received a request from the University of Edinburgh to run the Edinburgh School of Agriculture, a partnership between the University and the Edinburgh and East of Scotland College of Agriculture. The post consisted of the Chair of Agriculture and Rural Economy at the University along with being Principal of the Edinburgh and East of Scotland College of Agriculture. Robertson took a day off from the conference to discuss the issues with two ex-students while walking around Kew Gardens. He accepted the offer. John Friend, a distinguished plant pathologist and biochemist succeeded Robertson as Hull's Professor of Biology. Edinburgh When Robertson moved back to Edinburgh in 1969 he took over the School of Agriculture from Sir Stephen Watson. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in March of that year. His proposers were James MacDonald, Harold Fletcher, Anthony Elliot Ritchie and Douglas Mackay Henderson. He served as Vice President of the Society from 1980 to 1983. The time that Robertson was at Edinburgh was one of agricultural expansion with unprecedented levels of government funding. His new posts allowed Robertson to create an institution that catered for teaching, research and provided an advisory service. With Robertson at the helm, the Edinburgh School of Agriculture became a world leading centre for research and teaching. He endeavoured to promote both the East of Scotland College and the School of Agriculture. Despite the Department being described as being "so unwieldy as to be totally unmanageable", Robertson, who by nature was self-effacing and quiet, gave the Department purpose, drew it together and shepherded it through one of the most successful periods in its history. In the School Robertson brought about a seamless operation. College and University staff shared resources and worked together to gain international recognition for education, research and advisory work. In addition, from 1974, Robertson was Dean of Science at the University of Edinburgh, and for 13 years was Vice-Chairman of the Edinburgh Centre for Rural Economy (which became the Edinburgh Centre for Rural Research). The latter was concerned with conservation and land use, bringing together heads and others from local university departments and research institutions. The Centre promoted co-operation, including interdisciplinary research. Robertson also represented the University on several governing bodies of research institutes, including as Chairman of Governors of the Scottish Crop Research Institute for nine years. He also chaired the Conference of University Professors of Agriculture and