From Dick Titley - Chairman of Barton under Needwood RUFC and friend of Richard: As you can imagine, the excitement around planning our current trip to Australia was tempered by Richards deteriorating health, although I sometimes felt that Richard was more excited than I was! It was very difficult leaving home on the 29th May 2013 knowing that Richard had just received the tragic news that his condition was terminal. However once again Richard’s encouragement and excitement about the trip made my journey that bit more pleasant. That behaviour and concern epitomized everything that Richard stood for. I first met Richard when we were police officers playing for Staffordshire police Rugby Team. At the time I was a novice at the game (Although many would say that I still play like a novice) and I played in the Second Row alongside Richard. He was a Prop Forward and in the scrum I was the lock who had to crouch down behind him, place my shoulder up against his boney backside and my hands through his legs and grab hold of his shorts around his crutch! At first I had severe doubts whether he would be able to manage the bulky Props that we faced on a regular basis as well as the huge weight pushing behind him. Richard was not your stereotypical prop Forward, Most were beefy and overweight with cauliflower ears. Richard was considerate, slim, fit, some would say good looking and extremely strong. We very rarely lost a scrum and much of that was down to his technique which was brilliant and unique. It never ceased to amaze me how he could re-adjust his position to ensure that any lost scrums were regained at the next breakdown. His other talent on the rugby pitch was as a motivator. He constantly praised the players around him as well as encouraging them and bringing out the best in them. Yet another talent that Richard possessed. My only issue that I had with Richard was his pace. Either on the rugby pitch or at work and home, Richard had only one pace and that was slow! He would insist on driving me to the rugby matches in his Ford Focus. I didn’t mind at first as I would often come straight from the busy CID Office and the car journey would allow me time to unwind before the game. However eventually Richards driving drove me to distraction. It was like being Chauffered in the film “Driving Miss Daisey”. The combination of my pumping adrenalin together with his relaxed laid back slow drive to the game eventually resulted in me declining a lift and making my own way,! (Sorry Rich). Richard became a valued and loved member of Barton under Needwood Rugby Club, and his skills in bringing players on was badly missed when he retired from the game. I cannot recall a photo of Richard playing for Barton without a smile on his face. It would have been a massive boost to our ever growing membership if his health would have allowed him to take part in coaching our Mini/Juniors. I know that they would have loved him and learned so much from him. Richard, may you now rest in painless peace and if you ever feel the need to pass on any advice regarding scrummaging please feel free to get a message through to me in any way you can.