Catherine "Kit" Muriel Rob FLS (21 February 1906 – 6 February 1975) was a British botanist. She lectured and ran courses on botany, and was active in the Yorkshire Naturalists' Union. Rob was recorder for flowering plants in North Yorkshire for thirty-seven years. Rob was also member of the Botanical Society of the British Isles and served as its vice-president from 1961 to 1963.
Rob was born in 1906 at Catton Hall near Thirsk and lived there her whole life.[1] She was educated at home by governesses, and was a self-taught botanist, having not received any formal botanical training.[2] She joined the Wild Flower Society at age 17 and remained involved with it throughout her life.[3][4] She served in the army during the Second World War with the rank of corporal and was based at Catterick Garrison, where she worked as a cook.[3][4] Rob gave lectures on botany to many learned societies and ran WEA courses in botany.[1][5]
Rob joined the Yorkshire Naturalists' Union in 1934 and became the recorder for flowering plants in North Yorkshire in 1935, remaining in this role for 37 years.[1] She variously served as Secretary (1955–1958) of the Botanical section of the YNU, as its Chairman in 1970, and has President of the whole Union in 1969.[1] Rob was a member of the Botanical Society of the British Isles and served as its vice-president from 1961 to 1963.[1] She also served as the Vice-President of the Yorkshire Philosophical Society.[6] She was elected a Fellow of the Linnean Society, and the plant Rubus robbii is named after her.[2]
In her later years she bred Cardigan Welsh Corgis, including a Best of Breed named 'Echium of Hezelclose' at Crufts in 1968.[3][7] Echium is a genus of flowering plants in the borage family.
Rob had two brothers, one of who was named Charles. Rob was a carer for her mother and two aunts, all of whom also lived at Catton Hall.[4]
