Thanks for taking the time to visit the JustGiving page set up in memory of Richard Slater. The Page has been linked to Chris Jones Riders Fund - Registered Charity No. 1123403. This is at the request of Sheila, Richard's long term partner. So for Richard PLEASE GIVE GENEROUSLY.
Below are some of the comments made by some of Richard's colleagues following the tragic accident at Snetterton that took him from us on 15th August 2009. They capture exactly the essence of the man.
"Think for me Dick was always one of those level headed people that you speak to when you want an honest view on whether what you think makes any sense and could be assured of getting an honest (if not always what you had hoped) answer. He was a very patient person with a great sense of humour and a passion for life. Very hardworking and nothing was ever too much trouble."
"We instantly got on well, I don't really know why, we just seemed to work well together and have a common view of life. Initially I was just a member of the team and gradually over the intervening months I took on more support work to Richard to relieve his work load. Eventually we carved up the work between us and from then on any CoIN problem was a shared one. It just seemed the natural thing to do. He'd set up a very thorough and rigorous process for bidding these proposals, and whilst it was demanding on his effort, he saved us a bomb in risk mitigation and reduction in downstream implementation issues."
"He regularly worked long hours, solving issues and problems that lesser mortals would have passed on as actions to others, and many a time we'd be talking about solutions well into the evening. Dedication was his hallmark. In a job like that there is no escape. The buck stopped on his desk and no matter how much people would scream and shout he made sure the job was done properly with supreme professionalism. I don't think people realised just how many issues with potentially disastrous consequences were trapped by Richard before they ever reached the Sign Off stage. He really had the Company's interests at heart."
"When I learnt of his death, it didn't really sink in until a few days later. You become accustomed and anesthetised to bad news from the daily press and news media, but when it's someone you've known it stops you in your tracks. It taught me something. Your affection for a friend has nothing to do with how long you've known them, just the kindred spirit that bonds two people together. He was always there when I wanted advice and solutions to the many business problems we faced, and I miss not being able to pick up the phone and call him. Sometimes on an evening I'd call him whilst he was out walking the dog, and we'd reminisce about bikes and biking and how he so much looked forward to going on the track. He was a very good friend, let alone work colleague."
"Last Friday's regular review call was very subdued, and though no one mentioned Richard by name, we all knew he was there in our thoughts, and he will be for a long time to come. It was if we all wanted to say something and pay tribute, but didn’t know how to and left it unsaid. Human beings are funny like that. There we were discussing our business as usual problems, and in our heart of hearts, not one of us wanted to be there because there was only one man on our mind. One thing I can say with certainty, is that every single team member had unbridled respect for Richard and would have wanted his loved ones to know he was the heart of our team."
"At a time like this, I think of the loved ones he's left behind and how they must be struggling to cope with the grief. It's something we all dread. We all have to pass through that portal at some time, but when it's unannounced it's particularly shocking and hard to bear. Time will heal my feelings for Richard and leave me with fond memories, and I wish the same for all those he's left behind. I want Sheila and family to take courage and look forward to each new day and to know that the pain will eventually ease. They've lost someone special who they'll never forget, and if Richard were here, he'd be thinking only of them and wishing them peace and to celebrate his gift of life and the happiness he's brought."
"If anything good can possible come out of this, it's that it gives us all a chance to reset our reality scale and to now and again think of Richard in our moments of crisis, and try that little harder to count our blessings that life's not that bad when it comes to the ultimate choice."
