Rony Robinson (born 24 December 1940 in

Sheffield Sheffield is a city status in the United Kingdom, city in South Yorkshire, England, whose name derives from the River Sheaf which runs through it. The city serves as the administrative centre of the City of Sheffield. It is Historic counties o ...

) is an English writer, educationalist and Sony Award-winning BBC Radio Sheffield daytime presenter. His novels include: ''The Ted Carp Tradition'' (Hodder), ''The Beano'' (Faber). His plays include ''Snapshots'' (Theatre Royal, Stratford East), ''Events In An Upper Room'' (Belgrade, Coventry and ICA) and the Sony Award-winning ''Last Loves'' on

BBC Radio 4 BBC Radio 4 is a British national radio station owned and operated by the BBC that replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. It broadcasts a wide variety of Talk radio, spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history fro ...

Childhood and education

Born John Goronwy Robinson, he was educated at All Saints Church of England Primary School and King Edward VII School. He won a scholarship to

Keble College, Oxford Keble College () is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. Its main buildings are on Parks Road, opposite the University Museum and the University Parks. The college is bordered to the north by Keble Road, t ...

, where he studied History. While he was at Oxford he was the Editor of the weekly University newspaper ''Cherwell''. He also gained a

Diploma of Education The Diploma of Education, often abbreviated to DipEd or GradDipEd, is a postgraduate qualification offered in many Commonwealth countries including Australia, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. Overview The diploma can build on the ...

Working life and early writing

Robinson taught English at two large inner-city London comprehensive schools, Eltham Green school and, as head of department, Sedgehill. He wrote a number of text and source books for the ''New English'' in the 1960s. He published his first novel in 1971 and has been a full-time writer since 1974.

Writing and broadcasting

Twice resident playwright at The Crucible Theatre (Sheffield) and once each at the Theatre Royal (Stratford East) and Deptford Green School, Robinson has had over a hundred plays produced all over the country. He has written stories and plays and poems for young people: most successfully with ''Down Your Way'' (Nelson), ''A Time Of Bears'' (Macmillan) and ''I Want Doesn't Get'' (Faber). His ''The Beano'' has been adapted for various stage performances broadcast by the BBC and published in the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., federal district, five ma ...

. As a broadcaster, Robinson has presented a daily show on BBC Radio Sheffield uninterrupted since 1984. For the BBC network, he has written and voiced various documentaries and scripted seven radio and one television play. His children's poetry includes the much anthologised ''We've Got A Wawa At Our House''. He lives in Totley and plays and writes songs for the

autoharp An autoharp or chord zither is a string instrument belonging to the zither family. It uses a series of bars individually configured to mute all strings other than those needed for the intended chord. The term ''autoharp'' was once a trademark o ...

. He has had a lifelong interest in the revolutionary poet

Edward Carpenter Edward Carpenter (29 August 1844 – 28 June 1929) was an English utopian socialist, poet, philosopher, anthologist, an early activist for gay rights Warren Allen Smith: ''Who's Who in Hell, A Handbook and International Directory for ...

(1844–1929) who lived near Sheffield, about whom he has written in two of his plays, including "Edward Carpenter Lives!" and also appearing in a number of his novels. In 1999, he received an honorary doctorate from

Sheffield Hallam University Sheffield Hallam University (SHU) is a public research university in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England. The university is based on two sites; the City Campus is located in the city centre near Sheffield railway station, while the Collegiate ...

. He is a supporter of Sheffield United F.C.

References

External links

Radio Sheffield profile
{{DEFAULTSORT:Robinson, Rony 1940 births Living people Alumni of Keble College, Oxford British dramatists and playwrights People educated at King Edward VII School, Sheffield English male dramatists and playwrights