Richard Atkinson (FS 76-80).

Peter Harper (FS 78-82) and Darryl Davies (FS 62-68)(M 75-07) have contributed the following.

“Richard died on Saturday, 4^th January 2020 after suffering a heart attack at Keswick Rugby Club (his second home). He would have been 57 years old this May. 

He was born in Welwyn, Hertfordshire, to parents Doug and Olga, who were serial entrepreneurs and successful business people in the tourism industry and in property development.

He attended boarding school at Arnside and then at St Bees from where he left in 1979 after taking his O ’Levels. Richard would be the first to admit that he did not have a very distinguished academic career, but St Bees had provided him with many other life skills and a great love of rugby. He captained the 2nd XV, coached by Darryl Davies, who bore witness to the enthusiasm he had for the game. On one occasion, when St Bees were playing Keswick School, the referee did not have a full grasp of the laws of the game. Richard spoke with the captain of Keswick School and they both agreed to abide by the laws for the rest of the game, which both sides duly did. Richard was chaired off shoulder high by both teams.

He started representing his beloved Keswick Rugby Club in 1978, eventually retiring in the early 2000s. As a player he was always committed and was a solid and reliable prop forward. For such a big man he had also developed a skill for place kicks. 

Richard enjoyed travelling all over England and Scotland and played a big part in the tours to Ireland (1986), Cyprus (2001) and Spain in (2003). Great memories and friendships were forged on these tours but none greater than the early ones with Corstophine Rugby Club in Edinburgh. A unique relationship developed between the two clubs, and Richard subsequently organised their 40^th anniversary dinner and rugby weekend. The connection with Corstophine led him to strike up lifelong friendships with people in Edinburgh, where he regularly visited with his family, hence the attendance of such friends at his funeral.

He was known as a gentle giant and a loving family man with a big heart, who was generous with his time and efforts on behalf of others. His first marriage didn’t work out but they were blessed with a son, Matty, of whom Richard was rightly proud. Richard later found happiness after meeting and marrying Sayfon (known as Fon) in Thailand before moving back to run their guesthouse ‘Shemara’ in Keswick. Richard and Fon were delighted with the arrival of their daughter, Jasmin, and the whole family were involved in the running of the guesthouse and their ‘Taste of Thailand’ restaurant, which at one stage was number one on Trip Advisor for restaurants in Keswick.

Richard and Fon returned to holiday in Thailand on numerous occasions to visit Fon’s family. It was not long before they built a house in Fon’s home village. Richard made great friends there and was affectionately referred to as ‘King Kong’.

He served in many roles at Keswick Rugby Club. He had been club captain, chairman, junior coach, and latterly was in charge of marketing and sponsorship. He was very innovative and proactive in pushing the club forward and helping others. He started the Keswick Old Boys’ annual reunion and was a volunteer and supporter of the highly successful Keswick Beer Festival. He was also involved in organising the Keswick Half Marathon from its inception in the 1980s. To many he was the face of Keswick rugby and secured many sponsors.

All of us that have been privileged to know him realise that we have lost a great family man, good friend and dedicated loyal clubman. His honesty, his ability to laugh at himself, and his quick and clever wit, will be sorely missed.
RIP Richard.”

 

Home

The St Beghian Society    
St Bees School,    St Bees,    Cumbria,    CA27 0DS.

         Tel: (01946) 828093      Email: osb@stbeesschool.co.uk      Web: www.st-beghian-society.co.uk