Ripon’s farewell to Richard Moore 1937-2017

A memorial service for Richard Moore, former headmaster of Ripon Cathedral Choir School (1987-2000) and CSA Chairman (1993-94) was held in Ripon Cathedral on Saturday 28 April.

Simon Deller, former Headmaster of Lanesborough School in Guildford and now retired to Ripon, writes: “Sadly Richard suffered from a stroke some four or five years ago and became wheel-chair bound and then bed-bound in a nursing home in Bedale, not far from where he and his wife Sheila retired to in Exelby. His death in October last year was, in the words of the family, a release.

The service was sung by the girl choristers and lay clerks of the Cathedral Choir (including some of his former chorister pupils now promoted to the back row) and conducted by the Cathedral Director of Music Andrew Bryden. His son Alistair paid tribute to his father and the address was given by the former Dean, The Very Reverend Christopher Campling.

His tenure at the Choir School, which sadly closed in 2012, was a happy and highly successful one. After two prep school headships at Selwyn House and Scaitcliffe, Richard took on the challenge of a choir school, after some arm-twisting by Dean Christopher.”

Canon Robert Western, a former CSA colleague who held the fort at Ripon after Richard retired, adds: “He was a headmaster who was very much in the ‘traditional’ mould and he was well-liked because ‘people knew where he was coming from’. His avuncular disposition certainly endeared him to pupils and parents alike.

What struck me very forcibly when I took over was the calm atmosphere and lack of any serious discipline problems – to a large extent that was Richard’s legacy.”

Richard and Sheila were always generous and warm in their welcome to RCCS!