Warwick Richardson, died 8 May 2006

(An Appreciation by Rodney England)

Warwick, who was known to everyone in the Queen’s University Association in London, began at Queen’s in 1948 after completing his National Service. He graduated in 1954 with a B.Sc. in Naval Architecture. He was one of the last graduates in Naval Architecture as the course was discontinued shortly after this. He had a long and rewarding career in Marine Architecture and became a Fellow of the Institute of Naval Architects. If you mentioned to Warwick that you were going on a cruise he immediately wanted to know the name of the ship. He could tell you the tonnage, where and when it was built and even if he thought it seaworthy.

He had a passion for classical music including baroque and opera, had an excellent bass voice and was a member of the St. Bartholomew’s Choral Society and the Wagner Society for many years.

He joined the Queen’s University Association on graduating and was eventually elected to the QUAL Council. He was a conscientious member attending all their meetings making sensible and constructive contributions to their discussions. In the late 1990s he became its functions organiser and his position was ratified and recognised in 2001 when he was elected by Council to Functions Secretary.

In 2003 when the Vice Chancellor and Alumni Office at Queen’s were endeavouring to establish a more formal relationship with the Alumni Associations he took on the formidable task of Membership Secretary. One unforeseen advantage of this was that Warwick knew all the members, their dates of graduation and the recent graduates applying for membership. He knew as Functions Secretary which events they were attending and was always on hand to greet new members and introduce them.

He had a profound knowledge of all potential venues in London for events, their advantages and disadvantages and more importantly their costs. His attention to detail in the organisation of the Annual QUAL dinner was superb and his table plans were a work of art. Throughout he always displayed insuperable optimism, good humour and when the occasion demanded it, considerable tact.

I had the pleasure during my two years as President of the Association of working closely with Warwick and can pay tribute to his unflagging energy, expertise in getting things done and his advice and support.

He married Patricia, whom he met at Queen’s, in 1956 and is survived by her and a daughter, Rosalind and son, Julian.

 

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