Devoted couple Basil and Betty Robinson died days apart
Sep 23 2010 Huddersfield Daily Examiner
A GRIEVING woman took an overdose after finding her husband of 66 years dead at their home.
And the tragedy of the devoted couple who could not live without each other was revealed at a Huddersfield inquest.
Former Huddersfield GP Basil Robinson was found dead in his wife Betty’s arms at their Almondbury home on April 20.
Unable to carry on without her husband, Mrs Robinson had taken an overdose of sleeping pills.
She died in hospital five days later.
Yesterday the couple’s family paid tribute to the devoted pair.
Their daughter Helen Marshall said: “We knew that this was how it was going to be and we have respect and great sympathy.
“They were a great team and were always together. I knew that their wish was to die together.
“They were a devoted couple and were greatly admired and loved.”
Dr Robinson, 93, had met his 88-year-old wife, whose real name was Nancy Elizabeth, during the war while he was serving in the Royal Navy.
Six weeks later he proposed and they were married in Huddersfield in a double wedding with Mrs Robinson’s brother Teddy Broadhead and his wife Joan.
Dr Robinson ran a practice from the family’s Fitzwilliam Street home and his wife worked alongside him to ensure the practice ran smoothly.
The popular couple were also founder members of Huddersfield Sailing Club at Hade Edge.
The GP retired from practising in 1988 but continued to work part-time until he was 80.
