The Robertson Trust
Michael Robertson was a pupil at Sedbergh School at Winder House from 1929 to 1933 and, when he and his wife, Maureen, died, they left a legacy of over £4 million to benefit the School.
Michael was born on 29 April 1915 and his parents lived in Ilkley. While at Sedbergh, he won the Murray Craigmile Art Prize in 1933, inspired by Lyons Wilson, the Art Master.
He then went on from Sedbergh to art school in London before the war from 1937 - 1938. He joined the RASC in 1940 and was evacuated from Dunkirk. As a member of the 3rd Battalion in the Parachute Regiment he was captured at Arnheim in September 1944 and was then a POW until April 1945.
After he was released, Michael became a schoolmaster, teaching Geography and Art. He also enjoyed painting in his spare time and in 1950 he had a painting hung in the Summer Exhibition at the Royal Academy.
Michael married Maureen Ablett in 1948. Her family fortune came from the Cooper Roller-Bearing Company of King's Lynn, Norfolk and, with the sale of the company, the Robertsons became very wealthy. Mrs Maureen Robertson wrote travel books under the pen-name, Margarita Sims.
Michael Robertson died in 1976 and Maureen Robertson died in March 1999, and their legacy is used to the benefit of the School and its pupils. The Robertson Trust is managed by a Board of Trustees.