Robinson a man of gravitas
When Graham Robinson said he was going to do something, he followed through – even if it meant conducting Saturday detention at 6am.
The 64-year-old Hamilton Boys’ High School deputy headmaster died of a medical event at school on Saturday morning.
His funeral will be held at the school, but details are yet to be confirmed.
He’d taught there for 27 years, and gained a reputation for being firm but fair, and embodying school values.
It fast earned him the nickname Robocop, which remained in use for generation after generation of schoolboys.
One of the students to go through in Robinson’s years was Hamilton-based Labour MP Jamie Strange.
‘‘He is the school in a way, the attributes he embodies,’’ Strange said.
One of his lasting memories of Robinson was when a top school sportsman got a Saturday detention.
The boy was meant to train that morning, about the time detention started.
‘‘Graham told the boy, ‘I’ll meet you here at 6am,’ ’’ Strange said, ‘‘such was his commitment, his consistency in terms of following through on what he said. Basically, what he said, he did.’’
Several online tributes to Robinson refer to him as Robocop, an affectionate nickname Strange said dates to Robinson’s arrival at the school in 1990.
It may have been due to his flat-top haircut at the time combined with his disciplinary role, Strange said.
Robinson had gravitas and a presence about him, Hamilton West National MP Tim Macindoe said.
He and his Hamilton East colleague David Bennett used to see Robinson regularly at school functions.
‘‘Whenever I would go to the school, he always seemed to be there, and clearly worked incredibly hard,’’ Macindoe said.
Robinson personified the values Boys’ High instils in students, he said, and the students held him in high regard. ‘‘He wanted the best of them and he worked very hard to help them to get there.’’
Bennett noted the respect students had for Robinson. ‘‘He just gave so much commitment and time to the school . . .’’
All three politicians sent their condolences to Robinson’s family, with sentiments succinctly expressed by Strange.
‘‘They should be really proud of what he achieved at Hamilton Boys’ High School. He’s a big part of the success Hamilton Boys’ High School has had.’’
On Saturday, Hamilton Boys’ High headmaster Susan Hassall described Robinson as an ‘‘absolute treasure’’.
‘‘We are there every Saturday morning, catching up, watching sport, so he was just doing his normal Saturday thing. I was there and several other staff were there,’’ she said.
‘‘He worked so hard for the school.’’