A GOOD friend to Crediton while he was MP, Sir Robin Maxwell Hyslop died on January 13, aged 78.

Sir Robin lived at Silverton and his funeral will be at St Mary's Church, Silverton, on January 25. He was married to Joanna and they have two daughters.

Born at Ivybridge, Sir Robin was educated at Upper Canada College, Stowe and Christchurch College, Oxford.

His National Service was with the Royal Artillery, often wearing his gunner's tie in the Commons to show his interest as well as at events outside.

From 1954-1960 he worked for the aero engine division of Rolls Royce in Derby. He had the chance to contest Derby North, which he lost to Labour in the 1959 General Election. He was thought to have done so well, that he stood for the Conservative seat for the then Tiverton Division at the by-election after MP Derek Heathcoat Amory was elevated to the peerage in 1960.

Sir Robin held this seat until he retired at the 1992 general election. His successor was Angela Browning.

Writing in The Independent Tam Dalyell (former MP for Linlithgow and Father of the House) said Sir Robin could "be a hero to some (and 'some' included Tam) and a pain in the backside to a large number of distinguished and important personages.

"Certainly the House of Commons post-1945 had never seen his like; I doubt if Parliament will ever see his like again."

He added that Sir Robin was "good mannered, ebullient, wonderfully irritating and cheerfully created parliamentary mayhem" and "he had no inhibitions about treading where other people were too shy or too decent to tread."

He was the longest serving member, 21 years, on the Trade and Industry Select Committee. He served on the Standing Orders committee of the House of Commons from 1977-1992 and the Procedure Committee from 1978-1992.

At Crediton Sir Robin was often called upon, and always seemed enormously pleased to do be there. He opened the new warehouse at Bristow's of Devon on Lords Meadow and became a regular and incredibly cheerful judge of the Best Dressed Window competition for Crediton Carnival, often ringing up the Courier to check he was needed! Such a gentleman.

Sir Robin was a chief instigator in getting the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital rebuilt when, in 1985, only 11 years after it opened, it was found to have "concrete cancer". A new hospital would cost £40 million.

He wrote to Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, met her at No. 10 after which she ordered the Treasurery to release the £40m to rebuild the hospital.

At Silverton, Sir Robin played a major role in village life, which included development of Silverton Millennium Hall.

Current MP for Tiverton and Honiton, Angela Browning, said Sir Robin had been greatly respected and had served the people of Tiverton and Mid Devon admirably for many years.

SR