Summer Times is the Journal of the Old Scarborians Association

20
O‐level art exam we surreptitiously swapped
papers ‐ I did his seascape while he drew my
hedges. We both got huge marks in the exam,
but please don’t tell the Joint Matriculation
Board!”
Mr Wilson said his own “destiny moment”
came just after assembly at the Boys’ High
School when Palmer asked him if he could play
blues on the piano.
He said, “I did, and he said I should join a
group he was forming called the Mandrakes. I
stupidly asked for parental guidance, and the
answer was no — better concentrate on my
A‐levels.
“I did and he didn’t. I know he did the right
thing, because that band became the best in
Scarborough, then a wonderfully established
group in the north and, of course ultimately he
became a consummate pop artist worldwide.”
The pair lost touch but their paths still crossed.
Mr Wilson said, “We lost touch, bumped into
each other a couple of times in London and one
surreal time in the motorway services at Wat‐
ford Gap, but I know that as he moved on he
guided a lot of musicians into some glorious
songs, apart from being a mere pop icon in his
own right.
“He became the epitome of cool, and is sorely
missed among those who knew him early on.
“I play in a rock and roll band now, and our
next gig will feature some of his numbers.
“What a star he was. And thanks to his music,
Robert Allen Palmer will shine on. My little
chum, I miss you.”
A TRIBUTE TO ROBIN PINDER
(1947-54)
By Julian Johnson
It is with very great sadness that I write these
few lines to pay tribute to a life long friend,
whom I could have called my brother. Robin’s
funeral took place on Monday 24 th November
2003 at the village church of Tickton just outside
Beverley, where he and Glenys have lived for
the past 26 years.
We first met at school, al‐
though he was a year ahead
of me, and took part in
summer and winter sports
both at school and after he
had left. Robin was very
practical, a man of the
country with a deep love of
animals. Naturally therefore he went into farm‐
ing by firstly studying at Seal Hayne Agricul‐
tural college in Devon and then to a dairy farm
in Norfolk for 8 years. This was followed by the
purchase of a farm just outside Knaresborough
in 1960. During this time their son, Nicholas and
two daughters, Judith and Lisa were born. He
was very much a family man, devoted to his
wife and family and extremely proud of their
achievements
When farming proved not cost effective they
moved on to Stafford, Robin working for the
Milk Marketing Board. It was here that he
joined Round Table, remaining a member when
they returned to their roots in Yorkshire in 1972.
They then ran a village shop for a number of
years prior to other career changes.
Robin was always a good mimic, taking off
peoples traits and mannerisms, enjoying jokes
and the telling of them. He had a very enquiring
mind, a thirst for knowledge and could be re‐
lied upon to give measured and sound advice
when sought or needed. I am sure that everyone
who came in contact with Robin found him a
person who enjoyed the simple things of life,
with his feet firmly on the soil.
Ill health had troubled Robin for a number of
years, starting with heart attacks, leading to a
heart by‐pass in 1998. Later he developed leu‐
kaemia which caused his death.
I have certainly lost a dear friend and ‘brother’
who will be sorely missed by us all.
A FRANK BINDER UPDATE
by Michael Rines (1941-52)
Frank Binder had two books published in the