Tributes have been paid to the cyclist killed following a road collision near Wigton last month.
Jeremy Richardson who died following the collision, which did not involve any other vehicles on January 21 at Westward.
Originally from Inverness, he had just moved to the area to be nearer family.
A friend wrote the following tribute, which has been released by police:
The sudden death of Jeremy Richardson, formerly of Springdale, Harray, in a cycling accident near his new home in Wigton, Cumbria, came as a huge shock to his many friends in Orkney.
Jeremy’s contribution to life in the county over the past 13 years was immense most notably in the voluntary and health sector.
Born in Harrogate, the eldest of three children, he spent his early year living in various locations due to his father being a member of the clergy.
This included time in Germany while his father acted as an Army chaplain then Chadderton near Oldham where his father was appointed Church of England vicar of St Matthew’s Church, then Huyton and Ormkirk in Lancashire.
Jeremy went to prep school at Hampton House in Cheshire, then – at the age of 13 – to Rossall, an all-boys boarding school near Blackpool on the Fylde coast.
His first job was as a trainee manager at Pilkington’s Glass in Saint Helen’s, one of the biggest employers in the area.
While there, however, he decided to go to Lancaster University as a mature student and graduated with a degree in economics.
He met his first wife, Judy at university and they were married shortly after they graduated when Jeremy returned to teach economics at his old school of Rossall while Judy taught geography at a local state school.
A lover of outdoor pursuits Jeremy was a keen and accomplished mountaineer, caver and diver.
After Rossall and a short spell teaching in a school for excluded pupils, he left the profession and took up posts with Help the Aged and Age Concern.
Then, after the break-up of his first marriage, he met and married Carol.
They lived in Halton before moving to set up home at Springdale in Orkney in 2008.
His first role in the county was as manager of Orkney Blide Trust, the local voluntary sector service for people with mental health illness.
His close friend and colleague Mairhi Trickett, a past chairwoman with the Blide Trust, said: “To me Jeremy’s greatest achievement was the Blide Trust.
“When he arrived, he found the service consisted of a drop-in centre where members could have a coffee together and gain some support.
“He passionately believed so much more than that could be offered, so he set up a service following the ‘Clubhouse’ model. From then on members had a chance to do real jobs within a sheltered environment. There was administration and reception, cafeteria, garden and a chance to work towards a qualification. Members then had the dignity of work, friendship and support.”
Sadly, in 2012, after a short illness Carol died and – finding himself alone apart from his two Rottweiler dogs, Shuna and Rannoch – Jeremy dedicated his time to others.
He was appointed an NHS Orkney Non-Executive Director from 2012 till 2018 where he chaired the Clinical and Care Governance Committee and although – a firm believer in a lead agency model for Health and Social Care – went on to Chair Orkney Health and Care and The Joint Integration Board. During that time, he was also a Director with Relationship Scotland, Age Concern, the local Citizens Advice Bureau, chair of Greener Orkney and a member and president of Orkney Rotary Club. During his time with Age Concern up until 2018 he contributed towards the charity’s transition to Age Scotland Orkney that led to the growth of services to support the local community and helped shape the organisation to become a sector leader in care provision.
Ronnie Johnson, who served alongside Jeremy as a Rotarian and NHS Orkney Board member, said: “Jeremy eagerly embraced the ethos of Rotary and, sought to use his talents and experience to assist those less fortunate than himself, he firmly put “Service about Self” – the motto of Rotary International to the fore – and throughout his year as president (2014-15) he led the club with his customary energy and enthusiasm, bringing forward fresh ideas on how Rotary could further benefit the community, not just locally, but worldwide.”
During that time Jeremy took part alongside others in the local stage of the Rotary Ride For Prostate Cancer – which included pedalling a static bicycle on the ferry from Thurso to Stromness; the Hoy Half Marathon; organised a break for young volunteers in Hoy, and – as part of a Scottish Rotarian effort – travelled abroad to carry out repairs and maintenance at the Nyumbani AIDS Orphanage in Nairobi, Kenya.
The latter experience left a deep impression upon him and, upon his return, he made a presentation to the Club showing the deprivation and poverty he had witnessed.
At home he was a crofter and was never happier than when working with his dozen chickens, seven sheep, two small cows and a cat.
He was also a motorcycle enthusiast and in his retirement years went on lengthy trips to Scandinavia, across Europe and the USA on his faithful BMW motorbike. He helped to form, and was the first Chairman of, the Highlands and Islands Blood Bikes charity group, as well as becoming chair of the Institute of Advanced Motorists in Inverness.
Two years ago he bought a small house in Bonnar Bridge and on leaving Orkney last October he lived there briefly before moving to be close to his step-daughter and family in his new home in Wigton in November.
Jeremy was a stalwart supporter and dedicated colleague to so many people in Orkney who will miss him for his sound advice and judgement.
He is survived by his brother John and Sister Kate, his step-children Fiona and Daniel and granddaughters Enid and Lydia.