"My friend, the Air Canada pilot."  That’s how I referred to Robin when telling friends about him. I enjoyed the reflected glory of knowing someone who got to sit in the flight deck and fly those airplanes that were so much of my business life.  Now, on reflection, Robin was much more than that. 

We intersected periodically and memorably over almost 50 years and all of the memories make me smile. 

Robin and I met when we both were students at the University of Saskatchewan and had apartments in the same building.  My first flying experience with Robin was in Saskatchewan when he took me and another friend for some “touch and goes” at the Saskatoon airport.  It didn’t take Robin long to show that he could fly other than level and straight.  He demonstrated rolls and stall recoveries until my stomach begged for mercy and my ears rang from the sound of the stall horn.  Robin demonstrated his early confidence and competence in the cockpit and gave me a flying experience story that I enjoyed sharing.

I moved to Toronto and a few years later, so did Robin.  Robin bought two used cars from me – one that belonged to my mother-in-law and my 1973 Oldsmobile.  Both were past their prime by the time Robin bought them but somehow he managed to keep them on the road for several more years.  Robin could be very resourceful and frugal and these old vehicles played to his strength.

After Robin moved to Vancouver, we had less frequent contact but occasionally got together when I travelled there on business.  We enjoyed wide ranging conversations over lunch or dinner.  Robin was intensely interested in finance and economics and loved to share and debate his theories.  Robin also shared stories of his growing family.  He was especially proud of his boys.

Some years later, I was flying from Toronto to Montreal.  As I settled into my seat with my business associate, the pilot announcement started.  I recognized the Captain’s voice.  “It’s my friend, the Air Canada pilot”.  I gave the stewardess my business card and asked her to give it to the captain.  She came back in a few seconds to invite me to sit in the third seat in the flight deck with Robin and his co-pilot.  This was my second most memorable flying experience, although all the flying that Robin did was enter data into the auto-pilot.  This flight was level and straight.  Robin has grown up and was an excellent example of a confident and competent airline captain.

A few years ago, my wife, Erin, and I relocated to Victoria area and I finally knew exactly where Point Roberts was.  I re-established email contact with Robin and caught up with the story of his second family, his airpark and his disappointment with not flying for Air Canada any longer.  We arranged to have dinner in Vancouver one evening when Erin and I were there.  Robin and Josh joined us and the years apart slipped away.  Old memories and new stories flowed easily.  We agreed to visit him in Point Roberts on one of our frequent trips by ferry from Vancouver to Victoria. 

Each time that I saw the sign to Tsawwassen and Point Roberts, I reminded myself that I had to organize that trip.  Alas, I waited too long.  Now, all that remains for me are the many memories of the times we shared. 

I first met Robin when he came to the golf course scrounging old parts to keep his gang-mower in operation. Robin used this mower to maintain his grass airstrip. While in my office he noticed a picture of a Lancaster Bomber cockpit and the discussion quickly turned from mower parts to airplanes. One day he stopped by to inform me that he made good use of the old parts that we had and told me to stop by sometime to go flying - I said sure that would be great and he passed along his business card that I carried in my wallet. Rummaging through my wallet months later I discovered Robin's card and made contact again and our flight was booked.

We pulled the aircraft out of the hangar and Robin suggested we fly to Pender Island and have a late lunch at the Pub and asked if I wanted the controls for take-off......I told Robin that I am not checked-out on a tail dragger so he got us airborne and handed me the controls at our cruising altitude of 1200 feet! When I suggested we take her up a little higher seeing that we are crossing the strait with only one engine Robin told me he wanted to avoid all the Dash 8 traffic and did not want to be bothered by air traffic control. I have to admit I was a little concerned at this moment and thinking back to where Robin acquired his parts for his mower but the plane was clean and I told myself that the maintenance logs were probably all up to date and most likely there were no used, scrap parts within this single engine! We made it across and were soon flying over Pender when Robin asked me if I had the airstrip; negative - I do not have the field. Straight ahead I was told and asked to knock-off 200 feet of altitude; we are now pointed at power lines, a roadway, and a hillside. Got the field? negative I replied as I was scanning all around for a nice long, wide, even strip with maybe a tower or a wind sock or something that would represent a safe place for a landing. Straight ahead he replied; it's mowed into the hillside just left of that house - okay....you have control. We landed and rolled-out on this 15 foot wide strip and abruptly came to a stop. Robin asked me to help push the plane into the long grass next to the strip in case another plane was inbound. Who would be crazy enough to land here I thought and where is the Customs? As we walked back down the runway we had to make haste as another light aircraft was just over the power lines and lined-up for the short grass.

We had a fantastic lunch at the Pub and picked-up a few live crab from the dock before our departure. I was asked to navigate around a hillside to avoid being noticed on the Radar and maintain 1000 feet before our big climb back to 1200. The engine sounded solid and I was confident we were to make it back without an unscheduled swim. We were soon back over Point Roberts and I asked Robin if we could fly over the Beach Grove Golf Club so I could take a few aerial pictures. As we were flying over our 3rd fairway Robin asked if I had any experience with mountain flying and quickly started to set the aircraft up to demonstrate a box-turn. I had read about this in books to get out of a canyon when there is no other option but.... too late the stall horn was blaring in my ear and the crab in the back seat were becoming unsettled. Well I hope they plant a tree on the golf course in my memory was my next thought....just of the 3rd tee would be a nice spot; maybe an Oak. The slip indicator was not looking normal and the stall horn was still blaring away and I was looking for something to hold onto before our spin into the turf. Captain Robin was a great Pilot and we landed safely back at his strip that suddenly appeared much wider, flatter, and inviting compared with our previous landing site. I am certain that Robin enjoyed any opportunity to not have to fly straight and level and talk to ATC.

What a great day we had together sharing a common bond for aviation and a good lunch at the Pub.

Gone now but never forgotten. Thank you Captain Robin Lamb.

 On many occasions, I had the privilege of watching Robin interact with love and infinite patience towards his little sons, Noah, Micah, and Daniel.   A trip to Hawaii in June of 2005 was particularly memorable.  It was utterly amazing to see Robin being ordered around by two-year-old Noah throughout our time there.  Robin's standard response to Noah's demands  was, "OK, Adolf!"  One  particular day,  Noah would lead Robin down the escalator, up the elevator, down the elevator, and up the escalator endlessly.  Manninagh, baby Micah and I were sitting at a lunch table at the upper end of their destination, and as they came into view, Robin would grin and say, "Gotta go," as Noah would race him to either an elevator or escalator for another descent. Robin only stopped the game when Noah said it was over!  The same tests of patience occurred at the beach with Noah running in out of the water relentlessly.   Robin was a tireless, gentle and patient daddy, good-humoured, and delighted by the whole adventure with his bossy little son.  

During the same vacation, Micah, then two months old, was colicky and inconsolable--except when Robin held him endlessly, letting Micah suck on the side of his thumb. Robin was happy just to have the baby at peace and never asked for someone to take Micah so he could have a break.

 I'm so sad that Robin has left everyone who loved and respected him, and left far too soon.  He had so much to offer his family, friends, and his children who adored him. He was a caring, loving dad who genuinely enjoyed his children's company.  But I'm consoled that our family has many good memories of great conversations with Robin, happy times celebrating family events, and watching Robin spend time with his sons, so that we can keep telling his little boys how much he loved them.