VALE IVAN ROBINSON
The Australian advertising industry will be saddened by the news of the sudden death of Ivan Robinson at his home in Cairns last week.
Ivan’s son in law Dan Higson told CB: “As agency producer and production company principal Ivan was much loved and respected by all those who worked with him for his integrity, and especially for his appalling sense of humour. A wake will be arranged for his family and many friends in the near future. Ivan will be sorely missed by his two daughters Julia and Kate, 6 grandchildren and many, many friends.”
Says artist and former agency art director Bob Marchant: “You would have to walk a long way to find a kinder more gentle man and good friend than Ivan. I first met him in 1960 at the advertising agency Benton and Bowles where he was in the production department.
We would get together at lunch time for a pint, a laugh, a sausage and a game of darts.”
Adds Greg Desmond, who worked with Robinson at Desmond & Robinson in the late 80s: “All of a sudden there is a huge empty space in my life, my best mate Ivan, friend for 25 years, has gone. I will miss The Old Bean. That continual banter….. “I’m fucking Starving”… “present position”… “Yes, well, yes”… “Mustn’t grumble” ………
“We first met in 1984 when Ivan was a freelance TV producer and I was a photographer. Later that year Ivan persuaded me to join him, and Desmond & Robinson became a production company. We had a fantastic time together, working on jobs for Australia, Europe and US Markets with shoots in Hawaii, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Tokyo, and New Zealand, until Ivan decided he needed to spend more time at home with his family.
“He had a break for a while, and then returned to freelance producing, later to join The Campaign Palace Sydney. Ivan loved working at The Palace and did so for many years until his good mate Lionel Hunt convinced him to work as agency producer for Lowe Hunt. He later did a stint at Mojo, and then Clemenger Sydney.
“Ivan retired to Bowen in QLD to open a very successful nursery, something he’d wanted to do forever.
“Throughout the 25 years we have been best friends, had lots of laughs, and lots of lunches, I will miss him dearly. Good bye old friend…..”
Smaller pic: Ivan (right) with director Mike Hayes at a recent get together in Sydney.
27 Comments
“ullo you old tart.” Often Ivan’s opening greeting, usually followed by a string of expletives describing life, the weather, rubbish ads, agency account guys, wine and the latest curry lunch. A very funny man. Very sad.
Geoff Stevenson – Los Angeles
Lovely, Lovely Man. Very sad.
It’s been 48hrs now and I’m still walking around the house exhaling in disbelief…because Ivan has always been there as a catalyst both socially and professionally. He offered me my first break as a commercials director with himself and Greg in their production company, Desmond & Robinson.
But he loved all things natural and his green fingers took him to Mudgee and Bowen to grow native trees but he never lost touch so his arrival in town for a day or two would be the perfect excuse to share another product of nature by the half case at Reggios or The Malabar. A producer with huge respect in the business over 3 decades in London and Sydney his involvement always guaranteed a polished result and an enjoyable time getting it.
So close to being back with your family…and the rest of us.
Ivan you are a great loss.
Bye boyo
Mike Hayes
Indeed a Lovely Man. That’s what many used to call him.
How very sad. What a funny, lovely man.
dee
a very sad day.
at lowe hunt everybody called him uncle ivan.
he was a treasure.
dickie
Vale Lord Robinson
a prodigious generosity of spirit, accompanied with that most formidable, profuse and definitely ‘unique’ sense of humour, were the things that typified “Lord Robinson” for me…
friends, family members [yours and his], religions, cultural minorities and total strangers alike, were all the recipients of his own brand of warmth and charm, and indeed also in the line of fire… but in the most charming, disarming way…that would leave you both cringing and chuckling at the same time…
militarily punctual, unerringly professional, immaculately presented, most often in basic black [and gleaming churchill’s brogues], he was an extraordinarily gentle, thoughtful, jovial man, and a gentleman… in every way…
I feel privileged to have served in the trenches with him for so many years, and in a perversely comforting way, to have been subjected to all those flourishes of colorful banter… that could always be relied upon to move the day along, and lift everyone spirits…
his main concern was always that, whatever the circumstances, we delivered, competently and stylishly, and that we always did, for me what became his unique signature… a “proper job”…
a most reassuring thing about Ivan was his amazingly steadfast sense of optimism… always a quip, ever a grumble… but always delivered with a wry, sanguine smile…
in an industry known for its sometimes less then charitable demeanour, I have never ever heard a bad word said about him and his character, only ever praise from an industry he gave so much to…
although I suspect that it was when Lord Robinson became “Lord Rainforest”, he was somewhat content to explore a calmer, quieter vocation that he also clearly loved… I can imagine the ever obedient, immaculately neat rows…
heart-wrenchingly close to a new chapter amongst his closest family, I send my best wishes to both the girls, and to all his extended family…
and publicly thank him for all the bounties extended to me so willingly over the years… the irreverance, the benevolence, the perspective, the wisdom… and the humanity…
rejoice in a life well proportioned and well-lived, and raise a glass for me at the Malabar…
Vale Lord Robinson… “proper job”…
Mark Thomas
New York
——————–
To a dear and cherished friend, you will be sadly missed by too many to mention, you touched hearts, you brought smiles and laughter to our lives. My heartfelt sympathy to Julia, Kate, Dan and the grandchildren whom he loved so much, we are so jealous that he was yours. Remember not to miss what might have been but to hold the memories you have.
Thank you all so much for your thoughts, emails and phone calls. It means so much to us to be able to hear and read all of your stories. Never one for rituals or fuss, Dad will be cremated this afternoon in Cairns. We hope that you can all come to a memorial or “piss up” as I’m sure he’d prefer it be known at a date to be advised.
Julia
I was saddened to learn at the weekend of the death of my long time friend Ivan, Robinson. We first first met in the late 70’s after I arrived from London and we worked together on countless TVC’s over the next decade or 2 and usually with Peter Moss. The 3 of us “Poms” would always repair to the local boozer after a shoot, down copious quantities of Guinness and always be entertained by Ivan’s often outrageous wit! We became great friends and after some years I discovered to my amazement another connection this being Ivan’s brother in law Alan Beven who was and indeed still is a great friend of mine!
Ivan’s wonderful sense of humour always got us through the often long hours worked on commercial shoots and I well remember when working in Laurie Thomas’s studio in Surry Hills it would get to 10pm, Ivan would first look at me, then at his watch. This would be followed by the discreet arrival of 2 cans of VB normally saved until after the wrap and we’d cough as we each pulled the ring on the can, to hide the sound as Laurie would not have approved!
I send my sincere condolances to daughters Julia and Kate and their children and say farewell to my good mate Ivan, who left his footprint on all of our lives. Tonight I’m meeting up with Alan beven when we will be sinking one or two Guinnesses and be remembering with great fondness Ivan Lord Robinson
How to quantify the shock, sadness, and feeling of loss.
Not possible really.
Such a Gent, and even when away in QLD, very much present in the lives of all who knew him well.
Thankyou, Mark Thomas, for expressing so eloquently what it as like to work for, work with, become friends, and be mentored by, Lord Robinson.
God we had some laughs.
Michael C.
Greg Desmond’s mention of the Ivan “Mustn’t Grumble” brought it all back for me.
What a great guy Ivan was. Anyone who was lucky enough to know him experienced something special.
Murray Blacket – London
Top bloke, very sad news.
Mick
Twenty years ago, when I was fresh out from the UK, Ivan was the producer on one of the initial shoots I did – he was also one of the reasons I didn’t jump on a plane and fly straight back to London, when he said, ”Stick it out, old son. You can still do a proper job out here.”
A lovely, funny and formidable man – able to strip the flesh from your bones, while you laughed along with him – he was humane, urbane, professional, wise and kind, while being no push over.
Heaven’s richer for having him there.
Leezy.
Bob Marchant introduced me to Ivan at the Buckingham Arms 39 years ago. He produced the first commercial I ever did. And over the years, I had the good fortune to work with Ivan at 5 agencies. Not only that but we supported each other through some tough times. They don’t make ’em like Ivan any more. Gaynor and I send our condolences to Julia, Kate and their families. Dave Nichols
It was a shock to hear of the death of Ivan.
All who wrote about him here spoke the truth.
He didn’t have a mean or ego driven bone in him. A true gentleman though healthily outrageous when called upon.
He was our TV producer at Pope Kiernan and Black during the early 70s and he always added that classy, common sense extra to everything he produced.
Ray Black.
Once again, we have lost someone in an Industry who actually knew what his job description meant.
It really is a sad loss during this time … We could do with more Ivans … Not less.
My deepest sympathies.
Pete Cherry.
To Julia and Kate,
I’m so sorry. Mummy and Mike had told me that Ivan was planning to move down to Avalon soon. I thought it was such a lovely thing to have him in our lives again. I’ll never forget all of those grown up BBQ’s while the “grown ups” would get pissed as newts and us kids would spend entire days in the pool or on a slippery trampoline. The memories don’t really fade do they? Please have a pint for me in memory of our weekends during the good old days. Thinking of you both a lot right now. Georgie Chandler.
I learned of Ivan’s passing from Geoff Stevenson in LA and it’s only fitting that Ivan’s reputation as a real pro and a thorough gent should span the corners of the globe. Ivan directed me on many voice over sessions which would usually begin with either; “Ah James me boy ‘, or a piratical “Jimmy me lad”. He always knew exactly what he wanted and cut straight to the chase so we could get the job done and have a good chat, often peppered with Goon Show or Two Ronnies references. As others have said he will always remain one of nature’s true gentlemen and a complete and much admired professional. Ivan old thing, may you be blessed with a beautiful view, a balmy breeze, a comfy chair and a favourite red.
Jim Pike.
It was always a pleasure to work with Ivan on commercials,
especially in the golden eighties,
where he epitomised all that was good about that time:
a witty and irreverent attitude,
good pissy lunches and
the pursuit of excellence in the production of tv commercials.
Onya Ivan.
Gosh, I’ve only just caught up with this news. I worked with Ivan during the Desmond Robinson days and bumped into him years later in Mudgee when I discovered his tree nursery was opposite my brother’s winery. We had a chat and a laugh and as I remember a glass or two of Mudgee red. What a great character and what a sad loss. Paul Knights
Have been away and just got the news. Condolences to Julia, Kate and family.
Had been really looking forward to catching up with Ivan when he moved to Avalon.
A fine ear for jazz, a good palate for wine, a cool head in a crisis and a big, big heart.
Heaven is richer for having you. Cheers, Ivan.
Louise Kidman – UK said:
I am so very sorry to learn of Ivan’s sad passing. A great character whose ‘how the devil are you?’ will be sadly missed. I first met Ivan when we began the historic 4X campaign directed by Jonnie Marles through RSA London in 1984. He was wonderfully welcoming to all of us ‘Poms’ who at that time had never visited Oz before. In the years that followed we shot almost every year in Oz until 1998 when I left for the States and the campaign changed. Although Ivan was not involved in the actual productions again he was still regarded by the Poms from Saatchi as one of the ‘crew’. Many a hysterical end-of -shoot party ensued to which he was always invited and always contributed. Even when I was living in LA I still returned to Oz and that was the time when we worked with you both and Werner and Bob (I think it was Toyota?) Eventually in ‘94 with Ivan’s help I accepted a job as Head of TV at Ammarati and Puris returning to the UK 2 years later. Ivan and the family visited us in the UK and I have a wonderful photo of my daughter holding Julia’s first child when we visited her in hospital. Although I am no longer in the ad business I look back at my association with Ivan with great fondness.
Vale Ivan Robinson
I was looking forward to seeing Ivan again once he moved back to Sydney so, speaking selfishly; his passing seems particularly unfair. Lord Robinson was one of the industry’s truly good souls. And although our communications had reduced to a Christmas card and annual phone call, whenever I spoke to him the world seemed just a little bit more joyful. Frankly, I’m pissed off he’s gone. Still – mustn’t grumble.
Michael Syme.
Lord Ivan Robinson,
The man was all heart supported by a pair of well made, stout Churchill shoes.
He could make even the most shit jobs fun to do and did it all with an effortless grace that comes from being a true gent and having a ton of experience.
I consider myself one of the fortunate ones to have worked with one of the nicest blokes you could ever hope to meet in this industry.
You’ll live long in the memory ol’ chap.
Warren Brown
Bob Stevenson – New England said:
This is dreadful news and makes me terribly sad.
I think that of all the years I devoted to the insane advertising business, never did I have as much fun, work more productively, or get up as goddamn early in the frigging frigid morning as when we were working with Greg and Ivan at Desmond and Robinson. Treasured memories.
Louise Kidman visited us here on the Vineyard last fall for a few days. We shared some great memories of the Desmond & Robinson days.
I’ll never forget a morning meeting in her Sydney hotel room.
Louise was becoming unsettled trying to “sort out” some production and post-production “issues”. This sorting out consisted of the manic shuffling of documents into different piles, during which time she grew more and more agitated. (You do remember Louise in agitation mode.) Well, Ivan did his best to try and calm her down — by resorting the piles. This did not prove helpful.
Mercifully, I don’t remember the meeting further. We finally had to leave in mad haste for an appointment Ivan had set up. Lunch reservations, no doubt.
i miss you grandpa <3 he was the best man in the world and is sadly missed by his family. We love him so much and he will forever be in our hearts