Richard moved to Holmes Chapel from London in 1981. He has two adult children, currently in Bristol and India.

He retired in 2002, having spent his working life in IT, as programmer, analyst, salesman and consultant.

Over 25 years, at different times he was Secretary, Treasurer and Chairman of the Twinning Association. He, was Secretary of the Rotary Club of Holmes Chapel and is currently Secretary of the Holmes Chapel 41 Club, and Secretary of Church Hulme Men’s Probus, where he also organises the Crown Green Bowls section.