Brandesburton is now known for the Billabong Jet Ski centre which operates throughout the year, the Hainsworth Park Golf Club, The Burton Lodge Hotel and The Dacre Lakeside camping and Caravan Park, which make it a relatively popular holiday destination.
In 1852 he was presented by his college to the rectory of Brandesburton in Holderness, in the East Riding of Yorkshire, where he spent the last thirty-five years of his life.
Atkinson's father, Kevin, director of Hull company Thermoplant Offshore Services, used to run his junior team in Brandesburton.