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5
JRH
joined
the
Firefighters
in
the
early 1990's
and
Subsequently,
John
arranged
another
special
was
fiercely proud of
his
connection with
his
luncheon
for Company members
in
a private
beloved City of London
and
also
the
emergency
room
at
the world
famous Rules
restaurant
in
service
that
he
admired
immensely.
In
anything
Covent Garden. Here,
the
renowned
chef, David
he became
involved with,
from
his work,
through
Chambers
also
created
a
speciality meal
as
a
his
leisure
activities,
to
his
charitable
activities,
he
personal
favour
to
his
friend
JRH.
always played
a
full part. His
character would
not
JRH's membership of
the
Firefighters brought
allow
him
to merely
sit back
and
allow
things
to
him
into
contact with one of our
chosen
happen,
he
had
to be
there organising
and
“doing
charities, RAFT
(the Burns
and Reconstructive
it better”!
Surgery Charity). As
a
“friend” of RAFT
John
has
Originally
a merchant banker
in
the City,
JRH
supported
and
raised
a
considerable
amount of
decided
upon
a
career
change
some 20
years
ago
money
for
them. Before
he died,
JRH
had made
when
he
set
up
his own
corporate
hospitality
it
known
that RAFT was
to benefit
from
any
business,
combining
his
love of
fine
food
and
collection made
following
his
funeral.
wines with
his
incredible organisational
skills
and
John's
funeral was
an
incredibly moving occasion.
eye
for detail. Ably
assisted by
his business
The
church of
Saint Giles, Cripplegate was
partner Barbara, of whom
he
thought
the world,
packed
to overflowing with
those whose
lives
he
created, devised
and
ran
events
ranging
across
had been
touched
in
some way by
the man
the whole
sporting
and
cultural
spectrum.
himself.
It was
a
joyful
celebration of
his
life,
Salmon
fishing
in
Scotland, dinner
in
the
touched only with
sadness
for
Sheila,
his
lady,
Temperate House
at Kew Gardens with
the
Clare,
his daughter
and Barbara
his
close
friend
Royal Marines
“Beating Retreat”,
and
a
sell-out
and business partner. The
service was
taken by
concert,
filling
St. Paul's Cathedral were
among
our own Chaplain, David Rhodes, whose
the
events of which
he was most proud.
inimitable
style
added
a personal warmth
to
the
As
a member of
the
then Guild of
Firefighters,
whole proceedings.
If
JRH were watching
(which
and during my
year
as Master,
he
agreed
to
run
I
am
sure
he was!),
he would
have been
very
two
special
“gourmet
lunches”
to
raise money
proud
and
impressed by
all
the
arrangements
and
for our
selected
charities. The
first was
a
real
the
feeling of
love
and
support
to
those
he
left
coup! He
arranged
for
us
to
take over
the whole
behind.
of Gordon Ramsay's
restaurant,
“The Aubergine”
What more
can
I
say
about
John? He was
a proud
in
Fulham,
the week before
he
received
his
first
father,
a
loving
attentive partner,
a
hardworking
Michelin
Star. Not only
that, but
the
great
chef
businessman,
a
charitable
and
generous person,
a
himself personally
created
and prepared
a
special
man with
zest
and
enthusiasm, boundless
energy
menu
for
us. Gordon Ramsay
then
joined
the
and
good
humour,
always
laughing,
a man
to
assembled
company
to describe
how
he
whom manners
and
courtesy were
non-
prepared
the dishes
and matched
the wines with
negotiable
and, of
course
a
loyal
and
caring
the
food.
friend.
The
second
event
took place
in
the
fine wine
I
am proud
and
honoured
to
have
known
him
cellars of
the Café Royal where
another Michelin
and
to be
able
to
call
him my
friend.
I
shall miss
Star
chef, Herbert Berger,
created
a
superb
him.
luncheon
for
us
and
again
it was
an
incredible
experience.
John Richardson-Hill
AN APPRECIATION
OF
JOHN
RICHARDSON-HILL
The
sudden
death of
Liveryman
John Richardson-Hill was
a
great
tragedy
and
in
this
brief
article,
Past Master David Cartwright
pays
tribute
to
JRH,
as
he was
fondly
known
and
remembered
.