Richie has been a Guild member for 9 years and is also a member of the Worshipful Company of Glovers, the Royal Society of St. George (City of London Branch) and a Past Master of the Guild of Freemen Lodge.

During a 30 year career in Essex Police he undertook a variety of roles and ranks before retiring in 2014. In 1998 he was Commissioned into the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve and served in the Training Branch as a Staff Development Officer and Air Training Corps Squadron Commander after which he continued involvement with the ‘sky blue’ service being elected Branch Chairman of the Chelmsford Royal Air Force Association. In 2017 he was appointed Justice of the Peace in Essex with an executive role in the Essex Magistrates Association, he also sits as an Employment Tribunal Panel Member in Central London.

Other interests have taken him north of the border where he is a Freemen and Burgess of the City of Glasgow. A member of both the Incorporation of Wrights in Glasgow, of which he was elected Deacon in 2018 and the Association of Deacons at Trades House.

In 2005 he was appointed to the 350-year-old office of Sergeant-at-Mace in Maldon joining the Guild of Macebearers, subsequently relinquishing the role on being elected as a Town Councillor in 2014, Richard has been both Deputy Mayor and Town Mayor.

A keen supporter of young people he was a Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme Leader and Expedition Assessor for 14 years. During the Mayoral year he instigated the position of Mayors’ Cadet recognising outstanding achievement and a ‘Service in the Community’ award at the local Academy. A former School Governor he sits on various school disciplinary panels in Essex.

Married to Hilary, a Crime Scene Investigator, who is also a Guild of Freemen Life Member and Glover, his interests include mediaeval architecture, powerboating and sometime archery instructor.