Richard St. George, much loved former Director of the Schumacher Society, passed away on Wednesday, Nov. 9. He was 61, and had been suffering from colon cancer. Richard ran the Society from the mid-90s until 2009 – and just last month, we all had the thrill of watching him receive the richly deserved lifetime achievement award from Diana Schumacher at the Schumacher Centenary Festival.
“Richard has been part of the Schumacher Society team almost from the beginning although I am not exactly sure of the year he joined us! From that moment he became an indispensible member of the organisation, always volunteering to undertake a task; perform a specific role, or act as our ambassador as the occasion demanded. He was always extremely enterprising, energetic and enthusiastic: gifted and able, yet never ambitious or overriding. Almost from the time Richard joined us, he played an indispensible role in organising the Bristol Schumacher Lectures especially on the practical side and dealing with the minutiae of running these events so frequently overlooked by other members of the Council.
I shall always remember you, Richard, for your practicality and good humour: for your ability to diffuse a tense situation with mirth and then get on with the job! I am also indebted for your whole-hearted support when, as President of the Society, I first suggested the idea of an annual Schumacher Award. How very appropriate that you should have received our first Lifetime Award at the Schumacher Centenary Celebration only last month!”
Diana Schumacher
“Richard’s passing was a great shock to all of us who worked with him over many years. From the mid-90s onwards the Schumacher Society was closely identified with him, and as its director for over a decade he has left an important legacy. Richard was a pioneer in many aspects of renewable energy and sustainable development. He was a key figure in Bristol’s green movement and will be greatly missed by all who have known him well and who have worked with him. There is no doubt that he played a key role in shaping the green agenda that has become such an important feature of life in Bristol.”
Herbert Girardet, chairman, Schumacher Society, 1996-2008
“In all my years on the Schumacher Society Council I was constantly impressed by Richard’s energy, enthusiasm and instinctive understanding of the Society’s place in the world. When I became Chair last year, I realised just how much he had achieved and how grateful we should be to him for all his contributions. Seeing him receive the Schumacher Centenary Award at this year’s Festival was deeply moving, and he reacted with his typical humility and grace. The world has lost a great man and a lovely human being.”
Simon Cooper, Chairman of the Schumacher Society
“I was deeply tuched by the news of Richard´s death and sad that I have not spent much time with him in recent years. Richard was my mentor on sustainability. I indeed did not wake up to these important issues until I met him at a neighbour´s birthday partty in the year of 2000. I was so deeply touched by this conversation that I spent the next few months more or less like a zomby not knowing what to do. I felt that I had wasted 20 years of environmental research on teaching on issues that did not matter for the world. Richard was very generious with his time and ideas and told me to open up my mind and that I would soon find many people that were concerned also about these issues. And he was right. Through the Schumacher Lectures, Be the Change and many related events and dozens of books later I began to see how I could be a part of the Sustainability Science world. I want to thank Richard for his generousity, open mind, visionary thinking and kindness. He was the best lateral thinker that I have met and the most intelligent man that I have had the pleasure to know. His memory will be inspiration to me in the coming years to continue on the sustainability quest and hopefully have some impact in redirecting the world towards being a collection of sustainable communities that honour nature protection, to understand that conservation of resources is the only way to create wealth, to have powerfool grassrooots sustainability organisations and and informed policy makers – and last but not least, happy and healthy citizens. The memory of this great man will be my inspiration to continue his quest for sustainble development towards sustainablity.”
Vala Ragnarsdottir, Dean of Engineering and Natural Sciences at University of Iceland
“Richard was an amazing teacher, an inspirational figure who I learned so much from. His sense of humour was great to be in presence of and his ability to see all sides of a situation, through a cool yet passionate heart, is something I hope to replicate myself in the future. I will take forward the dreams and possibilities that he has planted in me. Thank you Richard. I will miss you.”
Emily Stokes, Development Officer Wales at The Woodland Trust
17 Comments
Richard was a dear friend and valued colleague over many years. He was one of the kindest and most generous people I have known.
As a colleague he was patient and helpful – often over the smallest things when I knew he was overstretched – as the Schumacher Society’s Director during several years, always an active Council Member, and for much of the time with heavy family responsibilities. I particularly remember his support when I first joined the Council and was feeling my way and later when I was running the Awards. It was wonderful to see him receive an Award at the recent Centenary Celebration. Richard often welcomed us to his home in Clifton either for meetings or to relax after the Lectures and always created a warm atmosphere with fine refreshments where good discussion and fun could take place.
As a friend we laughed lots – a wonderful occasion with Richard and Carol at The Old Bakehouse springs immediately to mind. He was wise, serious and practical too and we still benefit from his advice on making The Old Bakehouse more energy efficient over 15 years ago.
Richard’s death is a great loss – I will miss him enormously but am so glad to have known him.
Richard was a great inspiration to me and to many others at CAT. It was at one of his Schumacher Circle meetings that he told me the story of the work he had done with the original 1977 ‘Alternative Energy Strategy for the UK’ and how information was compiled from across ther UK, and how copies of the report had been parceled up and sent down to Tony Benn’s Ministry of Energy.
Richard first inspired me to want to re-visit this early work, and it was that momentum that led to the Zero Carbon Britain reports and all that has followed from it. Yet this is just a small part of Richard’s powerful legacy.
I will miss him, but he will always be with me.
Paul Allen (Centre for Alternative Technology)
Richard was my first mentor as an environmentalist. He took me on as a volunteer at the Schumacher Society in the autumn of 2005, and every afternoon I would go to the office at the CREATE Centre to work on preparation for the lectures, then on other projects. Any question I had for Richard would turn into a long, evolving discussion on ecology, economics, sociology, psychology, politics, spirituality, equality, democracy and so on. That spirit of generosity, of engagement with people and issues, has stayed with me. Towards the end of my time with the Society a researcher position opened up with a new NGO co-founded by Herbie Girardet. I wasn’t sure I had the experience and understanding needed for such a role, but Richard would not allow me not to apply for it, and he and Yolanda and Ian barricaded me into the corner of the office with their chairs until I agreed. I got the job and went on to have my own collaborative achievements, and to give the kind of time and advice to others that Richard had given to me. A week or so before his passing I sent him an email to thank him for everything he had done for me, that I appreciated his contribution hugely, and would not have done what I have without his support and encouragement. I had no idea that he would be taken so suddenly afterwards, and he will be missed, but he will also be celebrated, and his warmth, his spirit and his energy will live on in each of us who were lucky enough to have known him.
If Richard hadn’t just said to me on the phone “Come on in and have lunch, we can talk about it” then my life would have taken a very different path. That was his style: expansive, warm and full of enthusiasms. I did come in, to the dear old Create Centre, and we talked and talked. He steered me skilfully towards working with him on an idea for a research institute. Six, or is it seven, years later and I am still here but Richard is not. At least not in body but he is with us in spirit and he will remain so.
One image that will last for me is earlier this year when I caught sight of a yellow sea kayak in the harbour. I looked hard and recognised him, he came over to where I stood to show off his new boat, he looked so much at home and full of life. Eventually he turned away, paddling off, up the water as far as he could go. I watched him for a while then I turned away.
I will miss him dearly.
Ian
I worked closely with Richard for nearly 10 years. He was different to your average employer. When I asked him whether I could come and help out at the Schumacher Society, he did not ask for qualifications, experience or references; he just asked me to come into the office for chat. Very soon he took me under his wing. Rarely did he ask me to do something; he just let me get on with what I could give. I felt I worked with him, not for him. Over the years I saw Richard indiscriminately give his time, encouragement and support to many others.
He was also quite a unique individual. I don’t think there are many directors that would frequently have a power nap under their desk! On one occasion someone walked in. There was a long silence while the scene was being assessed… I had to explain. Richard was a good man – quiet and gentle, but with a strong mind and presence.
Yolanda Pot, Administrator of the Schumacher Society, 2000-2009
I was privileged to work with Richard at the Schumacher Society in 2001 for ten months which was a life changing experience for me. It was a very exciting time as there were Schumacher lectures organised throughout the country and he talked about a gear change for the work of the society – the time seemed right for it as many of the issues were trickling in to mainstream debate. He introduced me to many inspirational people as well as the Resurgence readers camp and the Gaia Institute. I felt honoured to be such intelligent and groundbreaking company.
He strongly believed in the power of the human spirit and that people should find their true passion in life – following their heart and not their head.
He supported so many people in their journey – we had numerous visitors to the office and he always gave of his time – he was a great catalyst for change.
He had big ideas for the Create centre – solar panels on the roof, hydroponics and fish farm on the top floor and harnessing the tidal power of the river outside. He designed the House in a box informed by his expertise in alternative technology. He was an idealist and a visionary but also very practical and hands on.
He was a pioneer of the green movement – founder member of CAAT and CSE as well as the Schumacher Institute. He was a great story teller about his times in the quarry in Wales and on the fish farm in the pacific and would have had plenty of material for a book – always funny and often inspiring.
He gave me valuable support during my time at the Schumacher society – never judgemental and the first time I’d met someone both gifted but unpretentious and at ease with himself.
I believe that he played a pivotal role in the green movement in Bristol and beyond – supporting many and changing many peoples’ lives – a treasure who will be greatly missed but whose spirit I’m sure will remain with us.
Laura Hamilton
What a tragic loss. I am saddened by my loss at this moment and am overwhelmed by the loss to his family, friends and our community. Through his peaceful giving of time and thoughts, Richard influenced me in deep ways that still reverberate through me years and years after the conversations we had, I’m sure many others share these experiences. I am a fundamentally much happier and giving person than had I not known Richard. I do not want to imagine the world without the spirit of Richard, and so I resolve not to. I will endeavor to emulate him and let the wisdom he passed to me, pass through me and forward, to others. Thank you Richard. I will miss you. May you continue your journey in the peace and exhilliration you shared with us.
Richard was a very special environmentalist: he was ultimately positive about the future for all of us. His clear-headed optimism made him a precious touchstone of wisdom for so many people. He was a powerful force for good – always generous of spirit, and energising, with a wealth of tales from an extraordinary life, beautifully told. We will all miss him terribly.
I received the sad news today that my cousin Richard passed away last week
As a child I spent a lot of time with Richard and he will be greatly missed by all his friends and family
Lisa Neal ( née Barratt )
Today I went to the celebration and honouring of the life of my dear friend Richard. About seven years or so ago, we met for lunch, joined by another friend Tony Nec, and together plotted the setting up of an ecopsychology home group. Joined by ten or so others, Carol among them, we met for a full day up to four times a year, having our last meeting just six weeks ago. I have treasured Richard as a powerful, inspiring friend and ally, who was a cornerstone of our group. I cherish him as a model of what a human can be like. He drew circles of people together around common purpose, and as I felt the warmth of fellowship seeing others in our group today, I felt a joining of the many circles Richard has been part of and contributed to. Thank you Richard.
Chris Johnstone
Dear Richard
A mentor and inspiration to us all your absolute belief in what we were doing at the Cancer Help Centre ( now Penny Brohn) was so encouraging and so enlightening
And later when you joined the wonderful Schumaker team we all benefitted from your passion.
Ciao
Christina
Occassionally in life you meet someone who stands out from the crowd. Someone extra special, someone with presence, with grace, with style and with love. That was Richard. His unique gifts and knowledge of all things green and how to handle people made him the special person he was. I have known Richard for 13 years. We shared a passion for farming fish sustainably. In my humble opinion one of the few I have met who could grasp the theory and practice of a sustainable aquaculture in the UK. Richard was a mentor to me, always full of positive encouragement, lots of ideas and never ending interest on what was happening on our carp farm. I can recall several occassions where he picked me up from the doldrums and set me on a steady course into new horizons.
It was a real prividge to know you Richard and Carol as well. Your last visit to us in Devon was most memorable for both Penny and myself, we so much appreciated you both coming to see us. I will miss you so much but I must not distract you on your new journey………….
Richard was my cousin and although I hadn’t seen him for a number of years I have fond
memories of going to stay with my Aunt and having lots of fun with him,his father was a dentist and we would sneak into the surgery and have a great time playing in the dentist chair……..up and down…..up and down!! We got into a lot of trouble in those days!!
It has been good to read all the wonderful things that have been written about him,I only found out today about his passing so it is with sadness that I was unable to attend his funeral yesterday
With love Sally x x x
I am so very very sad to hear that Richard has passed on as he was such an inspiration and friend to me over the years since my days as an Eco Design Student doing work expereince at the CREATE Centre. He was always smiling and a great ambassador, mentor and friend to me and the eco movement. His house in a box was a pioneering idea and I hope his ideas and inspirations live on forever! I will never forget him and wish I had been able to say my goodbye to him at his funeral. I will visit him amongst the trees. With fond memories and sadness at the loss of a truly beautiful man. Eco hugs RSG! C xxx
Among Richard’s many qualities, the one I want to pay particular tribute to here was his unerring integrity ~ I mean that all his beliefs were integrated within him, his actions and his spirit were in accord, and he understood that spiritual understanding was the essence that fuels action.
I guess I first met Richard at a Schumacher Lecture early in the 80′s, and met up every few years; when he was at UCAT in Bristol, then running LESS in King Street, and then again when he was working for the Schumacher Society.
Richard always had something new to say, a refreshing optimistic twist on how events were playing out, and he still had that same old spark of optimism alive when we last met a month before before he died.
He will be missed, but will continue to be an inspiration.
Richard was the mentor behind IBM’s environmental awareness and thinking that became the IBM Sustainable Development programme in 1988 with a donation of $6.5 million to UNEP GRID. This blossomed into the “IBM Smarter Planet” initiative to help solve Global Problems launched in 2010 at Chatham House and in 2011 IBM’s centenary year, shares reached an all-time high and Warren Buffett invested $10bn.
Richard and I met late in 1981 at CAT in Wales just before my commitment to meditation as a disciple of Osho. In 1984 I was assigned to the IBM Director for Scientific Programmes Dr Herb Budd at IBM EMEA HQ, Paris to develop the IBM Environmental and Third World strategy. Richard a pioneer in many aspects of renewable energy and sustainable development guided me, a complete newbie, during these formative years.
I met Richard about a decade ago and he became a very dear friend. He worked with me and with others teaching on a series of five courses called Gaian leadership. It is impossible to imagine those courses without him. He brought to his teaching a warmth, a humanity, a depth of knowledge and optimism that touched everyone. In 2006 we made a video at Llwyn Ffranc Farm to market the courses and Richard’s contribution to this short film was, to my mind, a thing of great beauty. He spoke of the need not to let the head overrule the heart. He followed his own advice. In Richard’s presence you were with a man who radiated love. His death stunned me, but I am so grateful that I knew him. He was a born encourager, a wonderful friend.