LEADING North East businessman Gus Robinson MBE has died.
The 62-year-old, who famously took on Peter Mandelson in an election battle, passed away suddenly yesterday.
Staff at his Hartlepool firm, Gus Robinson Developments, have spoken of their shock and paid tribute to a respected boss. Managing director Paul Twidale said: “Everyone is shocked and devastated to hear the sad news. Gus set the business up 37 years ago and over the years, the company has grown to be one of the leading construction companies in the North East. He was enormously proud of his business and the people who worked for him.
“Latterly, Gus was chairman of the company with the day-to-day running carried out by his long-standing management team. I have reassured staff and our business partners that it is business as usual – this is the only way that Gus would have wanted it.
“The news has shocked the workforce and I would appeal for privacy as we all try to come to terms with Gus’s death.”
Mr Robinson was born in Annfield Plain, County Durham, and was also a builder and property developer.
He set up Gus Robinson Developments in 1976, and the company grew to employ over 100 people. Over the years, the firm worked on prestige projects, such as the Gulbenkian Gallery for the Royal College of Art in London, and the replica Simulation Centre for Nuclear Electric at Hartlepool Power Station.
Mr Robinson’s business success saw him awarded an MBE in the 1998 New Year’s Honours list. But his other passion in life was boxing. His uncle, Edward Robinson, was a heavyweight fighter and Mr Robinson fought as an amateur.
In the 80s, he became a manager and promoter, featuring in the ITV boxing series Fight Night. He organised Newcastle boxer John Davison’s international featherweight title win in Hartlepool in 1990, and worked with two of the world’s biggest promoters – Frank Warren and Don King – to bring stars such as Nigel Benn and Prince Naseem to the Newcastle Arena in 1996.
In 2001, Mr Robinson stood as the Conservative Party candidate for Hartlepool, but lost out to Labour’s Peter Mandelson.
Mr Robinson was former chairman of chairman of the East Durham Development Agency, the Northern Area Council of the British Boxing Board of Control, and the Boys’ Welfare Youth Club. He leaves his wife Judith, and children Lucy, Anna, Adele and Daniel.
