Chairman of the The Victor Batte-Lay Foundation

Robin has been involved with The Victor Batte-Lay Foundation since 2000, becoming Chairman in 2012.

His background experience is as a Chartered Architect, being the Director of a large local practice, and having over 40 years experience in the design and construction of buildings both regionally and across the UK.

Robin is the chair at The Victor Batte-Lay Foundation meetings and is involved in administering the work of the Foundation, including organising the external loan of artwork and liaising with museums, galleries and public bodies.

Through his work at The Victor Batte-Lay Foundation, Robin enjoys working with like-minded colleagues to ensure that part of Colchester’s built heritage, The Minories, continues to be of benefit to local people and that a significant body of art, the Collection, is made available to an appreciative and wide audience.

Robin also works hard to ensure that the The Victor Batte-Lay Foundation evolves to meet changing social demands, maintains it’s core mission and has financial stability.

His favourite work in the collection is “The Spotted Dog” (attributed to Otto Hoynck), saying “it’s a mysterious and majestic 17th Century work.”

The aspect of The Victor Batte-Lay Foundation that he considers to be special is that it offers a unique contribution in the town; creative and educational use of a distinguished listed building and garden together with the provision of a notable art collection, thus fulfilling the aims of the original bequest.