Richard Chillingford (14 Aug 1942 - 14 Sep 2024)

I helped Richard run the Bosmere Junior Badminton Club for many years. He will be sadly missed in the badminton community and by all he knew him. Rest in peace Richard.

In kind remembrance of Richard, a good friend and skilled badminton player. He will be greatly missed for his ever helpful personality and his unique wit. Monday morning sessions of badminton at Needham Market Community Centre will never feel quite the same again. Rest in peace.

A Richard was such a kind and gentle man. He welcomed me into the village badminton club as a complete novice. My children also had the privilege to be coached by him, and my son loved hearing the updates about the Bristol Scout plane. I will miss seeing him walk past my house each morning on his way to get his paper. A true gentleman, who will be sorely missed.

We first met Richard and Sue on Herm Island. Enjoying their engaging personalities and wry wit, and being then Suffolk residents we met both, and then Richard, often since. We were hoping to meet Richard in the next few weeks to hear his tales of Herm and and an update on his WW1 biplane. We now shall miss them both. Roger, Liz, and Jonathan

Your skill and humour will be greatly missed.

As a former colleague and long time friend of Richard I was shocked to read the sad news of his death in the EADT as was another colleague and friend Graham White.

Richard, Graham, myself and another former colleague Gus Govett first met together on 1 April 1974 when Suffolk County Council came into being, Richard and Graham coming from the then West Suffolk County Council and Gus and myself from the then East Suffolk County Council. We were all planners and along with others became part of the new Countryside Section under Gus' direction. Us four gelled together and became lasting friends. Even after we had all retired we tried to meet up together before Covid on an annual basis to catch up on things. Sadly Gus died in 2022 and now Richard also. Other news came in his Christmas missives and it was through these that we learnt of Sues' death and last year Richards cancer diagnosis.

Richard had a very dry sense of humour and got on with everybody in the Countryside Section. When we got together we heard about his ongoing restoration of the frog-eyed Sprite and his new passion as Ground Crew for the Bristol Scout as it travelled around the country. Richard had always been interested in aircraft having gained his Private Pilots Licence in the 1980's but sadly couldn't afford to retain it.

It was only in June of this year that Graham and I last saw Richard at a get together of some of our former Countryside Section colleagues to remember 50 years since we first met. Richard was in fine form so it was why his death came as such a shock. As someone at that gathering remarked, GUs, Richard, Graham and myself were like the four musketeers who are now sadly down to two.

Graham and myself are going to get together next month to riminess and raise a glass to Richard and hopefully next spring to see the Bristol Scout that occupied his time after Sue's death

Graham and my thoughts are with his family at this sad time. Richard will be greatly missed.

A great member of the Monday Badminton club at Needham. He will fondly remembered.

In loving memory of our Uncle Hiya..
Sending you our love and remembering you with great fondness..
Love Rob, Ange, Walter and Pearl xxxx

I had known Richard for over 50 years and first met him as a work colleague when we both joined West Suffolk County Council in 1969.Since that time Richard has been a kind and loyal friend with a great sense of humour.
In the last few years since the loss of his wife Sue we have been on many day trips out concluding with a visit to see his beloved vintage Bristol Scout plane at Old Warden Airfield .
My wife Cheryl and I will truly miss his company. Alan and Cheryl Osborne

Although I only new Richard for a couple of years through badminton he was always kind helpful person with some great stories & jokes that will sadly be missed but always remembered by me.
RIP

Richard you are greatly missed for your expertise in badminton and wonderful sense of humour.

Richard was an absolute gentleman. He was kind, caring, thoughtful and most of all always ready with a joke! He is sorely missed at badminton, we all loved him. His catchphrases live on, as well as the legacy of so many children who he taught to play badminton. We feel honoured to have known such a wonderful man. Rest in peace Richard.xxxx

My wife Tracey and I are so sorry to hear of the passing of my Uncle Rich. We didn't see Uncle Rich very often due to the distance between, but every time we were in-person, it was clear we were family. I particularly liked when he came to see me at work that one afternoon, we had a good talk that day as we had similar careers. He kept up the cards and correspondence over the recent years and that meant so much to us. Our thoughts are with the family. Mike Whitehead Jr., Trenton, Canada

Very sad news.