Richard Neil Armitage (1970-77) died on 29 December 2025, aged 67, in Worthing Hospital after a long period of illness. He leaves a wife, Leonor, and a son (William) and is also survived by his brother Jim and sisters Jacquie and Louise.

His lifelong friend and contemporary, Phillip Plato (1970-77) writes: “At the age of 11, Richard joined the inaugural class of 12 students when the Pangbourne College Junior School opened in 1970. He had moved to Pangbourne from Court House Junior School in Maidenhead. As one of the first of the new junior school intake, he was housed initially in Devitt Tower before moving into Bowden House.

After moving up into the Senior school in 1972, Richard joined Illawarra Division, then located in Croft House at the end of Princes Drive. Of the initial Junior School intake, he was one of six who stayed to complete a full seven years at Pangbourne, eventually leaving in 1977. He rose to become a Cadet Captain of Illawarra and served continuously in the College Band both as a drummer and as Drum Major in his final year.

On leaving Pangbourne, he applied to join the Metropolitan Police but did not meet the strict height requirement for direct entry at the time. So he applied to join, and was accepted by, the Ministry of Defence Police. Having completed his training in the MoD force he was then accepted into the Metropolitan Police. Whilst serving in MoD Police, he had also taken a part-time role in the Royal Auxiliary Air Force where he developed a lifelong interest in aircraft to supplement his interest in classic cars. 

Leaving the police in 1983, Richard took up a position within the Guardian Royal Insurance underwriting department and found his true calling in the world of insurance brokering where he became well known for excellent customer care and service. In 1984 he joined his brother Jim at Berkshire Insurance Services. Jointly owned by the brothers, the firm operated out of offices in Thatcham High Street.

Several complex and challenging insurance requirements landed on Richard’s desk as an broker including arranging cover for Richard Noble’s Trust 2 project which broke the world land speed record in 1983 in USA and held it until September 1997. In the late-1980s the brothers’ partnership ended amicably after Jim introduced Richard to Unicover Insurance Services based in Worthing West Sussex. He eventually became a joint equity partner at this company and worked in it for 36 years. 

Sadly, Richard suffered periods of poor health in later adult life. In 2014 he contracted legionella and was in a coma for a time but recovered and resumed work. Then in Spring 2025 he contracted pancreatitis and was admitted to Worthing General hospital where he was to remain for almost eight months, most of it spent in near blindness. Several OPs visited him and all reported that he remained positive and in good spirits, never complaining or moaning about his ailments. 

Throughout his life Richard maintained an interest in Pangbourne College and was a loyal supporter of the OP Society for whom he arranged professional indemnity insurance. His brother Jim says that Richard often described his time at Pangbourne as the happiest of his life. He retained close friendships with numerous OPs and was regarded by all who knew him as a loyal friend.”