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Sir Alan Richmond
1919 - 1997
Alan Richmond, who was himself heir to two religious traditions, was a generous and enthusiastic supporter of efforts to increase friendship and co-operation between people of different faiths.
Alan was born in Katowice, which was then in Germany, on October 12th, 1919. When he was a year old, his parents moved to Berlin, where Alan grew up and was educated. His family were Jewish. Although they were not Orthodox, they observed the Sabbaths and the High Holy Days. Alan attended Hebrew classes and took his bar-mitzvah. After study in Switzerland he came to Britain just before the Second World War. Meanwhile his parents and sister made their escape from the Nazis to Brazil and from there to the USA. It was not until after the war that Alan met up with his family again, although he had by then begun his career in Britain and decided to make that country his home.
In Britain Alan took various jobs in the Engineering Industry, whilst also studying, on a parttime basis, for engineering qualifications, including his Ph.D., which he was awarded in 1954. He devoted himself for 35 years to further and Higher Education. In 1953, he became Head of the Engineering Department at the Welsh College of Advanced Technology, Cardiff. In 1959, he became Director of Lanchester College of Technology, which is now Coventry University. In 1962, because of his enthusiastic support for the idea of tertiary colleges and because he wanted to return to actual teaching, he moved to Street in Somerset and became Principal of Strode College.
Alan was knighted in 1969 for his services to education, which included voluntary service on various boards and committees. He wrote two books on problems in thermodynamics for engineering students.
Alan loved teaching and was greatly concerned for his students - devoted to their welfare both in face-to-face teaching and in evolving policies for the development of the institutions of which he was head.
After he retired from Strode College, Alan moved to Bath, where he embarked on a third career as an Industrial Arbitrator and as an examiner for the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, work which he found of absorbing interest. He also continued as a consultant about the testing of appliances and tools and on energy conservation and air conditioning.
In July 1951, Alan married Sally. Sally, whilst also pursuing her own interests, was a constant support and inspiration to him. In time, he came to appreciate ever more deeply Sally's Christian faith. It was when I was Minister of Christ Church, Bath and Director of the Council of Christians and Jews that Mary and I got to know Alan and Sally. Alan was glad to learn of the new approach to Judaism of a growing number of Christian theologians, who stress that Jesus was a faithful Jew. He welcomed the efforts of the Churches both to rid themselves of anti-Jewish teaching and to develop a more positive and friendly relationship with the Jewish world. Alan often came with Sally to services at Christ Church and was a great support to me in my ministry there. Mary and I treasure the memory of his friendship and wise and understanding counsel.
