A Flight-Lieut. at only 21, Frank Anthony Robinson, of Rushden – known to all the old boys of Wellingborough Grammar School as “Tony” Robinson – has been awarded the D.F.C.

The official announcement states that since August, 1941, he has taken part in many operational sorties and several long reconnaissances over Germany and German occupied territory, often in adverse weather and with fierce enemy opposition. “Flight-Lt. Robinson possesses ability and keenness which are a great inspiration to his fellow pilots.”

Gallantry and devotion to duty are the general grounds of the award.

Mr. and Mrs. Sid Robinson, of “Roblyn,” Wymington-road, Rushden, his father and mother, learned the news in a letter last week, but the first official statement they saw was when they read a neighbour’s paper on Tuesday morning.

Thrill for Parents

“Mrs. Robinson was very excited,” the father told our reporter. “Of course, we knew that he had been doing a terrific lot of flying over Germany. We were ever so pleased.”

“I am very proud of it,” said the mother.

Born in Portland-road, Rushden, Flight-Lieut. Robinson first attended Alfred-street School and later Newton-road School, from where he took a scholarship to Wellingborough Doddington-road Grammar School. He stayed at Wellingborough until he gained his Oxford School Certificate, in which he matriculated and gained enough “credits” to be admitted as a Royal Air Force Cadet to Cranwell.

While at school, unlike most war heroes, he did not win renown on the sports field, being of rather a quiet disposition, but while at home he spent a considerable amount of time shooting with his father. He also took an interest in fishing and on one occasion went with a friend on a trawler trip to the Faroe Isles, between Scotland and Iceland.

Served in France

He entered Cranwell two years before the war, but his course was shortened owing to the urgency of affairs. He served in France with the British Expeditionary Force, leaving just before the evacuation of Dunkirk, became a Pilot Officer and later a Flying Officer, and was promoted to Flight-Lieutenant last December.

Recently he has been principally engaged on reconnaissance work of special importance.

The father, who was formerly a boot manufacturer and is now retired, served with the Naval Division during the last war and was for a time prisoner-of-war. The family are members of St. Mary’s Church