Robb Robinson
@robb51.bsky.social
Maritime and British historian. British Commission for Maritime History Trustee, Hon Research Fellow at the University of Hull. Interests include the Yorkshire Coast, fisheries history and the role of smaller vessels in the Great War at Sea.
A reunion yesterday afternoon with Mark, Dave, Andy, our Bruce and Paul in the George down the Land of Green Ginger in Hull where we used to rendezvous on Friday evenings in the early 1990s.
November 9, 2025 at 8:13 AM
A reunion yesterday afternoon with Mark, Dave, Andy, our Bruce and Paul in the George down the Land of Green Ginger in Hull where we used to rendezvous on Friday evenings in the early 1990s.
Read about the creation of the Virtual Viola
November 3, 2025 at 11:26 AM
Read about the creation of the Virtual Viola
Read about the men and women whose lives and livelihoods were tied up with this little vessel built in 1906 and still around, now beached on the remote sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia. A true twentieth century story of the sea in peace and war which covers the long Atlantic Ocean.
October 31, 2025 at 8:46 AM
Read about the men and women whose lives and livelihoods were tied up with this little vessel built in 1906 and still around, now beached on the remote sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia. A true twentieth century story of the sea in peace and war which covers the long Atlantic Ocean.
Read about the men and women whose lives and livelihoods were tied up with this little vessel built in 1906 and still around. A true twentieth century story of the sea in peace and war which covers the long Atlantic Ocean.
October 31, 2025 at 8:42 AM
Read about the men and women whose lives and livelihoods were tied up with this little vessel built in 1906 and still around. A true twentieth century story of the sea in peace and war which covers the long Atlantic Ocean.
I am giving the opening/keynote lecture at The 2025 Scottish Maritime History Conference in Glasgow next week. 'Virtual Viola: electronically salvaging the career of the world’s oldest steam trawler'.
October 13, 2025 at 7:38 AM
I am giving the opening/keynote lecture at The 2025 Scottish Maritime History Conference in Glasgow next week. 'Virtual Viola: electronically salvaging the career of the world’s oldest steam trawler'.
Orsino was sister ship of HM Trawler Viola (members of the Hellyer Fishing Fleet all named after Shakespearean characters). Viola was then on anti-submarine duties off Shetland and is still around to this day lying at Grytviken, South Georgia. Later involved in sinking two U-boats. Read more here.
September 29, 2025 at 5:56 AM
Orsino was sister ship of HM Trawler Viola (members of the Hellyer Fishing Fleet all named after Shakespearean characters). Viola was then on anti-submarine duties off Shetland and is still around to this day lying at Grytviken, South Georgia. Later involved in sinking two U-boats. Read more here.
A night at the spectacular Oslo Opera House. A glorious fusion of music and modern architecture. Rusalka by Dvorak.
September 13, 2025 at 7:08 AM
A night at the spectacular Oslo Opera House. A glorious fusion of music and modern architecture. Rusalka by Dvorak.
Sailing along the Aurlandsfjorden this morning.
September 6, 2025 at 6:50 AM
Sailing along the Aurlandsfjorden this morning.
An outing by Hull Harriers (now City of Hull Athletic Club) in the early years of the twentieth century.
August 28, 2025 at 11:57 AM
An outing by Hull Harriers (now City of Hull Athletic Club) in the early years of the twentieth century.
Hull Heritage Open Days 2025 brochure now out.Have contributed two articles, one on Hull & E R Green Georgians. Apt that we have a tri-centenary and a bicentenary relating to remarkable locals with superb green credentials in year the green of Queens Gardens gradually being revealed. !st pages here
August 23, 2025 at 7:56 AM
Hull Heritage Open Days 2025 brochure now out.Have contributed two articles, one on Hull & E R Green Georgians. Apt that we have a tri-centenary and a bicentenary relating to remarkable locals with superb green credentials in year the green of Queens Gardens gradually being revealed. !st pages here
A spot of filming with Phil Ascough and Dave Lee on the top of Two Humber Quays Building, Hull with the Old Town, Marina and Humber estuary as backdrop.
August 20, 2025 at 7:07 AM
A spot of filming with Phil Ascough and Dave Lee on the top of Two Humber Quays Building, Hull with the Old Town, Marina and Humber estuary as backdrop.
The cap of Skidby Windmill is now on the ground. I really hope it will not be long before cap and a set of sails are back on this wonderful building. Seems ages since it was last working.
August 2, 2025 at 10:18 AM
The cap of Skidby Windmill is now on the ground. I really hope it will not be long before cap and a set of sails are back on this wonderful building. Seems ages since it was last working.
National Cycle Route is over 1200 miles long. They have closed a section near Beverley at the height of summer for "improvement.'. Thing is, obvious alternative cycle routes here are closed due to other 'improvements'. The alternative suggested is to share the narrow, twisty Dunswell Lane with cars.
July 20, 2025 at 7:08 AM
National Cycle Route is over 1200 miles long. They have closed a section near Beverley at the height of summer for "improvement.'. Thing is, obvious alternative cycle routes here are closed due to other 'improvements'. The alternative suggested is to share the narrow, twisty Dunswell Lane with cars.
Want a summer read with a maritime theme? Then try Viola (Lodestar Books). A true twentieth century story of men and women whose lives and livelihoods were linked to to one little ship, built in 1906 and still around. A story of war and peace and the long Atlantic Ocean,
June 19, 2025 at 8:49 AM
Want a summer read with a maritime theme? Then try Viola (Lodestar Books). A true twentieth century story of men and women whose lives and livelihoods were linked to to one little ship, built in 1906 and still around. A story of war and peace and the long Atlantic Ocean,
Fimber Halt today. Yorkshire Wolds Railway celebrating ten years. What a great little line, well worth a visit.
May 25, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Fimber Halt today. Yorkshire Wolds Railway celebrating ten years. What a great little line, well worth a visit.
Down at Grovehill this morning to talk with Ellie Brennan about the old shipyard and the war-time roles of the ships built there as part of Vernon Kay's VE Day show in Beverley for BBC Radio 2.
May 8, 2025 at 11:23 AM
Down at Grovehill this morning to talk with Ellie Brennan about the old shipyard and the war-time roles of the ships built there as part of Vernon Kay's VE Day show in Beverley for BBC Radio 2.
I am scheduled to do a piece for BBC Radio 2 tomorrow c.9.50am about role of Beverley's Grovehill shipyard in the Second World War as part of VE Day events. Have a listen if you get a chance. HMS William Scoresby and HMS Beryl were two of many Beverley built ships that played key roles in the war.
May 7, 2025 at 3:57 PM
I am scheduled to do a piece for BBC Radio 2 tomorrow c.9.50am about role of Beverley's Grovehill shipyard in the Second World War as part of VE Day events. Have a listen if you get a chance. HMS William Scoresby and HMS Beryl were two of many Beverley built ships that played key roles in the war.
Had now had a look at the work that has been carried out on this magnificent building as part of Hull's maritime city project before the exhibits are brought in. It's on course to be a national asset.
May 7, 2025 at 5:55 AM
Had now had a look at the work that has been carried out on this magnificent building as part of Hull's maritime city project before the exhibits are brought in. It's on course to be a national asset.
Approaching Thixendale in the Yorkshire Wolds this glorious morning.
April 17, 2025 at 5:49 PM
Approaching Thixendale in the Yorkshire Wolds this glorious morning.
This weekend we have hosted the 2025 New Researchers in Maritime History Conference in Hull at the History Centre. This event, held annually by the British Commission for Maritime History, attracts new and experienced historians from across the world.
Glorious weather accompanied the conference.
Glorious weather accompanied the conference.
April 13, 2025 at 6:26 AM
This weekend we have hosted the 2025 New Researchers in Maritime History Conference in Hull at the History Centre. This event, held annually by the British Commission for Maritime History, attracts new and experienced historians from across the world.
Glorious weather accompanied the conference.
Glorious weather accompanied the conference.
Glorious morning yesterday near the top of Thixendale on my way to Whitby.
April 9, 2025 at 6:51 AM
Glorious morning yesterday near the top of Thixendale on my way to Whitby.
Marshalling in the fields as dusk approaches near Hotham for City of Hull AC's first Champagne League race of 2025. Good turn out.
April 2, 2025 at 6:07 AM
Marshalling in the fields as dusk approaches near Hotham for City of Hull AC's first Champagne League race of 2025. Good turn out.
Withernsea to Holmpton and back along the Holderness coast today. Glorious weather and empty cliff tops and beaches.
April 1, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Withernsea to Holmpton and back along the Holderness coast today. Glorious weather and empty cliff tops and beaches.
Out and about on local tracks. Glorious weather this morning.
March 19, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Out and about on local tracks. Glorious weather this morning.
Glorious day Holderness Coast walking the beach from Mappleton southwards to near Aldbrough and back below the former RAF Cowden bombing range. Hardly a soul, as you might imagine.
March 18, 2025 at 3:48 PM
Glorious day Holderness Coast walking the beach from Mappleton southwards to near Aldbrough and back below the former RAF Cowden bombing range. Hardly a soul, as you might imagine.