Mr Masefield served as Director General of the NI Prison Service for six years from 2004 to 2010, and previously headed the Government’s team that implemented the recommendations of the Patten Commission on Policing.
He spent the last couple of years in his native England with his wife Rosemary and his children, after working in Northern Ireland.
He had committed part of his retirement to Helen’s Bay, an area he developed a great love for and interest in.
‘He was an intelligent man. Anything he did, he did to a very high standard’
Mark Larmour, who spent two decades working in the Northern Ireland Office, said on LinkedIn that he was “very sad” to hear of Mr Masefield’s passing, calling him an “exceptional public servant”.
“In particular, his work on implementing the outcomes from the Patten Review of policing in Northern Ireland, requiring great sensitivity, made a significant and positive impact on society here.
“In his subsequent role as Director General of the Northern Ireland Prison Service, Robin was able to demonstrate his great skill of leading through influence and by personal example.
“His strong work ethic continued after his retirement in establishing the Bayburn Historical Group in Helen’s Bay, where he lived, and authoring more than 10 books.
“An absolute gentleman who will be greatly missed by many who had the privilege of working with him over the years.”
Stephen Dunne, now an MLA for North Down, worked with Mr Masefield while he was serving as a local councillor.
He told the Belfast Telegraph that Mr Masefield was committed to his adopted home, saying: “His heart was very much in Helen’s Bay. He was known as Mr Helen’s Bay.
“He was secretary of the Community Association. He did a huge amount of work and he was instrumental in community life in that area.
“I was a councillor for around nine years, from 2013 to 2022 and throughout that time I worked closely with him, particularly in Helen’s Bay, Crawfordsburn and Holywood — three areas that he really championed. He was a very intelligent man who had so much to offer. Anything he did, he did to a very high standard.”
Mr Dunne remembers Mr Masefield’s work with the community association as being broad-ranging.
He helped to keep the area tidy through “village clean-ups” and putting out planters, as well as having a “passion” for remembrance services.
He described Mr Masefield as a “champion” for the local area, working with Translink, elected representatives and the police on issues like anti-social behaviour.
Robin and Rosemary Masefield with Stephen Dunne MLA at Parliament Buildings in September 2023 before the couple moved to England
News Catch Up – Monday 23rd June
Shortly before he and his wife returned to England, he was presented with a plaque in Stormont, in recognition of his career.
Mr Masefield was also a local historian, writing a number of books on the history of North Down, transport and military history.
His published books include a history of Palace Barracks, a history of the Belfast-North Down railway and a 2014 work co-authored with Desmond Rea on policing in Northern Ireland.
He was also remembered as a “keen sports enthusiast”, with an association with tennis in Helen’s Bay.