20 replies to this topic

[Tim Murray]

Clive Richardson, journalist and publisher, died in early June. His many accomplishments included being assistant editor of Motor Sport between 1972 and 1980, and editor of the excellent but short-lived Historic Race and Rally magazine. Sincere condolences to his family and friends.

[GMiranda]

I remember I managed to speak with him on Facebook, and he was very nice to me; I hadn't published almost anything by then. RIP

[LittleChris]

What a shame. I've spent the last couple of years reading through my Motor Sport magazines and really enjoyed his contributions. Didn't he race at the proper Spa ?

[Doug Nye]

Oh my - another real shock.  Poor Clive.  He tried very hard to launch new 'old car' magazines but tripped each time...  I first met him - if I recall correctly - when he was working in the British Leyland press office, then knew him during his very long 'Motor Sport' spell until he went independent.  Sincere condolences to his family and friends.

 

DCN

[john winfield]

Very sad news. I still enjoy his Motor Sport work - very readable.

[ReWind]

Unfortunately there is a gruesome tragic story behind it.

 

Article by John Garvey from Newbury Today (30 June 2022):

A retired journalist and his company manager wife were found dead in the woods with shotgun wounds.
The bodies of the pair, who left suicide notes, were discovered after bailiffs called at their five-bedroom home to inform them they were being evicted.
Seventy-four-year-old John Clive Richardson and his wife Angela, aged 64, both died from shotgun wounds to the chest in the grounds of their mansion home near Goring.
Details of the couple's deaths were revealed today (Thursday) at the opening of an inquest into the incident which happened at sprawling Bensgrove Farm.
The couple were found by police who had been called to the multi-million pound home after the bailiffs failed to get a response at the luxury property but saw a note pinned to the front door.
Oxfordshire coroner Darren Salter heard that bailiffs were going to evict Mr and Mrs Richardson over financial problems.
The bodies were discovered by police officers on Wednesday, June 8.
At the formal inquest opening Mr Salter said of Mr Richardson, who was also a retired publisher: "His death was confirmed at his home address at 10.50am when a police officer verified the death. Following a post-mortem examination, the cause of death was listed as a shotgun wound to the chest. His body was identified by his brother-in-law."
He added: "Angela Richardson was a married female who was born in Northampton and formerly a company director. She was married to John Richardson and she was confirmed to have died at Bensgrove Farm and a police officer verified the death."
In her case, too, a post mortem examination revealed the cause of death to be a shotgun wound to the chest. Her identity was confirmed by her brother at the John Radcliffe Hospital mortuary in Oxford.
The coroner went on: "The details that have been provided are that John Richardson had been struggling with financial difficulties.Bailiffs attended the property for eviction. Upon their arrival the enforcement officers found a note on the door, to say they were in the woods at the top of the garden and to notify police. Police were notified and reported the bodies of a male and female in the wood, with gunshot injuries. A handwritten and a typed note were found inside the property, in the nature of suicide notes."
The coroner confirmed that inquiries into the deaths were ongoing and that the next inquest hearing into the couple's deaths will take place on January 18 next year.

Edited by ReWind, 02 July 2022 - 14:58.

[P.Dron]

Clive was a very good friend for almost 50 years. I had no idea that he was in such a state of desperation. R.I.P.

Edited by P.Dron, 02 July 2022 - 16:19.

[JacnGille]

Sad news

[Doug Nye]

That is just ghastly....  Poor Clive - poor Angela - poor family.

 

DCN

[Derwent Motorsport]

The cremation is on the 21st

[Nick Planas]

How incredibly sad this all is - and so awful for the family left behind

[Ray Bell]

A terrible end...

 

Just what level of despair would be necessary to lead to such an event I couldn't conceive.

[Gregor Marshall]

Terrible news that I was told about on Friday and the coroner's report paints a very black and white picture of something that wasn't so clear cut unfortunately.
Clive was a lovely chap, a great friend of the family and neighbour and was actually due to be the original author of Dad's biography Only Here For The Beer, but was too busy, so Jeremy Walton got the short straw, unfortunately for him!!
Clive and I only spoke back in March, reminiscing about the old days and he was having a little clear out and had come across the programme from the 24th and 25th September 1966 Tholt-y-Will British Hillclimb event on the Isle of Man, which he covered as a journalist for the Huddersfield Times.
It was the first time he saw my Dad compete, before they became friends and he asked if I would like it. He would not take any money for it and it was very important to me, so I could give it to my older sister who was born that weekend whilst Dad was away.

 

He also sent me a hand-written note and seemed very happy and positive, so a real shock.
My condolences to his brother and family.

Edited by Gregor Marshall, 04 July 2022 - 16:43.

[tampaguy]

A few months back a police officer friend of mine ended his life over a upcoming divorce from his wife. I still can’t believe he did it. When I was in my twenties a similar situation occurred and it took me a very long time to recover, as I was the last to have any contact. I extend my condolences to the family and friends of Clive.

[MGNutcase]

Terrible news and awful for their poor family. I got to know Clive well and went to see him and Angela a couple of times at that farm (they were renting). I know that the Soace Academy business had been an enormous strain but to go to such a tragic end… RIP. Are there funeral details as yet?

[Derwent Motorsport]

21st

[MGNutcase]

The cremation is on the 21st

Thank you - do you know where please?

[RobertE]

This is dreadful. I had no idea of the circumstances surrounding his demise but of course they make the news far worse, in a way. To be driven to that is quite unforgiveable.

 

RIP to the both of them.

[arttidesco]

I used to enjoy reading Clive's articles in MotorSport all those years ago.

Terribly sad that he and his wife felt they had no one they could turn to help them find a solution to their problems.

Sincerest condolences to their family and friends.

[BenB]

I was devastated to find out this news from a close friend of mine last week - I still can't believe it. Clive was my father's best friend - the pair of them schooled together in the Huddersfield region, Clive was dad's best man and he was my godfather! I would speak to Clive at least once a year for a catch up about my children, life in general and how dad was getting on.

 

Whilst my father stayed in Yorkshire, Clive and he would religiously call each other on their birthdays though this stopped of late on my father's part as he has been suffering with Alzheimer's for a number of years. They would get together at least twice a year. Dad bought Clive's old 1958 XK150 off him back in the late 80s and spent nearly 30 years restoring it - only to drive it to the Goodwood Revival once before his diagnosis. My mother and I have decided not to tell dad for fear of causing any more upset.

 

I have many abiding memories of 'Uncle' Clive - being taken out for a blast in a bright yellow Lamborghini Countach which he affectionately called a 'pig' of a car, playing snooker at his wedding to Angela with a famous journalist, getting drunk on his boat 'Tireur' but best of all was being at Goodwood FoS as a treat for my dad and Clive for their 60ths and we were walking past the Audi display when my friend John Hanlon (owner at the time of the original A2 rally quattros and Mouton's Pikes Peak car) collared me from behind the red rope for a chat only for it to be rudely interrupted by cries of 'Richardson Richardson - when are we doing lunch?' John was more intrigued by the fact that he realised Clive was my 'Uncle' that we'd been talking about over a beer on a ski trip earlier in the year rather than the chap shouting out - that was Nick Mason! Suffice to say the red rope dropped and we were ushered into the Audi area like members of royalty.

 

I'm not close to Clive's brother Edward or any members of Angela's family but I would like to attend the funeral service to represent my father, some of their 'pals' from their younger days and myself. I understand that matters are somewhat sensitive so if anyone has any idea of the service then please do DM me.

 

RIP 'Uncle' Clive and Angela xx

[MCS]

Stumbled over this earlier: https://www.henleyst...e-eviction.html

 

Terrible.

 

RIP Clive.