Born in Norton-on-Tees, Robson studied at Stockton Grammar School and the Royal Academy of Music before becoming an accountant.

[1] In 1940, Robson married Inga-Stina Arvidsson, a Swedish woman, and this led to him becoming active in the Anglo-Swedish Society.

From 1949 to 1969, he served on the council of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.

He stood unsuccessfully in Banbury at the 1950 and 1951 general elections,[2] and served as its President in 1953/4.

[3] In later life, he used his money and organisational skills to save the National Liberal Club from closure.