Volunteers behind the popular Richard Walking & Book Festival have paid tribute to author and event patron Peter Robinson who died recently.
The 72-year-old crime writer, who divided his time between his home in Richmond and another in Toronto, Canada, died died on October 4.
The author, who was born in Armley, Leeds, was patron of the Richmond Walking and Books Festival, and was a regular speaker at the annual event.
Speaking on behalf of the festival, volunteer Carol Watson said: “I’m so sad to hear that Peter Robinson, our festival patron, has died.
“Along with his family and friends who will be devastated, I know that the festival organisers will miss his support and patronage enormously.
“During the six years that I coordinated the ‘book’ element of the festival, Peter was extremely kind and generous with his time, ideas and contacts.
“Having him as our patron made it far easier to invite other well-known authors which, in turn, made it easier to invite yet more.
“He spoke at our festival several times: with Martin Carthy at the Georgian Theatre Royal, ‘In Conversation…’ at Richmond Library and, although it was before my time, held An Evening with Peter Robinson and Ian Rankin which has gone down in festival history, as people who were there still testify.
“He will be sorely missed by everyone involved with the Richmond Walking & Book Festival, along with all those who knew him and counted him as a friend.”
