Robert was a member of the First Violin section of CBSO from 1993 until October 2017 but has had a break in order to be able, along with his family, to foster children. During this time Robbie continued to play with CBSO as well as other, mainly opera, orchestras.

In his spare time he enjoys running, cooking and camping holidays with his large family and is looking forward to the birth of his first grandchild.