Page 57 - Old Ratcliffian 2020 Edition

RICHARD JOHN NIEUWENHUYS

AUGUST 2ND 1947 – MARCH 21ST 2020
OLD RATCLIFFIAN 1960 – 1964

with his wife, Anita, and a small team of OBITUARIES
employees, he approached his business
with a dynamism and zest that created a
successful presence in the fashion world in
Belgium. He had nerve and a fearlessness
that saw him working for famous brands,
mainly from Germany and Belgium.

In 1999, he sold the business and retired,
spending his time at his houses in France
and Belgium. Unfortunately, retirement
brought with it a number of serious illnesses
and life-threatening accidents. Although
only 52 years old when the business was
sold, barely a year passed when he didn’t
spend time in hospital.

The list of ailments that he suffered might
well have filled a single volume of a medical
journal, but he survived them all, including
cancer and a stroke. He totally amazed
doctors and medical professionals with
his ability to shake things off and bounce
back, no matter what he had to endure.
There had to be a special ingredient that
Richard (or Ricky, as most people called that success would be strengthened by his helped him through these debilitating
him) died suddenly on March 21st 2020, incredible spirit and enthusiasm. hammer blows, and it was simply this: his
at his home in Overijse, close to Brussels, unswerving zest for life and his outrageous
in Belgium. It is always a shocking and His first step was to secure a job with C&A sense of humour carried him through each
awful event when someone passes away, as a trainee. Afterwards, he worked with his time. On one occasion, upon admission to
no matter what the circumstances, but uncle, Jan van Spaendonck, in his family’s an oncology ward at a Brussels hospital
when that someone was a larger-than-life textile business, based in Tilburg in the when things were pretty dire, he soon had
character and a true family man, it is always Netherlands. These were formulative years everyone laughing; the nurses, doctors,
that much harder for those left behind. for Ricky that not only demonstrated his and patients, as well as the auxiliary
abilities to learn and develop his business
By any measure, Ricky was an extraordinary talents, but also opened up his love of staff, were all in stiches (excuse the pun)
person with a huge personality. Born in languages. Very soon, he became fluent within minutes of his arrival. He became
Altrincham on August 2nd 1947, his death in Dutch, and later, he added French and a recognised as a regular at the local
at the age of 72 was far too early. He was little German to his linguistic armoury. hospitals over many years, and a familiar
a young person at heart, with unrelenting face, for all the wrong reasons.
energy, an amazing wit and, having his During the following years, he expanded Ricky’s sudden departure from life, whilst
finger placed firmly on the pulse of life, a his knowledge in the fashion business, enjoying his favourite dinner and a glass
sharp mind and a keen sense of business. working for various companies, including
Flagship and Courtaulds in Belgium and of wine, was cruel and untimely, as was the
After attending St Joseph’s School in Holland. A feature of all these posts timing, during the COVID-19 crisis, when
Nottingham and Grace Dieu Manor School, was Ricky’s ability to engage with co- none of his friends or relatives could attend
Ricky headed to Ratcliffe College in 1960, workers, suppliers, and customers; his his funeral. His wife, Anita, told me that
leaving in 1964 to find his fortune. It is infectious passion and genuine warmth literally hundreds of people had said that
they regretted not being able to attend,
fair to say that his academic achievements made him stand out, both as a colleague because of the restrictions on travel and
were somewhat lacklustre; while he had an and as an individual. numbers allowed at the service that were in
appetite for education in the broad sense, It was only a matter of time before his place. But I know that, when this pandemic
classwork did not capture his attention, quest for something bigger and more is over, there will be a memorial service in
and he left with only very modest results. exciting was to spill over into a new front of a packed congregation. There will
But Ratcliffe gave him something special venture. Ricky had reached a watershed; be tears (again), I am sure, but equally,
that was to remain with him, namely a he could either work for someone else or there will be incredible stories, jokes, and
tremendous circle of lifelong friends on go it alone. There was only ever going to be laughter – the same jokes and laughter that
the one hand, and the life skills to launch one way that this could end, and a release defined the life of this remarkable person.
him into an incredibly successful career on for his pent-up energy was inevitable. In
the other. Ricky was going to make a great February 1981, Ricky established his own Frank Nieuwenhuys (68)
success of his life, no matter what, and fashion company in Brussels. Together Brother
The Old Ratcliffian 2020 57