Robin Lloyd Richardson, the former European chief executive of The Pig Improvement Company (PIC) passed away peacefully on April 17, aged 85.
Robin joined PIC as a young man on PIC’s North Yorkshire farm and worked his way quickly to northern regional manager and finally European chief executive, after PIC’s founder, Ken Wolley, moved to become president of PIC USA.
During his time with PIC, Robin influenced not only the UK and European industry, but also US and Asia, being interviewed by industry press and mainstream international media such as the New York Times.
He left PIC in 1989, buying its French subsidiary from Dalgety, which he later sold back as he prepared for retirement.
“However, being someone who simply had to be active, he moved to Suffolk to help Rattlerow Farms develop its international business,” said Michael, his youngest son.
“Despite having run an international business employing over 1,000 staff, Robin never stopped hands-on working with pigs, helping on his eldest son, Steven’s, outdoor unit, when required.
“When he did start to take life easy, he bred his own flock of chickens selling around four dozen eggs a day from a small hut on his drive which he constructed himself with the help of his two granddaughters.
“His personal life wasn’t always easy, losing his first wife Joan in 1996 and his eldest son, Steven, in 1998. He remarried in 1999 to Maureen, and they enjoyed many happy years together until she succumbed to cancer.”
Robin leaves his partner, Josie, his loving sister, Heather, his son, Michael, four grandchildren and one great granddaughter.
Red Tractor chair and former pig producer Stewart Houston first met Robin when Stewart was managing pigs at Lightwater Farms in the 1980s and purchased a PIC multiplication unit.
“Robin leading the negotiations on their behalf. I found him to be very personable and a shrewd businessman,” Stewart said
“His unstinting support while I came to terms with managing a unit of that size demonstrated his practical background and his wealth of knowledge about modern genetics and pig health. He was a genial host and fun to be with, a great industry leader!”
- The funeral will take place at Laxfield Church, Laxfield, Suffolk, at 3pm on Friday, May 23. Please contact Michael Richardson: richardson@abbee.ltd