pillar Fell, in Hollow Stones, at Sprinkling Tarn, or at the foot of the Napes, Robinson having walked over from Lorton, we only from Wasdale Head.
What days of hard toil, rollicking fun, successful accomplishment, or failure and disappointment were those! What tons of grass or bent, bilberry roots, ling, juniper, sedums and moss, added to loose stones and rock we had to hurl down the North Face of the Pillar, On both sides of Gable, on Great End, on Scafell, Sergeant Crag, and on many another rugged rock, before firm finger grip or foothold could be found, and how hard Robinson worked we all remember! Many a bit of brilliant rock-climbing have I seen him tackle. Perhaps the best and most difficult was on our first attack on Moss Ghyll. At that time the wall below the Tennis Court Ledge was curtained with lovely moss, in some cases in long sprays. This suggested the name Moss Ghyll. With ruthless energy we stripped the green covering off the line of ascent and then found the loosest of loose walls. After making ourselves into a sort of human pyramid, Robinson climbed up it, and then came the real work. It is not too easy even now, but it is child’s play compared with what it was when it was first tackled. When, with the help of the rope I reached the grass ledge I was so delighted that I shouted out, “There’s a tennis court here.” Of course we were beaten at the “window,’ which was also my poor fortune on a second occasion, and had to descend the wall. Robinson again took the post of honour and came down last. It is very difficult to realise now the exceptional difficulty opposed to us by that wall, but then is it not also the case with nearly all the good rock-climbs? Even Scafell Pinnacle from Jordan Gap, where now-a-days there is such an abundance of hold on the slab, was very different when I was first taken up it by the two pioneers. The cracks then were not above an eighth of an inch wide and deep.
Robinson loved to introduce strangers to the wildest corners of his much-loved fells. Many a time has he taken some active young girl on the Pillar Rock; once he and a brilliant climber of the fair sex descended the North Face, also the Scafell Pinnacle by the chimney route. Robinson was one of the Cumberland Yeomen or Statesmen who – until Agricultural depression set in – were the backbone of England, but are now disappearing so quickly. He possessed in a high degree, all the best traits of character of the Scandinavians, and I feel certain that his for elders were Vikings who hailed from Norway. In addition to this was he not the best type of a Cumbrian Yeoman? What better could one wish for? He had a very great admiration for our Club, many of the members of which he numbered amongst his best friends. If he had lived a few months longer and had been hale and strong, he would have come to give us a lecture in Leeds.
It is well to have known John Robinson, and it is good to possess such a rich treasure of happy memories connected with a friend so staunch, tried and true.
WM. CECIL SLINGSBY.
On April 18th, 1908, a number of members of the Alpine, Clirnbers`, Fell and Rock, Yorkshire Ramblers’, and other Clubs, gathered from Wasdale Head and Buttermere with the object of erecting a cairn on the Ennerdale side of the Pillar, in Memory of J. W. Robinson. The site chosen was a knoll at the West End of the High Level Route, on the East Side of the Great Doup, and in full view of the East face of the Rock, with which his name will always be associated. A large cairn was then erected and, just below it, a face of rock marked for the placing of a bronze tablet which was being prepared.
On June I3th, the tablet was taken up Ennerdale in a cart and then dragged up the mountain side to the spot, where with due ceremony it was fixed in the presence of a number of Robinson’s friends. Mr. Slingsby officiated and made appropriate remarks. The tablet bears the following inscription:-
For Remembrance Of
John Wilson Robinson
Of Whinfell Hall, In Lorton,
Who Died 1907, At Brigham,
One Hundred Of His Comrades
And Friends Raised This.
He Knew And Loved As None Other,
These His Native Crags And Fells,
Whence He Drew
Simplicity, Strength, And Charm.
&Quot; We Climb The Hill; From End To End
Of All The Landscape Underneath,
We Find No Place That Does Not Breathe
Some Gracious Memory Of Our Friend.”
Mr. Haskett-Smith, Mr. George Seatree, and Mr. W. Cecil Slingsby took active parts in gathering funds for the memorial, and the thanks of subscribers are due to them for the satisfactory way in which the work has been carried out. – ED.
