Richard Lever Memorial Page by

Laura & Pauls wedding speech

2021-01-26 18:40:45 UTC

There was never any doubt I would ask Richard to speak at my wedding, he was the best public speaker I ever knew and he meant so much to me. Richard was a father figure who loved to laugh but more importantly make others laugh. We will miss him so much.

Memories of

2021-01-26 18:41:40 UTC

Bob Dinnage- "...I seem to be getting all sorts of flashbacks remembering events long ago. Pubs, Curries, even once driving home with a slightly merry Richard and Ann sitting in the back of my Triumph Dolomite and I lost control on a bend but managed to control the skid and Richard saying , ‘That was fun, do it again’."

2021-01-26 18:41:52 UTC

Amazing day!

2021-01-31 22:45:37 UTC

Our wedding day was small with the most special people around us. Richard lit the room, gave the most amazing, speech and was one of the nicest men I ever had the pleasure to know & love. He could talk to anyone, about anything and make you feel like the most important person in the world.

Thailand - 2015

2021-01-31 22:48:23 UTC

Richard made me laugh- a lot. This trip was full of laughter elicited by Richard’s jokes and the joy felt from being in his presence. I remember I called him “geezer” on the day this picture was taken. He smiled at me and called me “geezette”. This became our tradition. I love you geezer, and I will miss you so much.

Uncle Richard

lauraepower — 2021-01-31 23:00:05 UTC

Richard was the best. Not one of the best, the best.

I have so many things I can say here but I think I'll put this first. My greatest memory of Richard, and something I think a lot of people will share, was his ability to engage my imagination and encourage me never to stop learning.

When we stayed with Ann and Richard as children, Richard was chief story teller. There we're tales of "Speedies", tiny creatures that move faster than the eye could see and the explorer cats, "Tiddles, Twiddles, Puddle and Plop" (accompanied by the mandatory throwing yourself on the floor every time "Plop" was mentioned) who braved fierce storms and fought the neighbourhood dogs. His stories would always leave us dreaming of big adventures and challenges for the next day.

I loved him so much and will miss him forever. His joy and inspiration will continue with me for as long as I live.

Laura

The best pic ever!

2021-01-31 23:04:57 UTC

I could never thank Richard enough for this pic of GLP! X

Bad influence!

2021-01-31 23:05:34 UTC

I thought I was good.....

Pensive in Thailand.

2021-01-31 23:06:42 UTC

He was a bad influence...

2021-01-31 23:08:52 UTC

....but a great wingman :-)

dominicpower24 — 2021-02-08 00:02:29 UTC

dominicpower24 — 2021-02-08 00:08:54 UTC

Rick, Richard and Ann

2021-02-11 11:56:04 UTC

Pleasant memories of summer day out in Buxton...

Breakfast in Gran Canaria

2021-02-12 11:19:04 UTC

Chile 2019

2021-02-12 11:21:10 UTC

Chile 2019

2021-02-12 11:21:57 UTC

Sri Lanka 2019

2021-02-12 11:22:44 UTC

Sri Lanka 2019

2021-02-12 11:23:53 UTC

Sri Lanka 2019

2021-02-12 11:24:58 UTC

Birthday

2021-02-12 11:25:45 UTC

Sri Lanka 2019

2021-02-12 11:27:07 UTC

Memories of uncle Richard

2021-02-12 17:57:35 UTC

Our lovely uncle Richard. I'll always remember riding on Richard's back when I was a toddler, he gave us countless "pony" rides 😆 We went to Scarborough many times, I remember the ride breaking down when we were at the top, Richard deliberately rocked our seats back and forth. He also was the first on the dance floor at our wedding, dancing to Pendulum. He had so many wonderful stories from when he and my dad were little from sledging on the beach to playing with Ouji boards at Christmas

Christmas with Richard

2021-02-12 18:02:27 UTC

I remember being invited to spend Boxing Day with Richard and Ann when I was about 5 in their house in Reading. They were so generous the floor was literally covered with presents. It was like having two Christmases! Amy, Laura, Dom and I were astonished!

When we were young

2021-02-14 11:07:57 UTC

Sledging on the beach in Tynemouth during the freezing winter of 1963.
Using the under stairs cupboard as a darkroom.
Building a telescope .
Making a cannon out of copper pipe then using a penny banger to fire out marbles.
Trips in Northumberland to Druridge Bay and The Cheviot hills.
Holidays in Scotland.
Wearing gloves to eat popcorn
Chewing Anglo Bubbly.....
Coming home from Scarborough Tech on Friday afternoons with your little suitcase when you were only 14

CAP Reading cricket team

2021-02-16 18:06:49 UTC

Richard was always an automatic selection for his entertainment qualities as much as for his cricketing prowess or immaculate white kit.
Dave Webby

Caversham Park Village 1981

2021-02-16 18:11:56 UTC

Richard with our Elisabeth, aged 4 weeks, in Rowallen Close. His demonstrations of eating a frozen Jubbly were always especially enjoyed at our house.
Dave & Jean Webby

Fantastic Friend

2021-02-17 12:30:50 UTC

Richard and Ann were always there for me through all sorts of ups and downs. When I unexpectedly got a puppy and already had a holiday booked. They stepped in to look after her even having a little party in my absence. Always great fun and great company. Loved him to bits. He will be missed so much.
Andrea, Adrian & Betsy
xxxxxxxxxxx

Misnomer

2021-02-17 12:36:38 UTC

Richard always joked that our son was named after him!
John & Aileen

Remembering a lovely man

2021-02-19 11:52:03 UTC

CAP Reading ICON, Staff Manager par excellence, role model, photographer, astronomer, ten-pin bowler, skier, York supporter...... Intelligent, funny, supportive, caring, kind, always interesting, a lovely lovely bloke who I feel very proud to have known.

Stewart

In a pub without a beer!

2021-02-19 12:50:06 UTC

Everywhere was lively when Richard was there. No idea what joke had made us all laugh in this photo, but am sure Richard made it.

He was interested in so many things. Remember him nearly doing serious injury to himself leaping over a neighbour’s fence to see her 10” Dobsonian telescope. Of course he had to have one too!

We loved Richard. So unlike him to leave a party early, but we will remember him with joy.
Denise and Brian

Anonymous

2021-02-19 14:27:01 UTC

Such a kind, lovely, funny, interesting man who will be loved and missed by so many 😢 with much love from Joy xxx ❤️

Reading August 2013

2021-02-20 10:40:42 UTC

I knew Richard from when I first joined CAP over 40 years ago. He was one of the gang at every party and event. He was always so much fun and it’s so sad he had to go so soon.

Shirley Forster

Roger Southgate

rogerasouthgate — 2021-02-20 16:17:43 UTC

Richard was the real deal, everyone's favourite work colleague and drinking companion,. The best decision I ever made was to persuade Richard to join my team to take a large slice of the SI practice delivery capability. He was made for the role with his easy manner impressing both his clients and the key staff who were used to running their own empires. The result was that the ongoing support business was farmed successfully. He was brilliant when given the opprtunity for public speaking. i could never forget his 'debut introducing himself to a staff meeting in Wilmslow. He had just flown back from Newcastle in what he referred to as the "flying caravan", a boneshaking prop aircraft. He delivered his pitch mocking deafness, with a Biggles style scarf held stiff and horizontal by a hidden wire coat hanger.
Get togethers for the old CAP Northern Team will not be the same without him, however much we try to follow his mantra that he signed off with "thanks and have fun"...

John & Claudia Woodhouse

2021-02-21 14:37:52 UTC

Sheila Wright

2021-02-21 15:53:11 UTC

Richard may be gone but never, ever forgotten. A lovely, kind and generous man. A really good friend, he and Ann always had my back, through thick and thin. Happy memories on holiday in Crete. God bless xxx

Holidayers

2021-02-22 10:16:31 UTC

We’ve had the best of times with Richard and Ann. We miss his company, limitless knowledge, interesting ‘snippets’ on a host of topics and of course his endless jokes. Never a dull moment, we will miss him terribly.

Richard was our good friend. He had that rare and precious ability to see the fun in things and then to share it with all around him. We will never forget our attempts to learn Spanish together , which often left us in a collapse of giggles, he was usually the source. We miss him. Buenas Memorias! Fran and Duncan Watson

2021-02-22 13:58:41 UTC

Steve Jones

2021-02-23 11:54:39 UTC

Richard had the ability to make people feel good... We shared many holidays together, Richard, Ann, Gilly and me. Sometimes with other great friends too, sometimes just the 4 of us. He made us marvel at things, laugh until we hurt, we ate well, drank well and that's why we will miss him so very much. Richard Lever... as Elbow sang in the song Friend of Ours, "Love you mate".

...at least he was sensible when he was skiing...(not)

2021-02-24 16:06:08 UTC

Whilst a decent intermediate skier, he was an apres-ski expert.
Frank & Ruth

The Neighbours - who know no boundaries!

2021-02-25 16:03:50 UTC

I was talking with Ian, Becky and Caitlin about Richard last week and we will remember him very fondly as a great guy who was always up for a bit of fun - often sprinkled with a touch of mischief. The girls remember him joking with them when they crawled through the hedge between our houses into your back garden to play when they were really quite young. They repeated the adventure several more times as the welcome on the other side was always one of warmth and kindness and good humour. Richard was a very kind, smart guy with a great sense of humour - we will all miss having a catch up and putting the world to rights over the garden wall. Best wishes Ann to you and all the family - we are just next door if ever you need us. Rachel, Ian, Becky and Caitlin Medcalf xxxx

Rita and John

2021-02-25 19:08:01 UTC

John remembers Richard from the same trainee intake group - they even lived together (but don’t tell Ann)! There were many silly hours spent later in the 'unassigned room' in Station Road. Rita worked with him in Staff Management - what a great guy he was to work with and certainly always fun to be around. We will remember with fondness his chuckle and miss him. xx

Richard was probably the smartest man we knew with a great sense of humour and tremendous thirst for knowledge. We had such fun times with you Richard, you made us laugh (with your list of jokes and more), you taught us stuff and were just so very kind and thoughtful. We'll miss you so much. Love from Ruth and Ben (Your Pacer Buddy) xxx

2021-02-25 19:41:36 UTC

Richard, you had that gift of always making you happy and comfortable in you company and with Ann. Always intelligent, bright, energetic and humorous. The best dancing partner who also showed us the stars (literally) we have the apps and star 💫 constellations. We think of you when we look at them. Carolyn & Jack

2021-02-25 22:12:15 UTC

2021-02-26 04:02:33 UTC

Richard was a true gentleman, when ever you were around him he was always interested in what you had to.say, always asked how you were doing, he had time for you, his stories were always added with a little humor, and generally of his and Ann's travels, where they has some fantastic adventures, On this day his farewell we will raise a glass of red or a beer to a remember an honest, good humoured gentleman and friend, who was and will be greatly missed, RIP 🍷💓Love Soozie and Tim Xxx

Meeting star

2021-02-26 11:05:32 UTC

I have fond memories of Richard from work – both as a colleague and as my staff manager. His presentations at meetings were always something to look forward to – factual and fun, such as the time in a group meeting he plonked a doughnut down on the OHP (can’t remember why) and then spent the rest of the meeting trying to remove the sugar from the screen! He was fond of cigars, but stopped overnight and bought a bike with the savings (I think). I learnt a lot about people skills and life from Richard – he was warm-hearted, always willing to share, quick-witted and sadly missed.

(Picture is cropped from newspaper photo when we moved into Trafalgar House in 1979. Richard – casual as ever!)

Meeting star

2021-02-26 11:50:31 UTC

(Picture is cropped from newspaper photo when we moved into Trafalgar House in 1979. Richard – casual as ever!)
Chris Rayers

Shining Light

2021-02-26 12:12:50 UTC

All these comments point to a fun loving man, always laughing and bringing joy to everyone. I remember Richard well from CAP and Sema and he was always the same, bringing positive vibes to everything. At reunions he was always friendly, wanting to know what you were doing. Great bloke. Wish there was more like him. John Evans

Richard was a fine man. Always great fun and with such a great laugh. I feel very happy to have known him, and sad that the years went by without seeing him more recently. Liz

2021-02-26 13:10:30 UTC

Uncle Richard

2021-03-03 13:34:30 UTC

Richard was everything anyone could ever want from an Uncle & more. We spent lots of time out and about, on trips, on walks & various fun activities, but it's the simple stuff that will likely always be the first memories I recall. Time spent just 'chilling', conversations about anything (I think you'd struggle to find a subject Richard couldn't shed some light on), food or drink recommendations (of which there were many, but ice cream & brown sauce are two in particular I'll never forget!), debates on sport...the list goes on.

All these other comments sum up just how much he meant to so many people and show that his memory will live on.

My love for Richard will remain. I feel honoured to have had him play such an important part in my life, and I always will. Dave xxx

2021-03-05 17:31:53 UTC

Richard was a good friend and colleague. We will always remember him with a smile on his face. We’re very glad that he and Ann enjoyed life to the full and had so many wonderful holidays (even more than us!).
Gill and Mike xx

Typical Richard-isms

2021-03-25 16:02:38 UTC

Thanks for giving me my first job, and for sending me to the A310 project :-)

2023-12-13 21:56:20 UTC

Richard interviewed me as a raw Computer Science student in 1983. We hit it off from the start and I began training in Traflgar House in the November. Four weeks into my 6-week training I was sent to the A310 project at SMITHS in Cheltenham. Many happy memories of my time there. Richard & I caught up at the usual events or Staff Reviews back in the office.

We lost touch a little when I joined the KISS project in Ijmuiden. Instead of returning to the UK, I remained in the Netherlands, working for CPP.

Following marriage to a Yorkshire girl I met on a project near Hamburg, we moved to Munich. I left IT and worked in European Relations!

All this is due to Richard seeing my potenial and giving me that first job.

David Smith.