Farewell Richard
It is with great sadness that we have to announce that Richard Waddingham passed away peacefully on 3rd November 2020.
We take some comfort that his legacy lives on both in the fond memories of those who knew him as well as the ever increasing influence of the environmental management techniques he pioneered while farming for 60 years at Manor Farm Briston.
Just last month his work was featured again on national radio as well as the many press articles and published scientific papers by researchers inspired by him.
We hope to organise a memorial service when restrictions allow – maybe in the spring. Please do let us know via the contact page if you would like the details when confirmed.
Donations if desired to Norfolk and Norwich Naturalists Society
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Have very fond memory’s of your uncle Richard. As a young child I would go with my mum in the fields on the farm when the group of ladies did their work hoeing the land and then in the potatoe barn to bag the potatoes. Spent many happy days on the farm. My mum Joan Longhorn later became your uncles housekeeper and also looked after his late mum, seeing to her well being. My mum also became very close to Ann, Richard’s sister and they corresponded quite regularly. Mum still talks about her time on the farm and in the house and how Richard enjoyed her cooking. She is in her 95 year now and everyday things she forgets but her memories of the farm are still there. May I send my condolences to the rest of your families.
I have many good and fond memories of Richard Waddingham and I am proud to call him a friend. I first met Richard at a Novice Stake (Field Trial) at Walsingham. We both survived only the first round but stayed to the end and got talking. Richard was running his homebred FTAW Ridlands Aurora. I was very impressed to see such a calm and composed Flatcoat when around his owner. Richard and I got to talk about flatcoats, country pursuits and Field Trials and shooting when in the gallery. A couple of years later I was lucky to get a pup from Richard – Ridlands Peewit Of Vilendal – out of Ridlands Aurora which was a very biddable and lovely dog to have and to train. Ridlands (Richard’s prefix) was a certain place on Manor Farm which Richard showed me during a visit. I also had the pleasure of winning a trial, judging a trial and shooting at a few trials as well as shooting as a guest at Manor Farm. What a jewel in wonderful Norfolk. Richard also visited me on a number of occasions where we would train our flatcoats or he would have come and stayed over, had a meal and we would have gone together to a Flatcoat Trial in the West Midlands somewhere. Richard was such a gentleman to be around and most generous in hosting trials and showing interested people (including agricultural students from this country and abroad) his pride, Manor Farm. Richard took a huge interest in conservation, shooting, trialing, ornithology and farming – these were inseparable for Richard. When out trialing he would often be quiet and observing what went on but quite often keep his opinions to himself and never complain if anything went against him. Some memorable moments at trials came up over the years – one of them I am sure I share with Michael Tallamy when Richard with Ridlands Aurora secured an extraordinary eye wipe at Docking Farm, Norfolk … 🙂 RIP dear Richard …