Cedric Robinson (guide)

Leading a walk across the sands in 2014

Cedric Robinson MBE (born 17 February 1933 in Flookburgh) was the Queen's Guide to the Sands, the recognised guide for travellers across the dangerous tidal sands of Morecambe Bay in north west England, for 56 years.

Early life and appointment

Robinson was born on 17 February 1933 at 4, Market Cross, in Flookburgh, Cumbria. His family were fishermen, and he spent much of his time out on the sands picking cockles with his father. He was appointed in October 1963, as the 25th Guide. He later reminisced: "It was the officer of the sands that mentioned the former guide was retiring – I had never thought of it before but after he had called round with the details I decided to go for it".

Queen's Guide to the Sands

The shifting course of the River Kent and the fast moving tides make the task of leading a safe crossing of Morecambe Bay a challenge. Robinson would set out a safe route the day before a crossing, marking it out with laurel "brobs", branches stuck in the sand as markers which would survive being underwater at high tide. On some occasions walks had to be cancelled because of heavy rain in the previous days leading to a dangerous flow of water, or because of severe weather on the day of the walk. As an example, in 2017 the charity Galloway's Society for the Blind had to cancel two walks planned for a weekend in September which were rescheduled from an earlier weekend in the year when they had also been cancelled.

Robinson led many parties across the sands, most commonly from Arnside to Kents Bank, often with a large group of up to 600 people raising money for charities. During his time as guide the walks he led raised over £1million for charity. in 1985 he guided Prince Philip across the sands in a horse-drawn carriage, and on a later occasion took Rick Stein across the sands while being filmed for television.

He published several books about his life and work, some of them illustrated by his wife Olive (born 1925).

Retirement and successor

Robinson's retirement was announced in April 2019. It was Lord Cavendish in his role as chair of the Guide Over Sands Trust who visited the 86-year-old Robinson and suggested that it was time to retire: "'At the age you've got to, Mr Robinson – Cedric,' he said, 'we'd like to take the responsibility away from you and we would like you to choose a new guide'". He chose his successor, Michael Wilson, a 46-year-old fisherman from Flookburgh, and would have a continuing ambassadorial and advisory role.

Recognition

Robinson was appointed MBE in the 1999 Birthday Honours, "for services to the community in Cumbria". The University of Cumbria awarded him an honorary fellowship in November 2013, "In recognition of his outstanding service to the community and significant contribution to supporting charitable causes, both locally and globally."

Publications

• Robinson, Cedric; Mitchell, W.R. (1986). Life Around Morecambe Bay. Dalesman. ISBN 978-0852068656.
• Robinson, Cedric; Robinson, Olive (1998). Sand Pilot of Morecambe Bay. ISBN 0-906899-94-X.
• Robinson, Cedric (2003). Cedric Robinson: 40 Years on Morecambe Bay. ISBN 0-9544002-2-4.
• Robinson, Cedric (2007). Between the Tides. ISBN 978-1-905080-33-5.
• Robinson, Cedric (2009). Sandman: The Autobiography of Cedric Robinson - The Queen's Guide to the Sands. Great Northern Books. ISBN 978-1905080625.
• Robinson, Cedric (2013). Time and Tide: 50 Golden Years on Morecambe Bay. Great Northern Books. ISBN 978-0957295162.

Further reading

• Sutton, Lindsay (24 May 2019). Sands of Time: Following in the footsteps of Cedric Robinson on Morecambe Bay. Great Northern Books. ISBN 978-1912101108.

External links

• "Oral history interview with Cedric Robinson, Queens Guide to the Sands in Grange". Recording Morecambe Bay. Morecambe Bay Partnership. Audio files and transcript of 16 minute interview