Words: Dennis Belleville

Photos: Jimmy Young, Armadale.

It is with deep sadness that we report the passing of David ‘Rick’ Richardson on Monday 26th January 2026.

Rick was born in Dalkeith, Midlothian on the 20th September 1935, he was married to the late Alma, they had no children, but had lots of cats an dogs throughout their lives.

Rick was a keen cyclist before graduating to motorcycles. He carried out the obligatory national service in the Royal Navy. After being demobilised from the navy, he went on to work in the motor trade becoming a master coachbuilder. Motorcycles became a means of transport which turned into a life-long passion, then into his love of trials riding all over Scotland including the Scottish Six Days and the Pre65 Scottish Trial where his wife Alma was often an observer.

It was this cycling connection with Rick that brought the late Willie Dalling into motorcycle trials in the late 1960s. Dalling went on to become Clerk of the Course of the Scottish Six Days Trial.

Rick built beautiful trials bikes for himself and for many of his friends. During his retirement he would enjoy trail riding all over the Scottish Borders, long before it became frowned upon.

Rick was also a founder member of the Lothian and Borders Classic Motorcycle Club after being a long standing member and committee member of the Edinburgh St. George Motor Club, which organised many Scottish national trials, where Rick was a course and section plotter.

He continued building many classic machines, his favourites were Triumphs and in his last years, still enjoyed working on them and loved nothing more than visiting the local motorcycle shops. I will miss my pal so much. – Dennis Belleville, Innerleithen, Peebleshire.