Obituary: Robin Macqueen, lawyer and senior examiner in the Capital Taxes Office

Robin Macqueen, who died suddenly aged 63 at his Trinity home in October, was a man of eclectic interests and much loved by his wide circle of friends.

I first met Robin in the early 1970s through cricket, and as this is a sport where you spend a lot of time together I was indeed fortunate to meet a kindred spirit whose company was so much fun.

He was born and brought up in Edinburgh by his father, an anaesthetist, and mother, a midwife and lover of antiques, whose antique shop at Bruntsfield imbued Robin with a lifelong antiquarian passion.

He attended Melville College where, in between academic studies, he developed his sporting repertoire, particularly cricket, golf and football.

On leaving school he graduated in law from Aberdeen University, where he played shinty and cricket with gusto and supported the Dons reverentially.

It was around this time that he met his future wife Anne, who was studying French, and there followed many happy trips to France over the ensuing years.

Having returned to Edinburgh from Aberdeen he was immediately recruited by HMRC in the Estate Duty Office and remained there until his premature passing in October.

Robin and Anne lived in the north side of Edinburgh throughout their married life, coincidentally convenient for cricket at Inverleith. Kirsty and Andrew, their children, have made career choices of nursing and forestry respectively, which gave Robin great pride, as both were aspects of life which he really appreciated.

Cricket was Robin’s lifelong sporting addiction and he was a well-known figure throughout cricketing circles.

He was captain and president of Stewart’s Melville CC and, in a remarkably protracted career, continued playing until 2011, when, as captain of the 3rds he averaged 82 with a top score of 98.

Robin was particularly adept at enthusing the younger players and was a focal point at the club. He did have a career break due to injury but that just meant he took his umpiring exams and continued his involvement in that way.

Many messages have been received from old foes on the cricket field and it is obvious how respected he was, both as a player and person.

Robin disliked rugby intensely but a story he loved to tell was about being drafted in as scrum fodder in the early 1970s to be worked over by the Scottish props at the time, namely Sandy Carmichael and Ian Mclaughlin, which perhaps explains this antipathy.

Golf filled the eight-month gap between cricket seasons, and Robin spent many happy years as a member at Dunbar where we both enjoyed the whole golfing experience, including the odd dram from the fine selection in the clubhouse.

He was also an enthusiastic member of the “Fancy Freens” golf society which plays regularly all over the country and through which he met many new friends over the years.

Robin was also a keen runner in his earlier years and completed several marathons and half marathons in very respectable times.

At work, as at cricket, Robin was a safe pair of hands and a central figure in the office to many colleagues. He was instrumental in setting up an office gym as well as a football team and “Ryder Cup”-style golf matches.

He actively pursued his antiques interest and over the last few years was a regular attender, along with Anne, at the Jane Street weekly market, where he was always on a mission to find the ultimate bargain. The contents of his house bears testament to the zeal he showed in this endeavour.

He took great pleasure from his immaculate garden overlooking the Botanics and this perfectly dovetailed with another passion, namely food, as the year’s crop was harvested and delicious meals produced.

Robin was great company and had a gift for mimicry which could reduce the company to tears.

He leaves his family, Anne, Kirsty and Andrew, as well as a brother Martin. He will be greatly missed by them and all who knew him.

DAVID REES