By the time he retires, Robert will have worked for the Club for nearly 25 years, including 12 as Director General. In 2013, he was awarded an MBE for services to the Outdoor Recreation Industry.

Robert said: “This is a good time to hand over the reins to a successor. I will be 67 years old in October 2019 and it feels right for someone to take over from me and lead our team of staff and volunteers.
“It has been a privilege to hold the position and there are many things about the Club and our industry that I will miss. But I am also excited about the future and looking forward to spending much more time with my family, including my grandchildren who live in New Zealand and Australia.”
Robert added: “My wife Donna and I also plan to buy a motorhome in Australia to spend time touring the country. So although I’m retiring from the Club, I will still be out in the field enjoying our great pastime.”

Mel Hill, the Club’s Chairman, thanked Robert for his long service and strong leadership.
He added: “Robert has worked tirelessly on behalf of Club members for a quarter of a century with nearly half of that time as Director General – he has been a fantastic ambassador for both the Club and the industry as a whole.”

The date has been agreed with the Club’s Executive Committee and a recruitment process to find Robert’s successor will begin in November.

Mel added: “We will be looking for a new Director General to build on our many successes and strong growth in recent years, and lead the organisation into the future. In the meantime, we will continue to follow our strategy and plans.”