Robin Gardiner has lived all his life in Oxford City. After leaving school he trained in light engineering but at 17 became a "telegram boy", taking his motor cycle test on a Post Office BSA Bantam. He rode motor bikes for many years and still has an affection for British classics, resurrecting one or two over the years. He later went into plastering, being trained by a friend's father.

He became interested maritime history, in particular "Titanic", as a young man and over the years became increasingly unhappy with the "story as it is told". Hence his research became more detailed and eventually led to his series of books on the subject.

He lives with his family and the dog in a small house with a fully equipped engineering workshop at the bottom of the garden. His other pastimes include flying model aircraft and going to the pub.