Richard died peacefully of leukaemia on the 6 February, 2006 after a happy and fulfilled life.  He was born on 17 June 1930 in Torquay, Devon and  was educated at Seafield Park Preparatory School, Kings School Bruton and the Colwyn Bay Wireless College. From 1948 Richard spent 5 years in the Royal Signals and then took a 2 year aeronautical engineering course at Chelsea College, gaining a first-class diploma. After working for a Flying School he joined the Hunting Group in March 1957,  working all over Africa and Asia.  This came to an end when, due to his approaching marriage, 6 month absences overseas would become a problem.  In 1965 he worked for the British Aircraft Corporation in Weybridge until he was invited by the Hunting Group to return there as Chief Engineer to Hunting Aero Surveys in Leavesden.  Richard accepted and  moved with his family to their home in New Road, Chipperfield. He left Hunting in 1979 after the closure of the Hunting operation in Leavesden and joined a double glazing company.
Richard  also offered for sale items which he made at home. Many will treasure examples of his beautifully finished wooden-handled  pens  and magnifying glasses as well as the bird boxes which grace many houses in the village with their clean, well-proportioned lines. He had a very deep love of fishing and country matters which originated from his time at Endsleigh House,  a fishing lodge belonging to the Duke of Bedford which housed Seafield Park School during the war.  Golf was another pastime which he enjoyed whenever he could. He was a very enthusiastic member of the Friends of Church Music Group.  He loved orchids and produced some beautiful specimens from his greenhouse.
Richard and Bridget Brook were married in 1965 and had two children,  Lynda who is a paediatrician and David who is an assistant professor (senior lecturer in UK terms) at a college in Santa Clara, California. His family and friends miss him greatly.