Willie Robertson

Career   Eulogy    Family Connections   Family Memories   Friends' Memories    Obituaries    True Scots Borderer    Home                                   

Willie reached the pinnacle of his career

JOURNALIST Willie Robertson, born in Edinburgh in 1930, died peacefully at his home in Cavers, Hawick, in the Scottish Borders region on Monday, 17 March, 2003. He had an illustrious media career, entering journalism as a reporter on the Edinburgh Evening News in July, 1947.

After a successful period working in many areas of this regional evening, Willie moved to London where he began a long, and distinguished career as a Fleet Street journalist which began in 1953.

Young WillieDuring the next 17-year fierce circulation war, when staff were poached from one paper to another at considerable personal gain to those much sought after such as Willie, he was chief sub-editor on the Evening News, Evening Standard, Daily Sketch, Daily Express, Daily Telegraph, Sunday Telegraph.

During his spell at the Evening Standard in London he was responsible for handling the John Profumo Affair and Kennedy Assassination. While at the Daily Express he was responsible for creating numerous front pages, including the 'Going, Going, Gone' headline that recalled the death of speed record-breaker Donald Campbell.

Willie was appointed Night Editor/Assistant Editor of The Times Business News in 1971. He was responsible for the entire production of this, the biggest section of The Times, and for handling and projection of copy submitted by some of the best known economics writers of the day.

On Rupert Murdoch's take-over of The Times in 1981 Charles Douglas-Home, the deputy Editor of The Times (later Editor) approached Willie on behalf of the Aga Khan, owner of The Nation, the largest group of newspapers in East Africa, to become Editorial Director and Executive Editor of the group of Nairobi.

Willie steered the newspaper's journalism along the path acceptable to a one-party state and secured the release of three senior journalists who had been detained for writing political material.

He also pioneered new technology at Nation Newspapers setting up a twinning agreement with Jack Lake's St Petersburg Times at the time the most advanced electronic newspaper in the world.

The Nation's circulation broke the enviable 100,000 circulation mark and beyond – to 150,000.

Willie, who lived in Kenya for four years, was proud of his role in advising directly the Aga Khan on political problems threatening his expanding newspaper empire.

On his return to Britain in 1984 he advised founder of Drum magazine Jim Bailey, one of the leading and most highly respected publishers in Africa.

Willie returned to his native Scotland in 1994 where he edited the Carrick Gazette series of newspapers and the Stornaway Gazette until ill-health forced him into semi-retirement in 2001.

On moving back to his beloved Borders, where he grew up in Stow, near Galashiels, Willie continued his love for journalism and business – helping launch various projects, including dealing with the internet and the electronic storage of information.

Educated at Orwell Place and George Heriots School, 72-year-old Willie was a much-loved father and grandfather. He left nine children and 17 grandchildren. His funeral was be held on Friday, 21 March, 2003, at Cavers and Kirkton Parish Church, a moving ceremony conducted by the minister Rev Lindsey Thompson.

We would be delighted to include your memories.
Please send you e-mails to lovingmemories@robertsonmedia.co.uk