Birthdays

Sir Eric Richardson celebrates his 100th birthday today. He completed his autobiography, Merseyside Apprentice, only two years ago and tells how he left school at 15 to become an engineering apprentice. He was influenced and inspired by three remarkable people: his strong-minded mother, Polly; the headmaster of his elementary school; and the Sunday school superintendent of the local Methodist church. In various ways they “nagged” him to go to university and eventually he did. His career led him to become principal of Northampton Polytechnic and director of the Regent Street Polytechnic, both in London. His career ended in 1970 when he was director of the Polytechnic of Central London. He is still remembered and honoured as a remarkable teacher and he puts much store by his lifelong Christian faith. In Plymouth, where he now lives with his wife, May, who has been poorly for some time, he is to be seen out shopping on his electric scooter, on which he is something of a tearaway. He says: “Despite old age, which is slowing up my physical functions, the good Lord has kept my brain active.” He still tends the garden, and on Saturday 60 members of the local Baptist church and his family will gather to celebrate his century. “All I have to do is turn up,” he says. RGT