Richard was educated at the famous Tiffin School in Kingston-upon-Thames, UK and went on to study at Aston University 1968-71, reading combined honours of pharmacology and chemistry. It was during his experience on the student newspaper, the Birmingham Sun, where he was first bitten by the reporting bug that never left him and led to his first fulltime job as a reporter on shipping newspaper Lloyds List in 1971, later working as a reporter in the local press.
He next joined the Guardian group of newspapers, working in Wimbledon as the editor for entrepreneur and ex-Express journalist, Paul Morgan. At Richard’s funeral, Paul praised Richard’s professionalism and determination to see a job through, and the way he helped so many young reporters.
Later on, Richard worked at Shell World, a trade publication, travelling extensively and interviewing everyone from CEOs to charity workers. He next spent four years in Oman, editing a petroleum trade magazine. He went on to start his own company, Red Spot Communications, which he ran for a few years and was able to enjoy life at home with his two children after years of globe-trotting.
Fond memories
Richard thus joined the Metal Powder Report team with extensive experience of technical journalism and soon made the magazine his own, focusing on the state of the industry in his editorials and organising the very successful conferences PM Asia 2005 and PM Asia 2007, featuring speakers from the Chinese and international PM communities. His time at the magazine is recalled with affection by many of his colleagues, who said he was ‘great company’. “I have such fond memories of Richard, and he gave me the best possible start in my career, for which I’ll always be grateful,” said his one-time assistant editor, Eleanor Dallaway.
He was a devoted husband and father to his wife Chris and two children Bex and Harry.
In 2010 he was diagnosed with cancer and the after effects of the radiation treatment resulted in several emergency operations a year later but, according to his family, he never allowed his world to be diminished in any way. “Nothing ever reduced him – not even the catalogue of assaults he endured over the last few years,” said Bex. “He came through it all with such unfailing grace, extraordinary resilience, and good humour. He might have been deprived of the things he loved –most particularly good food, and certainly good wine – but he never stopped taking a passionate interest in everything around him.”
“Very sorry to hear this news,” said Paul Evans, who was managing director of Elsevier Advanced Technology when Richard was editor. “Richard was one of a kind and it was a privilege to have him join us in Elsevier Advanced Technology back in 2001. His skills as a magazine editor remain as a key example in an ever more technological world where the human touch remains indispensable.”
“We are saddened to hear of Richard’s death especially after such a long battle with illness,” added Jonathan Wroe, executive director of the EPMA. “Richard was always a good supporter of our association and industry during his time at MPR and we appreciated his efforts. Please accept our condolences from all of us here at EPMA.”
