Richard Riddiford – a tribute.

Richard Riddford’s many business achievements have already been well documented, but what of Richard the person? A dozen people who have known Richard really well have generously shared their thoughts and memories of him.

What emerged is a vivid picture of a man of many parts: Richard the mentor. The gruff but caring and generous Richard. Richard the perfectionist. The man of action, his remarkable memory for detail, and so it goes on.

Many found his rather crusty nature intimidating and it difficult to get to know him. However those who did were aware of a caring softer side under the façade – although he wasn’t keen on too many people knowing that. In one family he had earned the affectionate nicknamed ‘Uncle Gruff’. Described as always there ready put his hand up to sort out problems, and knowing that when Richard was involved you always knew that the job would be done – and done well. ‘That’s the other side of Richard, not everybody realised this’.

He was extremely generous in the earliest days of the Martinborough wine industry hosting successful ‘Trade Days’ for Wellington Restaurateurs and wine retailers to sample local wines in the stunning setting of his Tablelands home gardens. Because of his determined nature he was able to pull the Martinborough vineyards together to push the Martinborough Brand and champion the wine industry to the world. Toast Martinborough also became a successful reality under his enthusiastic chairmanship as well.
Likewise he supported Martinborough generally and liked to take interest and give advice to any new venture, and was terribly pleased when it did well. A typical comment: ‘there was nothing in it for him, but he freely gave good advice which we really appreciated, he was a very wise man’. Another was ‘ to me he was a fiercely loyal supporter and mentor who took me under his strong and assuring wing. In some ways he was like a father –very grumpy at times and one whom I had many a battle with. If he was wrong he always acknowledged it , if right he never said ‘I told you so’.

His business experience working for Borthwicks in London, and later establishing the New Zealand export Venison industry Cevena Brand, gave him extremely valuable knowledge in marketing and a wonderful network of friends and colleagues around the world who he kept in touch with. ‘His marketing skills were remarkable, he made a lot of money for the shareholders’. If a problem came up he would pick up the phone, have a short conversation and then just say ‘that’s fixed’.
Richard was not everyone’s cup of tea, he had a tough side, could be brash and had a combative nature. You could argue with him but you really didn’t want to cross him – he remembered everything. He did not abide fools readily but the same man was shy, reserved, thoughtful and kind to anybody who were down on their luck. Indeed being described as ‘extremely kind and very generous’. His level of detail was phenomenal, he demanded perfection in detail, he didn’t miss anything.

All agreed that he could be ‘a little grumpy at times’ but he also had a wicked slow dry wit, a unique turn of phrase and delivery. Any event at Palliser was more fun if Richard was there – you could always rely on him recounting a humorous story, a favourite involving his beloved dog ‘Bear’ and the governor General. These jokes usually involved some profanity or slightly rude element but always greeted with hilarity. ‘Richard could get away with a lot that the rest of us wouldn’t dream of trying’. The annual Christmas party was great fun – ‘it was the one you really wanted to be invited to. If you were invited you know that you had made it. However some were only invited once but, for whatever reason, not again’.

In June 1999 Richard was awarded the MNZM for his services to the wine and deer industries and in 2010 he was inducted into the New Zealand Wine Hall of Fame. In 2015 he was inducted as a fellow of New Zealand Wine Growers.

A staunch supporter of the Waihinga project from the get go, never a man to sit on the fence he was adamant that project must proceed for the region have the infrastructure to service the future growth. He had a remarkable ability to think in a big picture and was a valued member of the team working on the Waihinga Centre Project. Leading by example he gave generously to the project before setting about, in his own inimitable way, to encourage his wide circle of friends to follow suit. ‘The one with the highest expectation was Richard. Failure just wasn’t an option. We owe a great debt to Richard for his vision and energy working towards putting Martinborough n the map’.
The final words are from David Kershaw who knew him as well as anybody and better than most. ‘ He was a unique person who became more unique as he aged. A man whose intelligence, sense of humour, gruffness, loyalty and love of dogs and children set him apart from most people.

‘He was a man whom you had to understand but once you did you realised what an exceptional human being he was and the like of we will never meet again.

‘ Martinborough, Wairarapa and New Zealand are the poorer for his passing’.

Many thanks to all Richard’s friends who have contributed to this tribute