If you stop for a moment as you walk through the buildings or gardens of Dartington, you will almost certainly find yourself looking at a feature that has been funded by Richard personally or by one of the Trusts for whom he is a Trustee.
When asked why he wanted to support Dartington, Richard replied:
“There are so many things …. First it is trying in part to show gratitude for the astonishing generosity of Dorothy and Leonard Elmhirst. Also to thank them for the breadth of their vision – for the way they strove for the best, not merely the good……and then there is the magic of the Great Hall and the Gardens which must be saved for future generations….and the Arts which are taken seriously but not as an ego trip….and then there are the commercial activities guided by a sense of integrity with profits being directed to charitable purposes….”
Richard doesn’t support from afar. He has been a regular participant in the Dartington International Summer School & Festival since the early 1960’s, primarily as a singer in the choir. In honour of his ‘long service’ he was invited to join the Summer School Foundation and is still an active member of that group.
The Gardens at Dartington are very dear to Richard’s heart. When Graham Gammin became Head Gardener in 1979, Richard had already been a valued member of the Dartington Hall Gardens Committee for many years.
Dartington is grateful to Richard for the major role he has played in ensuring the sustainability of this special place for future generations to enjoy.
Dartington would like to thank Kate Caddy for helping compile these biographies.
