CLIVE RICHARDS CBE KSG DL 1937 – 2021

 

Clive Richards, aged 83, made Herefordshire his home for the last 38 years.

 

He was born and educated in Birmingham/Black Country and qualified as a Chartered Accountant, Cost and Management Accountant and Chartered Secretary in 1959.

 

Having moved to the City of London in 1960 he spent 50 years becoming a serial entrepreneur building up 10 PLCs in various industries subsequently merging/selling them.

 

Outside his business career, his major interests were the Estate in Herefordshire where there are 2 farming enterprises, Lower Hope Farms & Lower Hope Fruit where they grow the most delicious prizewinning cherries.  He won Fruit Grower of the Year in both 2011 and 2015. 

 

His other interest was the Clive and Sylvia Richards Charity which was established in 1986/7.  It currently gives away £1 - £2M a year to a wide variety of charities including education, hospitals, hospices, heritage and overseas.  The Charity has grown over the years and now has 6 independent Trustees.

 

He was awarded the Knighthood of the Equestrian Order of St. Gregory the Great, by Pope Francis in 2018 and in January 2020 he was awarded the Commander of the British Empire for services to charity and to the community in Herefordshire.

 

Clive was passionate about so many things and endeavoured to help as many as he could either by advice, support via his Charity, fundraising events and opening his beautiful gardens at Lower Hope.  He would often be seen wandering around his garden on the National Garden Scheme open days with his beloved Labrador dogs not far behind.

 

He kept strong connections with his old Grammar School, Bishop Vesey in Sutton Coldfield, as his education and guidance there set him off on his career path to, in his own words,  'make a few bob' which he later generously shared with others.

 

He has been a mentor to many now very successful businessmen, singers, musicians, sportsmen, doctors and accountants.

 

Over the years he was actively involved with the Herefordshire Young Farmers, most of the schools in Herefordshire and beyond where many have annexes, buildings, football/rugby pitches, new classrooms etc named after him, Malvern Theatres, Conquest Theatre, Bromyard Leisure Centre, Bromyard Sports Foundation and Bromyard Rugby Clubs to name just a few.

 

Clive lived his life to the absolute fullest.  A keen sportsman in cricket and rugby playing at county level, went skiing twice a year, enjoyed sailing, fishing and shooting.   

 

Clive passed away peacefully at home on Friday 16 April 2021.

 

He is survived by his wife Sylvia, 3 children and 4 grandchildren.