It was with deep sadness that the BHW Show of the Year Committee heard of the death of John Robilliard, one of life’s rare true gentlemen, and an avid supporter and protector of the Show.

A successful showman himself he won the Supreme Champion class in 2004 and Best in Show in both 2004 and 2014, as well as numerous class wins. He never took his achievements for granted, and was the epitome of humility in his success. He and his wife Pam were constants at the show, much respected by their peers and having conversation to all who came to talk to them. On the administrative side, he was an active member of the show committee, and when distance and age prohibited him from attending meetings in person, he contributed with his thoughts, and was always on the phone the next day for updates. Many of the show’s attributes today are due to John’s interventions and ideas.

I first became familiar with John in the early 1990’s when he administered the points scoring of the inter society classes (some of my fellow committee members knew him far earlier). Prior to him becoming President of the RPRA in 1996, where he would have other duties to perform, I acted as his apprentice and remember the conversations we had and his innate administrative ability. It was at that point I began to appreciate his tremendous knowledge of all things ‘showing’ and realised his value to the show, and what a great man he was.

He took over the selection of judges for the show, and those chosen – when they got the call from John – knew that they had been privileged not only by being selected to judge at the show but also having been selected by John. To his eternal credit during that time, I was not aware of any serious controversies over his selections, a remarkable achievement.

When I became Chair of the committee, he was invaluable to me, nurturing me and always offering advice and very kindly corrections of any misconceptions, for he was a great advocate of showmen and the sport they represented. Over time I considered him my mentor. I could call whenever I needed advice, or rules interpreted or precedents set, for his mind was as sharp when he was 92 as it was in 1992.

The showing fraternity, the Show, the committee and I will be the poorer without John’s presence. Few people are irreplaceable, but John is one of those elite few. Even now I miss the fact that I no longer have his council at the end of a telephone line and the security of his knowledge and advice.

The committee offers its condolences to Pam and his family

David Trippett
Chair
BHW Show of the Year Committee