Aberdeen-born agriculture and farming journalist Vic Robertson has died aged 77.
Despite not having a background in what would become his specialism, he became one of the most respected journalists of his generation in reporting on farming matters.
This was all the more remarkable given his work spanned a time when EU Common Agricultural Policies dominated. This meant policies were at their most convoluted and obscure.
Those who knew him reflected that while colleagues on the press bench rolled their eyes in despair as Brussels bureaucrats talked about ‘green pounds,’ ‘Monetary Compensatory Allowances’ and other inventions of the CAP, Vic – cigarette in hand – would furiously type away.
He could, a colleague used to note enviously, “separate the wheat from the chaff.”
Early years
Vic was born and brought up in Aberdeen. After attending Aberdeen Grammar School, he went to Robert Gordon’s College where he studied pharmacy hoping to become a chemist.
He started working in the laboratory at Rowett Research Institute, Bucksburn. However the journalistic bug got him. He joined a regional paper in the South West of Scotland to learn the trade of a local reporter.
After a couple of years there, he successfully applied for a post on the farming desk at The Press and Journal. There he continued his apprenticeship by reporting on bull sales and agricultural shows.
Finding love
It was during this spell of his life that love intervened. He met and married Judy Maddern in 1968 and moved south. There Vic became the English National Farmers Union press officer. After a time with the union, he then carried out public relations work for a major food company.
Although he was well equipped for the PR roles, being both personable and knowledgeable, home beckoned. He took the road back north when an agricultural editor role came up in Edinburgh.
Following his separation with Judy, Vic became a single parent to their son Martin.
Despite the unusual work patterns of his job, Vic was a loving and caring father. In 1989 Martin was involved in a major road traffic accident. Vic supported him through that and also in his academic pursuits.
After more than a decade at the farm news desk he met Gloria Cox. Vic was then tempted back into the world of public relations when a Meat and Livestock Commission role came his way.
Their relationship flourished when he moved south to work with the MLC and she became his partner for the rest of his life.
Reporter at heart
Although being very comfortable in all sorts of media employment, Vic’s real strengths were as a frontline reporter and not as a publicist.
After his spell with the MLC, he worked as a freelance journalist until his retirement in 2010.
Confirming the high regard in which he was held in the profession, Vic was elected chairman of the British Guild of Agricultural Journalists in 1996. And after his term of office continued to be a strong supporter of the organisation.
Other interests
In similar fashion to many reporters with their irregular work schedules, Vic did not have many outside interests. However, he was a lifelong jazz aficionado and an enthusiastic trumpet player. In fact, he could coax a tune out of an eclectic range of brass instruments. Though, in deference to his neighbours, he confined his practicing to agreed hours.
Another legacy from his youth, possibly linked to being facially similar to the late Peter Sellars, was that he had a repertoire of voices emanating from the Goon Show. He was also known for a very good impersonation of Sean Connery.
In his earlier days, he was a keen motorcyclist, enjoying “going out for a blast.”
He was a good reporter and he was a most companionable friend.
Conversation