A tribute to the late Gus Robinson after Throston youth centre is renamed

Judith Stannard, the late Gus Robinson’s wife, unveiled a commemorative photograph of the local businessman. Pictures: Tom Banks

The PFC Trust and Gus Robinson Foundation

A local youth centre has been renamed as a tribute to a sadly-missed local businessman who had the community at heart.
The late Gus Robinson’s wife, Judith, and many of his colleagues and friends were in attendance when a commemorative photograph of him was unveiled on an interior wall inside the Throston Youth Project, Wiltshire Way.
The venue, run by Hartlepool Borough Council, will now be known as the Gus Robinson Centre because it was somewhere he loved.
Judith, who has a son and three daughters, said: “This building was so important to Gus because it was formerly the Boys Welfare Club where he spent so much time.
“He was regularly here educating the children of the town in his own way. He had such a passion for the youth here in Hartlepool.
“The building is owned by the Gus Robinson Foundation, a charity set up in his name following his sudden death in 2011. It is an open access youth club and library among other things as part of the Throston Youth Project.
“After discussions between our charity, the Gus Robinson Foundation, and the PFC Trust, who we work closely with, we all felt it was fitting to name this building the Gus Robinson Centre.”

After the passing of Gus, who regularly went to the Boys Welfare site as a governor and to visit the boxing gym, their son, Daniel, became a trustee when Hartlepool Youth Service started to operate from there.
During the special renaming ceremony there were old photographs for attendees to look at as well as emotional tributes.
Gary Riches, assistant principal at Hartlepool College of Further Education, had a tear in his eye as he recalled how his working life all started under Gus’ wing at Gus Robinson Developments, a construction, plumbing and electrical company.

Hartlepool College’s Gary Riches won apprentice of the year under Gus Robinson’s guidance

Gary, speaking to those in attendance, said: “The Gus Robinson Centre truly does mark the legacy of Gus and the exceptional work he did across communities within the town, particularly with the work he did for young people.
“I’m now privileged to work at Hartlepool College where part of our mission is to transform lives and I’m proud to say that Gus Robinson transformed my life. Gus employed me as a fresh-faced teenager by offering me an electrical apprenticeship in the early 2000s.
“I gained further experience on site before I was promoted to the office environment and management. Gus would regularly check-in with me asking how I was, could he help with anything or was there any qualifications I wanted to study towards?”

Judith Stannard with friends and family at the Gus Robinson Centre. Pictures: Tom Banks

George Stannard, a trustee of the Gus Robinson Foundation and PFC Trust, introduced Gary to everyone else in attendance at the event. These included Jeannette Henderson, Finance Director, who was a long-serving employee of Gus Robinson Developments, Linda Jeffrey who was Gus’ first PA, Hartlepool College’s assistant principal, Shaun Hope, who is also chairman of both the Gus Robinson Foundation and PFC Trust, the PFC Trust’s Joe Dunne and Hartlepool Borough Council’s targeted youth lead Sarah McCluskey.
George said: “Sadly family members were unable to attend the unveiling but are extremely proud that this lasting tribute to Gus has happened and will be pleased to visit the site at a later date.
“Gus who was ‘A Man of the People’ was passionate about this building and from today it will be rightly known in his name.
“Last night up to 40 children were here taking part in various activities and the sports hall is in use all of the time. This centre is so important to the local community and we now have this fantastic memorial to Gus too.”
Gus Robinson Developments grew to a point where it employed more than 160 people and boasted a fleet of 40 vans after it was founded in Hartlepool in the early 1970s. It also had a Spanish Property Sales Division.
Gus had a huge passion for boxing and was a well-known promoter in the sport. He was also a prison visitor/governor and Hartlepool Hospital NHS Trust Governor. He stood for the Conservative Party against Peter Mandelson and Arthur Scargill in the General Election in 2001 gaining 8000 votes.