There are few colleagues I have felt as close an affection for as Richard Northcote, who I first came across at ICI Polyurethanes in the 1990s, then worked with at Bayer MaterialScience and then at Covestro, where he was latterly Chief Sustainability Officer.
Flew to Glasgow yesterday with his former Covestro colleagues Rachel Owen and Patrick Thomas, for his funeral. his was held at the Holmsford Bridge Crematorium, Dreghorn, Irvine, and was one of the most glorious funerals I have taken part in.
Profoundly impressed by his family, his wife Meabh, his sons Alex and Callum, and his daughters Catriona and Roisin.
Aiming to fly back to Heathrow in the evening, Rachel, Patrick and I had to leave the reception early, only to have the flight cancelled out from under us – after a fire alert at the Heathrow control tower.
Queued for hours, but managed to get beds in a nearby hotel – and then caught an early flight back to London City.
Magic moment was standing on the beach, overlooking Arran, watching two seals swimming leisurely by. The grief is less pacific, coming in waves.
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