Quick Guide
As a consultant, Richard ran for over 20 years one of the leading cultural and charity
sector practices in Europe - ABL Consulting. He now works only occasionally and independently
for clients in the public and private sectors, including, but not limited to, his
other interests, the church, the built environment and music. He has provided imagination
and vision, strategy, research, project management and business guidance for organisations
across the UK, in western Europe and in the Middle East. He and his colleagues have
raised almost £1bn GPB for cultural projects.
As a musician, Richard works as a conductor and choir trainer, occasionally as a
keyboard player and composer/arranger. He studied conducting with George Hurst and
Norman del Mar, and has given many performances at London’s South Bank, internationally,
and on radio and in major festivals. He has written for Radio Light Entertainment,
worked in comedy as well as classical music, and was for several years a very active
Musical Director in professional theatre. He was recently Chair of the Association
of British Choral Directors. His former choir, Pegasus, gave over 100 first British
performances. He directs the Lincoln Chorale and the Bridgeman Singers and works
as a vocal coach and guest conductor elsewhere
As a priest in the Church of England, he serves as Rector of Nettleham, just a few
miles north of Lincoln. He is Rural Dean of Lawres, and Rector of the Lincoln Chapter
of the Society of Catholic Priests, an Anglican society of male and female priests
who affirm and promote the catholic understanding and practice of the faith.
Richard brings experience, imagination, care, communication skills, warmth and
a sense of fun to all he does.
The Christian faith, music-making, developing arts and heritage, ministry, changing
lives and places, raising money, creating buildings, guiding organisations, working
for social justice. They have lots in common.
Latest News …..
Bristol will become the latest world city to join the elite top-table with modern,
international quality concert halls. We have completed the work for a major bid to
Arts Council England towards the |£45m needed to build a state-of-the art music facility
within the historic shell of the Colston Hall. Our main contribution has been to
coordinate the various bids, and to push the specification of the halls to the level
needed to become a world-leader, whilst ensuring it is distinctively West of England
and Bristol in its cultural DNA. We have also created artistically beneficial and
sustainable uses for the immense, atmospheric and totally forgotten historic cellars.
Listen Campaign works towards funding target - this amazing scheme to launch the
world’s first annual global multi-media campaign and event for a cause (the world’s
most disadvantaged children) has been seeking venture capital for a long time. The
investment is to launch a media company to make the campaign, run the event and all
the other activity and distribute the media. A separate charity collects money ($1bn
over the first few years) for charities to use on projects. I have been assisting
with capital assembly, and have recently identified some significant new interest
in the Middle East and in the UK.
Work coming up on two important new museums, and a multi use arts facility - watch
this space!
Lincoln Chorale season ends with Christmas success - our largely medieval and renaissance
programme from many countries, shared with Lincoln Mystery Plays Company in Gainsborough
Old Hall and Lincoln Old Palace was a great success, with a sell-out audience in
Lincoln. Lots of unfamiiar but very worthwhile carols and popular forms - structured
round chunky bits of Mouton, Clemens Non Papa and Guerrero. Tomkins next and the
Monteverdi Vespers in the cathedral.
Bridgeman Singers in Chester - I am directing them in February in a lively programme
with this leading sacred music choir I have directed since 1992. .
Deanery has two interregna - Very busy on the church front. The incumbent of our
largest benefice went in September. I am Rural Dean so there are lots more services
to squeeze in. I did 21 Carol Services and 10 sung Eucharists in 11 days leading
up to Christmas! And we have done a new deanery plan. And appointing a Schools and
Young People Minister. And I’m now pretty much full time at Welton St Mary’s, which
is growing! Lots more to do in the schools in Welton. Brattleby has completed its
£130k roof and tower work, and we are now about to commission restoration of the
three 15th/16th century bells.
SCP plans new season - the Society of Catholic Priests (I’m Rector of the Lincoln
Chapter) has a really active season. An excellent bunch of male and female Anglican
priests in the catholic tradition, and two more to admit at the next meeting.