I met Richard a few times when I worked at CHML/Y95 (Y95 was still "95.3 CKDS-FM - Hamilton's Light Rock" when I joined the station full time in late 1990). Although his show was voicetracked (which, by the way, you'd probably never notice unless someone told you), he would pop into the station on a regular basis to record his show. He always had a friendly "hello", even for people he didn't know that well (such as myself).

My late father used to listen to his show almost religiously, and even though I'm not a big classical music fan, I also found his show a pleasure to listen to. He would tell stories about composers that would make them seem like your neighbour next door, as opposed to a bunch of old stuffed shirts. And what a set of pipes! That full, rich voice could resonate in a room full of foam rubber.

He will be missed. Along with Bill Stirrup, Phil Hitchcock and Lee Dunbar, he was among the group of seasoned professionals at The Radio Centre that young broadcasters would look up to and could only hope to emulate.

Paul Jeffries