Richard or Ri as his family used to call him attended the Oratory School in Chelsea of course, the kids in the school had a whole set of names for him: Spock or Spook , he took all this in good part and made many friends.
Richard’s character then as later was one of friendliness and of being laid back (nothing would phase him). Maybe he had an insight into how the sixties would be remembered. He was both gentle and caring but woe betide any bullies that saw this as weakness, they would often end up on the wrong end of a punch and not bother him again.
He progressed through secondary school at the London Oratory Grammar and was successful at all the subjects he tried. He soon became one of the years high flyers and would entertain the parents with piano recitals. With his all round success his confidence grew. This confidence gave him the opportunity to lead a different life to the one mapped out for most of the school leavers in the seventies. Richard knew that he could confidently jump off the normal path and go and tour the world with the full knowledge that he could rejoin and excel at his chosen direction when he decided.

He was of course smart enough to recognise the benefits of having a profession behind him, and so went of to Medical school in Southampton. Now whether this was his decision or was he conforming for his Mum and Dad, we will never know. But following his graduation as a Doctor he got back on track to see the world, he was now his own Man and would not conform again unless he felt it was the right thing to do.

Steve Eveleigh