Basil Robinson

Robinson, H. Basil O

(1919-2012)Basil Robinson, former Undersecretary of State for External Affairs and Officer of the Order of Canada, died on 21 December 2012, aged 93, at the Perley Rideau in Ottawa. A distinguished civil servant, diplomat, sportsman, and war veteran, to those who knew him best he was a loving father, a gentleman, an inspiration, a man of honour. He is survived by his wife Elizabeth, their four children Katharine, David, Brigitte Ann and Geoffrey, and their grandchildren Olivia, Nicolas, Adam, Amalia and Sofia. He was predeceased by his brother Geoffrey, and by his parents Basil and Nancy Robinson of Vancouver. The family wishes to thank his devoted caregivers (Rose, Emma, Connie and Ashley) as well as the staff who supported him and the family at the Perley Rideau, especially those in Gatineau-1 and Gatineau-2 North. Robinson began his family memoir with a phrase his father often used in writing to the families of departed friends: 'Of this man, let us not say il est mort (he is dead) but rather il a vécu (he has lived).' The tribute applies equally to him. A Memorial Service will be held at St. Bartholomew's Church at 125 McKay Street, New Edinburgh, Ottawa, on Saturday, March 2, 2013 at 2pm. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to a cause that embodies the values he held dear: integrity, generosity, fairness, and public service.

Dave Hilton Remembers Harry Horne

Dave paid a visit to Betty and Harry and in Murfreesboro about 2 weeks before Harry's passing. He contributed an article about Harry to the Globe and Mail which appeared on Dec. 14. His submitted copy is below (the Globe edited it a bit).


David Hilton Remembers Diplomat Extraordinaire, Harry Horne

During the funeral service held last month in the small southern
city of Murfreesboro, a person stood up and sang O Canada. It
was a tribute to an old friend and neighbour, Harry Horne who had
died at the age of 96.

Harry had lived in Tennessee since 1980 when he retired and came
to the hometown of his new wife. There was a Canadian flag on
his front lawn but his friends and neighbours only had the faintest
idea of what he did before moving to Murfreesboro.

Before settling in the South, he had spent over 30 years as a
member of Canada’s foreign service with postings in Asia, Europe,
Latin America and the United States. I worked for him in 1960 -
1962 in the Consulate in Chicago.

Although a career diplomat, he often joked that the only striped
pants he ever owned were the coveralls he when he was growing
up in his native Saskatchewan. He had served in the Second
World War in the Netherlands and Germany and joined the
federal Trade Commissioner Service in 1947. From 1948 to his
retirement in 1980 he served overseas. In the days before internet
and jet travel the Trade Commissioners job was to help Canadian
exporters operate successfully in foreign markets.

Harry was a natural in that job. He seemingly knew everyone and
knew how to get Canadian products, whether it be raw materials or
widgets into the local market. He was more than a smart salesman;
he had flair and unquestioned integrity. On his very first post to
Norway Harry challenged the mayor of Bergen to an arm wrestling
match one job against the other for a day. Naturally Harry won.


In an additional note Dave mentions:

John Blackwood called me yesterday afternoon.  Harry had been his first boss in Karachi.  John named his only son Harry [not Harald] and the mother Diane said it was the wisest thing they ever did.

My most vivid memory goes back to a cold winter night in Ottawa in early 1960.  Our class had come back from the tour and were gathered in the basement of Les Brown's place, just off Riverside Drive, to get our first assignments.  Brown, as he was wont to do was milking the scene for all it was worth.  There were 12 of us and the list was getting smaller and smaller.  We had, as I am sure you did, spent hours trying to suss out what were the possibilities.  I was the last person on the list and was told I was going to Chicago.  I was so crushed I left the party and went out into the back yard and started to cry.  Donne [we were then engaged and were planning on getting married in a couple of months] had to prop me up. I had turned down External and I wasn't prepared to face the consequence of my first job in the foreign service was to be in the United States.  In abject self pity, Gerry Hughes who was then head of personnel and Wiley Millyard who head of administration came up to me, knelt down and explained that there had been a design in their plan.  I had drawn Chicago they said because I was going to be working with [Harry Horne] the best Trade Commissioner in the service.  It was the place where I would learn more and do more and get a reputation faster than anywhere else.  Since then I have always respected my elders.

Harry Horne

Pat and Ken Taylor visited Harry at his home in Murfreesboro, TN just before Harry passed away. Here's a photo.

Just Another Day on the Thames

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