Representing Whatstandwell.

Richard's original career was as a chemist and bacteriologist in the public water supply industry. He subsequently retrained in later life and was one of the first students at the University of Derby in the nineties, where he studied business and financial management.

Richard is a keen environmentalist and is a former campaigner for Friends of the Earth in their Water, Waste and Toxics division. Locally, he was one of a team who successfully fought against the tipping of toxic waste in a quarry at Matlock. In the past he was a member of the Environment Agency's Area Environment Board that advised the Agency on its operations and strategic policy in the east midlands. He was also a member of an Agency committee for ten years that provided advice to the authority in relation to fisheries, recreation, and ecology functions. Richard was also a member of the board of an environmental organisation where he was the national lead for water resources and flood defence.

For many years Richard was involved with the governing body of a sport, sitting as a member of the national board, where he chaired the Legal and Constitutional Committee. He was also the regional chairman for the east midlands which covered an area from south Yorkshire to Northamptonshire.

Richard is a Fellow of the Institute of Legal and Financial Management, a Fellow of the Royal Society for Public Health and a Member of the Chartered Institute of Water and Environmental Management.

Richard takes a keen interest in education, being a former school governor and is currently a director of a Multi Academy Trust that runs twenty-five schools.

In his spare time Richard takes a very keen interest in local history.

On the Parish Council he is a member of the Finance Committee, the Parish Councillor Co-option Working Party and is the Lead Member on the Allotments, Burial Ground, Jubilee Ground and Footpaths Working Party. He also represents the Council on the Derwent Valley Line Community Rail Partnership which works to promote and enhance the Derwent Valley Rail Line for residents and visitors, and Rolls Royce Submarines Liaison Committee which deals with Hilts Quarry.