Born on 6th  November 1929, one of the most prolific artists that St Albans School has ever had, his deep love of art and history shaped Robin and formed his life as a writer and illustrator. His fun attitude to life is depicted in the many professional projects he undertook, because of his extraordinary career this obituary will mainly focus on his life at St Albans School and his involvement with the School as an Old Albanian.

Robin came to St Albans in 1938, escaping South London as the threat of war increased, the family lived in Fleetville, St Albans, where he attended the mixed Junior Fleetville School until 1940. He entered St Albans School, as an arts scholarship day boy and attended a full curricula so he could matriculate. Subjects included Latin, Maths, English, Chemistry, Physics, Biology, he swapped Geography for History and was one of the first pupils to sit Advanced level art. His time at School was one of war time rationing and learning to use gas masks and build air raid shelters. As he stated in his privately published book  ‘Les Memories du Papy: A Rag Bag of Memories and Various Events’ his war time schooling was disrupted by air raids, sharing his home and School with Evacuees, Masters leaving for the war effort meaning a change to the timetable and subject being taught. He wrote with schoolboy candour

‘sad announcements to those killed in the fighting. Blacking out all the many windows as it got dark and ….. shortages of sweets !

He was placed in Pemberton House, which is apt for him, given that the Pemberton’s were renowned for their alms houses and charitable giving and later in life Robin focused on many charities. He was not big in sporting activities, playing the 3rd XV (Rugby), came 3rd in the 400 yards race and won the high jump reaching the heights of 4ft 8 inches for House Sports Day in 1944; in 1945 he became a Lt Cpl in the Joint Cadet Force. However his forte and love was that of being librarian of the memorial library, where he cared for the medieval and very old School books. From 1941-1947, he produced his own Pemberton House magazine, fully illustrated with competitions, quizzes and explanations to why such things happened at School or in St Albans. Such as the beating of the St Albans boundary stones or the various School ties and what they were for. The headmaster William Marsh hearing of this seconded him to work on the official magazine The Albanian. The punishment books show that he was punished for chattering in Abbey, or ‘none stop talking during English’. His last punishment was in 1945 for  ‘breaking several window panes in School House with his homemade model Spitfire, Robin assured me this was okay, because a friend in his class, whose father was a dentist used to steal anaesthetic from his surgery and sell it for six pence to boys who were ‘up pres’ to numb the pain. As the war continued he became adapt at swapping the new currency of the times of servicemen badges, shrapnel, bits of parachute and cartridge cases. His inquisitive nature saw him retrieve an incendiary bomb.

‘rather naughtily …. I sawed one in half and set the magnesium powder alight. It burnt a hole in my father’s spade who wasn’t very pleased’

Every allowable extra time was spent in the art department where he mastered watercolour and watercolour pencils, under the watchful eye of Mr Tanner, but it was Mr Sam Webster his form teacher who had the most impact on his schooling introducing Robin to debating, history of art and as well as ‘losing’ Robin at The Tower of London. George Ollington (father) gifted many rare and beautiful books to the Memorial Library. His first published illustration work was for the English teachers Mr P Heather (Happy Heather) and Mr J McLellan for a Sixth Form English Book ‘Exercise in Appreciation’ published in 1951

Upon leaving in 1947 he studied illustration and graphics at Lowestoft School of Arts & Crafts, until 1949, where he then went and did his eighteen months National Service until 1951. Returning to Lowestoft School of Art & Crafts as artist in residence teaching watercolour ink and scraperboard. His work became noticed by the local council who employed him for nine months to produce posters advertising the town. In 1952 he launched his freelance career alongside part time teaching of graphic and exhibition design, where he produced advertising and design work for a wide range of clients including the 'Daily Telegraph', 'Spectator', alongside holiday promotional advertising for the ‘City of Rochester in Kent'. In 1954 he joined The Hartmann Fibre Company, as head of graphic design, where he said that one of the most difficult projects he undertook was ‘to make an egg box look sexy !’

In 1971 Robin joined Autonomics Ltd., a visionary British computing venture, where he oversaw communication, advertising and exhibition space design. One of his coups was commissioning Abram Games (renowned graphic designer, who produced the front cover for the 1951 Festival of Britain brochure and many striking WWII posters) to design the firm’s corporate identity. A year later Autonomics collapsed, with Robin then gaining work at Twynam’s an advertising agency. In 1976 he moved onto Griffiths Publicity, a marketing and advertising firm who were engaged in many tourist boards campaigns: projects included the Orient Express (London to Southampton), as well European countries Romania, Spain, Italy and his award winning work for Guernsey, who he continued to work for well into his retirement, and extending further to designing postage stamps for the islands post office. His philatelic work gained him work for commissions from Gibraltar and Poland. He became company director in 1983, and played a significant role in the restructuring of the firm as it became G & O. His last ‘employed’ move was to the Croydon agency Drewry’s, a branch of Drewry’s Beer & Co, when asked why he moved when things were going well, with a twinkle in his eye he said

‘I got tired looking at looking at others holidays and I fancied trying the free samples I might get’

 His exhibition and museum design work has included the Beatrix Potter exhibition at Tate Britain, National Trust Great Storm Appeal, The Royal Institute of British Architects Library and Drawings Collection and a very long association with SAVE Britain’s Heritage. He formed close links with the Chelsea Pensioners, penning a book on their lives and raising funds for them, he was a dedicated supporter of the various military charities including: The Royal Hospital (Barts), Not Forgotten Association and Poppy Factory Gardening Leave.

In 1996 whilst travelling past Buckingham Palace, he noticed how ‘un-festive’ The Palace looked, writing to the Queen, he suggested that perhaps a tree would be fitting, a letter from her private secretary of the time Robert Fellows, said ‘were you to drive past Buckingham Palace after dark, or indeed in the daytime, you would see the front decorated with a welcoming Christmas Tree- all due to your sensible suggestion.’ This gesture sums up the happy feel good nature that he always had.

He continued to work as a freelance artist, sharing a London studio space with his old St Albans School friend and fellow artist Albany Wiseman, where they collaborated on several children’s books, including Wrenard of St Paul’s, Tommy Atkins in the Great War, Captain Coram and Christopher of St Albans. His work for St Albans School continued right up to his death, with his last piece being an illustration for the history of sport at the School in 2024, his work is regularly seen around School, his simple design of the Gateway is embellished on mugs and forms the image for the Gateway Society. In honour of his vision and work The Robin Ollington Art Award is awarded each year to an outstanding art student, he was very encouraging of all students at School, so it is fitting that he should have the final say in his obituary 

‘It was not only the usual elements of School education which formed my life, but also the odd quirky things never forgotten that add to its pleasure…. The construction of a symphony, the orders of architecture and quotes from Wilfred Owen by my former teacher Sam Webster’

It is perhaps fitting that his alma mater Sam Webster took him and his classmates on a trip to France post Second World War, it is unsurprising that France would offer him not only friendship and inspiration but also his final home. Having moved to France in the autumn of 2020, Robin died in Montpellier on 10th October 2025  

He married Pamela Crisp (1931- 2023) and is survived by a son and two grandchildren