Noel Farnie Robertson

Noel Farnie Robertson (1923–1999) was a Scottish botanist and agriculturist who was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh (FRSE).

Biography

Early life

Robertson was born on Christmas Eve, 24 December 1923, in Dundalk, Ireland. for which the University of Edinburgh awarded him a PhD.

The time that Robertson was at Edinburgh was one of agricultural expansion with unprecedented levels of government funding. His new posts allowed Robertson to create an institution that catered for teaching, research and provided an advisory service. With Robertson at the helm, the Edinburgh School of Agriculture became a world leading centre for research and teaching. He endeavoured to promote both the East of Scotland College and the School of Agriculture. Despite the Department being described as being "so unwieldy as to be totally unmanageable", Robertson, who by nature was self-effacing and quiet, gave the Department purpose, drew it together and shepherded it through one of the most successful periods in its history.

In 1995 Robertson's book on food production (From Dearth to Plenty: The Modern Revolution in Food Production) was published by the Cambridge University Press. One chapter had been written by Sir Kenneth Blaxter before his death. Although Robertson wrote the rest of the book, with characteristic modesty, he placed Blaxter's name first on the title page.

With David Ingram, Robertson wrote Plant Disease: A Natural History, which was published by HarperCollins in their New Naturalist series in 1999.

See also Bibliography.

Awards In 1969 Robertson was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh (FRSE).

In 1979 Robertson was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE).