Robin Brown, a former Liberal Democrat councillor and finance lead for Richmond upon Thames, has died aged 62 of brain cancer. He was a key figure in local politics, leading the general election campaigns for Twickenham MP Munira Wilson in 2019 and 2024.
Decade of public service
Elected as a Liberal Democrat councillor in 2018, Brown served Richmond upon Thames council for almost a decade. His role as lead member for finance drew on his business background, guiding the local community through challenges including the Covid-19 pandemic. The administration's work was rewarded earlier this year when voters gave the Lib Dems a clean sweep of council seats.
Born in Berkshire and raised in Woking, Surrey, Brown was the eldest child and only son of Veronica (née Bull), a photogrammetry academic, and John Brown, who worked for the Milk Marketing Board and later became a director of Dairy Crest. He attended the Royal Grammar School Guildford, then studied mathematics for a year at Queens' College, Cambridge, before switching to social and political science, graduating in 1984.
Career and family life
Brown joined Unilever's graduate trainee scheme, where he met Jane Wilson, an engineer, whom he married in 1995. The couple moved with Unilever to Leeds in the late 1980s, the Netherlands from 1990 to 1994, and then Sheffield, where their children Ellie and Alex were born. In 1999, the family settled in Teddington, south-west London. Brown then worked for United Biscuits, ultimately becoming finance director.
He retired from full-time work in 2012, dedicating more time to family and supporting his parents and youngest sister, Lucy, after his middle sister Felicity took her own life; another sister, Sally, had died very young. He also served several terms as a governor of Kingston Grammar, including setting up a partner school in China.
Political legacy and final years
Beyond council finance, Brown led the general election campaigns of 2019 and 2024 for Munira Wilson, the local Twickenham MP. Wilson said Brown was “one of the kindest, smartest, most hard-working and generous people I have ever known”.
He relinquished the council finance role in May last year, hoping to continue his long-term project of climbing the Munros – Scottish mountains over 3,000ft (914 metres) – and travelling with Jane, who had also retired. The cancer diagnosis denied him that. He faced his illness with steadfastness, continuing local Lib Dem party work and theatre trips until his last weeks.
Robin is survived by Jane, their children Ellie and Alex, his parents John and Veronica, and his sister Lucy.
