Born in Carlton, Nottingham in 1947 Richard was a well known and much loved actor in the 1970’s appearing on stage and screen. Two of his most famous roles were in the TV hits Porridge and Rising Damp alongside Ronnie Barker and Leonard Rossiter respectively. His life and career was tragically cut short in 1979 at the age of 31 from a heart attack but his legacy has survived well.
Richard grew up in Beeston, Nottingham and he went to College House Junior School in Chilwell and Alderman White Secondary Modern School. At 16 he enrolled at Clarendon college and from there to RADA.

Richard played the guitar and sang and while a teenager he performed in folk clubs in Nottingham. He also wrote prose and poetry.

As it is unlikely any examples of him singing exist I have put some music to some of his words in tribute to one of Nottingham’s finest actors. It is a piece called “Ashes to Ashes” from the book “With Love”.