Dear Richard
There are no words to express the deep sorrow that I, and so many others who knew you, are feeling, knowing you are no longer with us. Yet I am filled with such joy for having known you – I cannot fail to smile every time I think you! You will always have a special place in our hearts.
I remember the day we met back in 2005 when you first joined MDX Business School and oh what a privilege and honour it has been to work with you over so many years. Although, you would often say to me that you were a ‘reluctant manager’, you humbly agreed to take on the role of Business School Director of Research and, in your own inimitable way, you more than rose to the challenge to transform the research profile and trajectory of the School supporting and mentoring others while maintaining your own excellent research profile. You offered such wise counsel to us all, but especially to me personally. As the then Dean of the Business School, I always knew that I could count on you to be open and honest and tell me, always kindly, exactly what you thought!
By 2016, you decided to phase retire so that you could spend more time with your family and for you and Jenny to travel more. Nevertheless, your commitment to supporting and mentoring others remained as strong as ever, as did your prolific writing.
Your generous spirit and intellect have touched so many lives, staff and students alike, and you will be so sorely missed! Our thoughts and prayers are with you, dear Richard, and with your family, friends and colleagues. May you rest in eternal peace!