Basingstoke news and sport from the Basingstoke Gazette

Arts community mourns loss of popular chorister

From the archive, first published Friday 29th Feb 2008.

TRIBUTES have been paid to a former teacher whose death has been described as an "enormous loss to the musical and social scene in Basingstoke".

Clive Richards, who was a PE teacher at The Vyne School, Basingstoke, was found dead at his home in Stratfield Road, Oakridge, on Sunday, February 17.

And this week, members of the arts community in Basingstoke and his most trusted friends have paid tribute to a "kind and gentle man".

The 67-year-old began his teaching career at Charles Chute Secondary School in 1962, before it was amalgamated with the grammar school and became The Vyne School.

He was head of PE and head of Chute House until his retirement in 1991.

Life-long friend Les Graddon said that there are many young people who will be forever grateful for the "enthusiastic, knowledgeable and dedicated sports coaching that Clive gave them".

Mr Richards was also a member of Basingstoke Rugby Football Club and played for them for many years.

Mr Graddon described Mr Richards as the "the most sincere, honest, hard-working and trustworthy person you could ever meet".

He added: "Clive was my dearest and most trusted friend for 33 years. He is quite simply one of the most wonderful people that I have ever met, and I, along with hundreds of others, will miss him greatly. May he rest in peace."

Mr Richards, who did much to promote links with Basingstoke's twin town of Alençon, was also a committed member of the Basingstoke Male Voice Choir for about 18 years, and conductor Dai Ogborn said all the choristers have been "shattered" by the news of his death.

"Clive was an incredibly popular chorister and was very involved with the committee. If you ever wanted anything organised, you just had to ask Clive," he explained.

Mr Ogborn said Mr Richards, who sang in the top tenors section of the choir, was an "excellent musician" who will be "sorely missed by many people in Basingstoke".

Another large part of Mr Richards' life was the Basingstoke Amateur Operatic Society (BAOS), of which he was a member for 35 years.

He was treasurer and then chairman, before becoming an honorary life member in 1999 and vice-president.

He also led the society through turbulent times in the late 1990s, and even donated a four-figure sum to save the society from financial extinction.

His last appearance on stage with BAOS was in 2002, when he was tempted back to star in one of his favourite shows, The Pirates of Penzance.

Caroline Price, chairman of BAOS, said: "There are many who drew from his experience and unstinting enthusiasm.

"The society will pay tribute to Clive over the next 12 months through our shared enjoyment of music and singing."

A memorial service is being planned to celebrate Mr Richards' life, but a date has yet to be fixed.