Robert Fish

ROBERT E FISH is an author and historian from Epworth with family roots in the region dating back to 1543. He was born and raised in the Isle of Axholme and educated at Frederick Gough Grammar School. He later trained as a teacher in Durham. Robert’s career in education spanned four decades, during which he served as a teacher and headteacher. Renowned for his extensive research and publications on the local history and folklore of the Isle of Axholme, he is a frequent contributor to the Epworth Men's Society and a popular local speaker, sharing amusing and informative stories about his experiences and the history of Axholme. His efforts have significantly contributed to preserving and disseminating the Isle's unique cultural heritage.

Robert's published non-fiction works include Misadventure, Mayhem, Myth, and Murder, which details the darker side of Axholme's past and aspects of local folklore. His book Land, Lore, Legacies and Livelihoods examines the lives of those whose work and influence have shaped the Axholme of today. In Mud, Sweat and Beers, which charts the history and traditions of Haxey Hood, the book includes both well-known and, in some cases, lesser-known stories of this quirky Axholme festival. Epworth's War, written to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day, takes the reader back to Epworth in the 1940s and explores how the community supported the war effort. His most recent book, Their Legacy, Our Axholme, is a collection of character sketches that highlight individuals whose contributions to Axholme have often gone unnoticed.

Through carefully researched stories and anecdotes, Robert’s books on local history connect everyday lives and events from the past to the rhythms of the modern world. He is committed to making history approachable, personal, and alive—reminding readers that the past isn’t distant or dusty, but something that still shapes who we are today.

Robert lives in Epworth and shares a passion for bird-watching and nature photography with his wife.