Introduction in 2002, a Book Was Published Depicting the History of Epsom Coaches. Written by Roy and Andrew Richmond, It Celebr
Introduction In 2002, a book was published depicting the history of Epsom Coaches. Written by Roy and Andrew Richmond, it celebrated the long life of the business and its development over then, 82 years. The book was amply illustrated with historic and modern photographs, of people, occasions and the fleet across the years. Long out of print, the full text and some of the photographs are reproduced here for the first time online. A new history bringing the story up to date, will be published on the centenary of the company’s founding in 2020 and will be previewed on this website. Andrew & Roy Richmond Pictured in 2002 Chapter 1 THE FORMATIVE YEARS Herbert Roderick Richmond, better known as Roddy, was born on 31st August 1891, and was the youngest son of Frederick and Clara Richmond. Frederick Richmond was a farmer in the village of Reepham in Norfolk. Roddy’s brother was a qualified doctor, and his sister was an accomplished pianist who had regular engagements throughout Austria and Germany. Roddy went to Chapmans Academy, a boarding school in Norwich, where he went through the indignity of being a “fag”, attending to the needs of a house prefect. On market days, his father would go to Norwich to buy and sell sheep, and this gave them an opportunity to meet up occasionally during term time. His father was used to dealing in cash for these transactions, a habit that Roddy and to some extent, Roy followed in later years. The practice ceased when Roy took his trousers for dry cleaning one day without checking his pockets! During the school holidays Roddy used to repair the farm machinery out in the fields.
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