Bob White - Chairman of the World Wide Robin Hood Society - Obituary

The man they called “Mr Robin Hood”

It is with enormous sadness that we announce the passing of our Chairman of the World Wide Robin Hood Society, Bob White.

Bob left to take his place in the greenwood in June 2024 and our huge condolences go out to his family in these sad times.

Bob was quite simply an incredible and unique person. Musician, artist, raconteur, marketeer  and expert on the Robin Hood legend and its cultural relevance.  Bob was also the nicest and kindest person you could ever hope to meet. We will miss him deeply.

For many years, Bob was Head of Corporate Affairs with Nottingham City Council, where he played a key role in promoting Nottingham and its most significant tourism asset, Robin Hood.  From organising coach trips to arranging cultural and tourism exchange visits across Europe and beyond, Bob worked tirelessly to bring people from across the world to Nottingham to check out what our City has to offer.

One of Bob’s highlights was securing the Premiere of the Hollywood blockbuster “Robin Hood - Prince of Thieves” in his home town, with props from that film later placed on display in Nottingham Castle.

Bob’s passion and enthusiasm for the world’s favourite outlaw didn’t end with his retirement from the Council, as he quickly helped to establish “The World Wide Robin Hood Society” in Sherwood in Nottingham in 1998. This was a Society with a difference, as it was one of the first organisations to harness the potential of the newly emerged World Wide Web and the internet to reach a global audience - not bad for a man who often proclaimed that he didn’t know how to turn on his computer!

Through the Society, Bob built a huge network of contacts and spent much of his time answering queries, writing press releases, undertaking speaking engagements and offering advice and support to anyone with an interest in the Robin Hood legend.

His output was prodigious, with numerous TV Documentary, radio and film appearances, articles, comments pieces and speaking engagements on all aspects of Robin but always with a fresh anecdote or piece of new information about the Robin Hood story.

In his later years, Bob began to pull together the wide range of Robin Hood information and collectibles he had amassed over time and released a book “Robin Hood - The Legacy of a Folk Hero” in 2019. This publication is without doubt the crowning glory of Bob’s career and a must read for anyone with an interest in the Robin Hood story.

Now, 26 years after its formation, the World Wide Robin Hood Society has lost its own legend. He leaves a hole impossible to fill but also a legacy that can’t be ignored. Our job now is to honour his memory, gather our thoughts and do our best to keep his passion for the greatest outlaw story ever told alive today.

Rest in Peace Mr. Robin Hood. We will always remember you.