ROBIN ROE CBE MC MA died at Shalford, Surrey on 15 July 2010 aged 81.

Robin was, of course, best known in sporting circles as a Rugby footballer, who gained 21 caps as hooker for Ireland between 1952 and 1957, bisecting the eras of Karl Mullen and Ronnie Dawson.  Playing his club Rugby for Dublin University, Lansdowne and London Irish, he also toured South Africa with the Lions in 1955, though his enjoyment of a memorable tour was marred for him by his aversion to the apartheid policy of the all white government of the country.

In company, however with another member of that touring party - a teenage red haired winger named O'Reilly, Robin was also a very competent batsman, who had been in the Ist XI at King's Hospital School and gained a regular place in the Dublin University Ist XI in 1951, playing under the captaincy of Brian Stronach.

Leading batsman in the side was Robin's loose head prop - for both the University and Lansdowne - Larry Warke.

Away from the sports field, Robin was ordained into the Church of Ireland in 1954, but made a career as a Chaplain in the British Army.

In 1967, during the Aden emergency, he was awarded the Military Cross for bravery under heavy fire, when, with total disregard for his own safety, he rescued several wounded soldiers from a burning lorry.

On his retirement from the Army in 1982, he was made a Companion of the British Empire (CBE). He became Rector of Merrow, near Guildford in Surrey, from which post he retired in 1989.

        
                                                                                 Edward Liddle