Born in Bristol to John Foster Robinson, CBE, TD, and Margaret, nee Paterson, Robinson's family ran ES&A Robinson, the paper and packaging conglomerate that later became Dickinson Robinson Group.
Born in Bristol to John Foster Robinson, CBE, TD, and Margaret, nee Paterson, Robinson's father was High Sheriff of Avon in 1975. John Robinson's family ran ES&A Robinson, the paper and packaging conglomerate that later became Dickinson Robinson Group.