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+--- Thread: Robin Birley 1935 - 2018 (/showthread.php?tid=30904)
Robin Birley 1935 - 2018 - Robert Vermaat - 08-30-2018
Announcement from the Vindolanda Trust:
It is with immense sadness that The Vindolanda Trust announces the death of Robin Birley, founder Director of the Trust, on the evening of Wednesday August 29th 2018.
Robin died, as he lived, with great courage and dignity and was surrounded by the love and comfort of his son Andrew, daughter Sonya, brother Tony and his devoted wife and soulmate Patricia.
The Vindolanda Trust will forever indebted and grateful to Robin for without his determination, passion and incredible vision Vindolanda would not be the amazing Roman site that it is today.
He was an inspirational and generous leader with boundless energy who encouraged thousands of wonderful volunteers from all walks of life to join him in his excavations at Vindolanda for over 30 years. Robin made outstanding archaeological discoveries, including the major Vindolanda writing tablets, but he always put the team first and never failed to give credit where it was due. He was also an astute business man who dedicated himself to the colleagues with whom he worked to ensure that the Vindolanda Trust developed into a sustainable and fully independent Charitable Trust. He received daily reports of how things were going on the excavations and remained totally absorbed in all aspects of the Trust until the eve of his death.
As proud Northumbrian and socialist with a strong sense of public duty he served with integrity as a Chair and Leader of Northumberland County Council, a Deputy Lord Lieutenant and senior magistrate.
It is however as our man at Vindolanda that we remember him. He leaves behind his much- loved family and his beloved Vindolanda. Robin made history, the work continues and his Vindolanda legacy is eternal.
Further information will be released in due course regarding a commemoration service to be held at Vindolanda.
Robin Edgar Birley was a British archaeologist. He was formerly the Director of Excavations at the Roman site of Vindolanda, and headed the Vindolanda research committee. He was the son of Eric Birley (a scholar of Hadrian's Wall) and brother to Anthony Birley. His wife Patricia Birley and son Andrew Birley are also published authors on Roman Vindolanda.
RE: Robin Birley 1935 - 2018 - Nathan Ross - 08-30-2018
Very sad! One of the great names. His studies of the Vindolanda tablets, and his books about them and what they told us about life at the fort, were tremendously inspiring.
RE: Robin Birley 1935 - 2018 - Graham Sumner - 08-31-2018
It was very sad to hear this news today.
I had the pleasure of meeting and working with Robin Birley on several occasions.
He was an inspiring character and his contribution to Roman army studies was immense.
My condolences to his family and friends.
RE: Robin Birley 1935 - 2018 - Gunthamund Hasding - 08-31-2018
very sad to hear this news