Richard Searle (30 Dec 1975 - 9 Oct 2016)

Hiya mate.
Tis a year less a month since you said cheerio.
Hope wherever you are the beers cold and the sun's shining.
I know I speak for everyone when I say we miss you. Just wanted you to know the boys are doing good, they continue to grow and learn and make their daddy proud. They did a great job filling in for you on our wedding day and they looked dapper!
Your wife has been incredible, we're so proud of the woman she has become... strong, stubborn, sarcy and funny.
Im pleased to say she laughs again, she has hope and that's a powerful thing. We continue to look out for her as she does us, I'm not sure who needs who most!
She has low days.. of course she does, but if you sense she wants to hide away or is too proud to say help, just give her a kick up the arse.
I'm off. Say hi to Bowie from me.
Cheers

I have only just found this out. Knew 'Searly' when I was at school. Just a beautiful guy really, so kind and gentle. He would give me a lift home on his bike when I'd had a cheeky pop on the park. So sad. Xxx

I only just found out this awful news in June 2017. It is so sad to learn that "Searly" has passed away and at such a young age. I remember knowing, Searly from the days when I used to hang out in Glebe Park (behind the Lincoln Green Pub). This would be going back as far as 1992. He was one of the 'older lads'. I recall him being a quiet and nice natured guy.

My deepest condolences go to his family and close friends.

Richard or Searly as we all knew him best, was a truly lovely man, always with a smile on his face. He was our best man and did a great job of keeping Steve in line and that's not an easy thing! Steve was with him on that holiday when he shielded the young boy and his grandad, and it sounds like they had a great time watching the football. He was a massive England football fan and we often use to join him in town to watch the football. He did like to have a few drinks and a bit of fun and I will well remember the night when he and Steve went out on a Christmas night out and Steve was so drunk that he fell over banged his head and ended up in hospital for 2 days! Apparently he was so drunk he was trying to walk down the train tracks back to Birmingham! When we got married Richard told me how much he would love a family of his own and shortly after he met Nicola. I am so pleased that he got to have his own family and he was a brilliant dad to you 2 boys. My son Jamie was born a couple of weeks after Fraser and I remember coming round when Fraser was really tiny. Richard was so proud to be a dad and didn't mind getting up in the middle of the night. You can be really proud of your dad boys, he will always be around for you in spirit.

Richard and I went to secondary school together. We didn't have many classes together, but there was a group of us that would hang out at lunch and break time and down at a park in north hykeham, we never caused any major problems, we were just your average teenagers. Being nosey, chatting and 'hanging out'. Richard was always one of the quieter lads in the group and never looked for being the centre of attention, which is probably what I liked about him. What you saw is what you got, a really nice guy. I lost touch with him after school and the rest of the group, as you do and loved it one we got back in touch on Facebook. There are no tales to tell, simply the impression I remember of him and always will. Richard was one of the good guys.

This is the amount collected after both Richards Service and his honorary 40th Birthday party and celebration on 4th November.
A MASSIVE THANKYOU to all who donated to this fantastic charity which helped Rich find his 10/10 donor, they do more than just find donors they offer support in more ways than one. Which we also benefited from xxx

I went to Robert Patt with Richard, I remember him being one of the nice boys, never nasty or big headed like some of the others, he was always lovely and kind xxx

I went to Robert Pat school with Richard all round good bloke and great dad will be sadly missed

Well where do I start....As many people have already said your dad was a big friendly giant, with a heart of gold and was a very proud dad and husband. I first met your dad when I was just 12 years old, when your mum and dad first got together, my first thoughts were wow he's big (didn't help that I was a bit of a midget back then) he was a man of few words but as we spent more time together as a family he came out of his shell and enjoyed nothing more than a good laugh and a few beers. I will be forever thankful to your dad for making my big sister very happy and finally making an honest women out of her, not only that but for giving me two gorgeous nephews. Rich was a real family man and loved you boys so much, you really were his pride and joy....as well as his spaceships, his cars, ohh and his lego. He was a big kid at heart! Your dad worked for royal mail for many years and I worked for DHL, there was always banter on which company was worse haha. Your dad told everyone that one day he would be driving the big lorries, as it was his dream job and you know what? He followed his dreams and did it, he got his HGV licence and I will always remember the day he came round to tell us all, because he was smiling from ear to ear, we were all so happy for him. When I went on my adventure to Australia and came home for the first time, Rich was set on having an "aussie BBQ" with some beers involved of course, well good old England stood up to it's name and it rained, however that didn't stop him, out came your grandads fishing umbrella and your dad stood out there cooking us all the BBQ as promised....It was a ripper!

I could keep on going with the stories and I'll be sure to share them with you as I watch you both grow. Always remember that your dad loved you so so much and will forever be in all of our hearts. Follow your dreams boys just like your dad did and make him proud, as I know you both will.

All my love, your old auntie Kim xxxx

Richard, I'm shocked and so saddened that you are no longer here.
At school you were always so kind and would speak to me even when others bullied and made fun of me.
As time went by you just spread your kindness further.
You sent me a message last year as you knew I owned my own graphic design company and wanted to help your lovely wife to create a logo.
A logo for your own business which he said you had put on hold for him as you held his hand through his illness.
He described your work with such Pride and had so many wonderful words to say about his 2 boys.
He even gave me advice on chemotherapy as my friend had just been diagnosed with breast cancer.
Even during his own battle he still had time to help others.

Sleep well up there Rick, I know you'll do everything in your power to watch over your family.

You'll never be forgotten xx

Julie, Jez & Lily Armstrong

I knew Richard on and off over many years through school and most noteworthy my first paper round.
Richard always has the best bike and paper round, was very envious but what a great guy you could never dislike .
Lovely man and my deepest condolences goes to his adoring family.
Richard maybe gone but never out of any of our thoughts.

I hadn't spoke to Richard before his first battle with cancer really he was just another parent on the playground - was so shocked when I heard his diagnosis & donated to his fundraising - I'll be forever grateful I got a 5 minute chat with him at the May Day dance when he came over to thank me for the donation and was so positive that he had all the clear - both me & hubby said what a lovely man he was & how happy we were for the family - im so sorry that wasn't the end to this story but he will live on through his family - I will raise a glass tomorrow xx

Richard was a postman when I met him, the husband to my best friend. He was very laid back and very easy to get along with. He enjoyed his job but always wanted more. I loved being there and finding out he'd passed his various courses and qualifications to finally get his dream job as a HGV driver. He was dedicated and compassionate and loved his family dearly. He was a great father and worked hard all of his life always striving to provide more for his family. He was a devoted husband and a perfect match for Nic :-)
We had some great nights out together, and lots of drunken laughs! We took our families camping together and had fun even in the pouring rain!
Richard made me laugh. He was  very laid back and had the same dry humour as me, I'm sure some of his jokes were aimed at my blondness but they were easy to forgive because of his kind nature.
Richard had strength like no one I've met before. I'm so proud to have called him my friend. The love he put into the world shines on through Nic, Frazer & Seth. He will be missed but never forgotten xx

Richard was a postman when I met him, the husband to my best friend. He was very laid back and very easy to get along with. He enjoyed his job but always wanted more. I loved being there and finding out he'd passed his various courses and qualifications to finally get his dream job as a HGV driver. He was dedicated and compassionate and loved his family dearly. He was a great father and worked hard all of his life always striving to provide more for his family. He was a devoted husband and a perfect match for Nic :-)
We had some great nights out together, and lots of drunken laughs! We took our families camping together and had fun even in the pouring rain!
Richard made me laugh. He was  very laid back and had the same dry humour as me, I'm sure some of his jokes were aimed at my blondness but they were easy to forgive because of his kind nature.
Richard had strength like no one I've met before. I'm so proud to have called him my friend. The love he put into the world shines on through Nic, Frazer & Seth. He will be missed but never forgotten xx

I had an online conversation with Rich shortly before. This still hasn't sunk in.

It's a few years since I left Royal Mail and Rich and one other are the only ones I kept as friends on social networking sites.

Nicola to you and your outstanding boys, I still cant find the words to express my sorrow. We both were battling cancer. Mine has gone away and ironically I'll be starting work at Royal Mail again next week. I used to cover other duties, one of which was a horrible drive to Doncaster. Rich, being the man he was always used to pop over to the ramp and help me unload. He didn't have to. He could have been well on his way back to Lincoln.
He had a heart as big as a mountain. He knew I hated that run.
I've had a very heavy heart since he passed away but I do know that he adored his family because, although he kept himself to himself most of the time, his mask slipped when talking about you three.
Unfortunately I wont be there next week but be assured my thoughts will be. Fraser, Seth, your dad was just about the nicest man I've ever met and you should be very proud of a man I called a friend and you called dad xx

Free from pain flying high with the angels above :) we had some fun times as kids when you visited us here in Plymouth. Love to you & your beautiful family, always in our hearts :)