Sir Bobby Robson’s son has spoken of how the family’s pride in his legacy in the fight against cancer will be tinged with sadness as they gather for an emotional Christmas without him.

Mark Robson, 47, was so determined to get back to the family home near Chester-le- Street, for the occasion, he endured a 14-hour drive in blizzard conditions from London, with his partner, their two teenage children and a dog.

Sir Bobby lost his fifth battle with cancer in July last year.

Mark said: “Dad loved Christmas more than anything.

He was a big family person.

In that respect it is quite a sad time of the year, as with any family (in similar circumstances).

“He loved the cold weather and walking the dog. I remember him sitting in front of the fire cracking walnuts.”

He added: “One of my vivid memories as a child was of dad calling off Christmas mornings to get up to go to work. That went on every year as a child.

“Dad didn’t get back from training until 3pm while he was at Ipswich.

“Christmas day never started until he got home and mum wouldn’t allow us to open our presents until then – there was no food either. We used to get so excited it was not so hard having to wait.”

Mark was speaking at an early Christmas celebration, where he was joined by his mother, Lady Elsie, and brothers Andrew, 51, and Paul, 53, to meet fundraisers for the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation at Newcastle’s Copthorne Hotel.

It was launched in March 2008 and has broken through its £2.5m fundraising mark.

Mark said: “We have gone into partnership with Newcastle University to purchase a cyclotron, which is the first in Europe and the second in the world.”

The equipment creates radioactive tracers given to patients who then undergo scans which provide vital information on cancers and other diseases, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.

Buying the equipment required an investment of more than £500,000 from the foundation.

Mark said: “My father would not have believed what we have raised in the first place – then to be able to purchase a key piece of equipment.

He would look at it as buying a top-class centre half.

The next thing he would look for would be a centre forward – that is how he would look at it.”

Lady Elsie said: “My husband would be incredibly proud to know that his charity is continuing to fulfil his ambition to fund truly worldclass cancer treatment here in the North-East.”

To make a donation or for more information on the foundation, visit sirbobby robsonfoundation.org.uk