Gordon de Quetteville Robin died on 21 September 2004 at the age of 83. During his life he contributed significantly and innovatively to his own academic subject of glaciology and, persuaded of the high value of cooperation between national groups at an early age, promoted actively and effectively the cause of international collaboration in Antarctica. He raised the profile and contribution to polar research of the Scott Polar Research Institute, University of Cambridge, to a new peak during his influential directorship between 1958 and 1982.