Thanks to my friend Heidi, I’ve been inspired to create this is blog to remember my father, Arnold Roberton. “Have it your own stupid way” was one of his favourite expressions and over the course of 90 years, he had accumulated quite a few. As well as wanting to preserve and share some of those expressions, I also want to recall what I can about my father’s activities as a socialist, peace activist and photographer throughout his life.
Born in Glasgow, Scotland in 1903, my dad was one of nine children and although it seems the family business was undertaking, his father, Hugh Roberton, was better known as the conductor of the Glasgow Orpheus Choir.
At seventeen, my dad set out craving the adventure of North America. He worked his way across the Atlantic on a merchant ship and although he was originally intending settle in Canada, he ended up jumping ship in the US instead.
This is his original British Mercantile Marine Identity and Service Certificate issued to him February 6, 1920.
Arnold was my uncle and I still have a wonderful photograph of a cowboy on a bronco which he took at the Calgary Stampede.
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