Born: 22 May, 1906, in Leith. Died: 22 February, 2008, in Edinburgh, aged 101.
IN AN active and busy life that spanned a century, Craig Richards became one of the characters in Edinburgh. With his jaunty smile, bow tie, immaculate three-piece suit
and bowler hat he was much seen in the city and the council offices. He gave unflinching service as the chairman of the education committee and ensured that the new Napier College buildings were completed: despite being over budget and seven years behind schedule. Had he not persevered, the now highly successful Napier University may have floundered. In May 2006, Richards was honoured with a special reception in the Merchants' Hall – of which he was a past president – where guests gave him a rousing toast.
Craig Handyside Richards was the eighth of 12 children and the son of a Leith cask merchant. After schooling at Daniel Stewart's, he entered the insurance industry: first with the Prudential and some years later he set up his own insurance broking business in the city. During the war, Richards served with the RAF, training glider pilots out of Drem; he continued to fly gliders as a pastime for many years thereafter.
In 1955, he was elected to the council as the Tory member for the St Andrew's ward: an area he served until his retirement in 1968. Richards enjoyed the duties, the demands of being a councillor and was active in many of the debates in the Chambers. "In those days it was all voluntary service" he said in an interview when he was 100. "We had a lot of fun and satisfaction." He took a special interest in education and furthered the cause if the Merchant Company's school but was always keen to improve the standard of education throughout the capital.
The Napier College project had become a financial and logistical thorn for the council. Formerly based in a 16th-century tower the college had to move to more modern accommodation to survive. The project was wildly over budget when Richards became chairman of the education committee and there was a very real prospect of it never being completed. Richards, with much patience and even more courage, cut through the red tape and resuscitated the project. "I had to change the architects" Richards said. "At that time if you wanted something done you had to push for it. Napier College was the job that gave me the most satisfaction."
When he attended a ceremony to mark the start of work on the buildings on Colinton Road in January 1962, Richards had reason to be a proud man.
He also pioneered the introduction and development of "dustless collection of refuse" and led Edinburgh to be the first city in Britain to install the Dano plant – a system to convert waste into compost. Richards served as a city magistrate and became deputy to the Lord Provost.
Richards and his wife gave much time to voluntary work in Edinburgh. He was an officer of the Boys' Brigade for 73 years and both worked for the St George's Fund for Sailors and St Columba's Hospice.
Richards remained active and as spry until quite recently. He drove himself for lunch at the Edinburgh Sports Club and Bruntsfield Golf Club – although he was the latter club's oldest member he had stopped playing golf when he was 80. Richards had been an elder at Palmerston Place Church for 70 years. Asked if he had any secret about longevity, he answered with a twinkle in his eye: "Keep busy and never drink before 6 o'clock in the evening."
His wife predeceased him and Richards is survived by their three sons.
The full article contains 618 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
