It is with profound shock we have learnt of the untimely passing on of Lord Holme. Though not familiar to us, we knew him as the Chairman of Globescan from their website. Having read what the world has written about him, we at RPA share the loss with the family, the Globescan community, and the people he met and inspired. Fare thee well.

Charles Onsongo
Operations Director, Research Path Associates
Nairobi, Kenya

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It is fair to say that without Richard, the English College in Prague would not exist. He joined the project at an early stage. The idea of setting up an English-speaking secondary school in Prague after the Velvet Revolution appealed to him on many fronts, given his interest in the country (he opened the first and sadly short-lived Penguin bookshop in Prague in 1968), his belief in education, and his support for democracy and human rights. His wisdom, his financial acumen, his commitment and his enthusiasm—not to mention his ability to persuade those with money that this was a worthwhile cause—were crucial to the College's success. The College and its students remained, to the end, very dear to his heart.

Those of us who worked with Richard to set up and build up the College greatly miss his wise advice. It was a privilege and a pleasure to work with him—and fun as well.

Ann Lewis
Deputy Chair, English College Foundation
UK

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I first met Richard in 1986, when I was a rookie political journalist at my first set of party conferences. He was immensely helpful and kind, and remained so until he retired from politics. I shall always be grateful for his candour and good company.

Mary Ann Sieghart
Writer and broadcaster
UK

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I am writing this tribute to Lord Holme from Rwanda, a country he never visited, but a place where he had a big impact nonetheless. Richard was never boastful about his philanthropy but he was incredibly generous of his time and money to African development projects. It is well known that he was instrumental in getting the CSR movement going, but what is less known is his kindness to individual causes. For instance, he helped build our clinic and continuing education centre for genocide orphans and widows in Rwanda. He also paid for reconstructive surgery for a Darfuri boy who was thrown on a fire by the Sudanese army.

Africa has lost a great friend in Richard Holme, and so have I.

Rebecca Tinsley
Waging Peace
Network For Africa

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It was under the auspices of Alexis Cassin that Richard and I first met in the autumn of 1989. I was a penniless African refugee beset by a myriad of seemingly insurmountable problems. We struck up a most unlikely friendship that was to last until his death and, thanks largely to him and a small circle of friends, I have survived.

It is a matter of regret to me personally that Richard has not lived long enough to see me attempt to achieve one of my ambitions: the establishment of a charitable foundation. It is an idea which exercised both our minds for many a year given his interest in Africa and beyond. The biggest obstacle to realising this particular dream has been articulating it in simple terms as well as cost. But Richard never let this get in the way. His attitude on the matter was always one of... the beginning is one half the deed. I am pleased to have succeeded in producing a clear proposal which he was able to see in 2007. As the proposal was but a marker, I do hope to build upon it as a symbol of a stone of Ebenezer - a token of thanksgiving to God and to all who helped me. Even as his hour drew near, Richard, unbeknownst to me, continued to avail himself to supporting me. Such is the extent to which I owe him a debt of honour.

There is no doubt he will be missed, and especially by Kay. But I know we will carry on. Richard's personal philosophy will make us all do that. I for one will never forget a powerful lesson he taught me as I contended with my many trials and tribulations. Wherever I am, I shall always remember he taught me to smile, and to take whatever comes, like a man.

Stephen Kamugasa

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Wise, generous and the most loyal friend one could ever hope to have, Richard also had the remarkable gift of making us all feel we could do better. His commitment to a more open, equal and democratic society was an inspiration to us all.

Paul Tyler
House of Lords
UK

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I am writing this tribute to Lord Holme from Rwanda, a country he never visited, but a place where he had a big impact nonetheless. Richard was never boastful about his philanthropy but he was incredibly generous of his time and money to African development projects. It is well known that he was instrumental in getting the CSR movement going, but what is less known is his kindness to individual causes. For instance, he helped build our clinic and continuing education centre for genocide orphans and widows in Rwanda. He also paid for reconstructive surgery for a Darfuri boy who was thrown on a fire by the Sudanese army.

Africa has lost a great friend in Richard Holme, and so have I.

Rebecca Tinsley
Waging Peace
Network For Africa

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I always appreciated the intellectual quality of Richard Holme's comments and advice on political and indeed other issues, as well as his sophisticated sense of humour. I was especially grateful when he guided me through the complex and difficult shoals of deciding to approach the Liberal Democrats to see if they would have me as a member. He is enormously missed by everyone.

Hugh Dykes
Colleague, House of Lords

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The Directors and employees of Rio Tinto are very saddened to learn of Richard Holme's death. Richard's contribution, as an adviser and Director of the Company, to the development of the company's external relations, corporate responsibility and sustainablity programmes was outstanding. Richard was a great communicator; he was able to grasp the heart of complex issues and to plan management strategies accordingly. He will be very much missed by his friends and colleagues at Rio Tinto.

Rio Tinto

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First met Richard in 1959 and worked politically with him on and off until this year. I wrote his obituary in The Guardian. As I observed he was one of the few to successfully apply his great skills with equal advantage to both business and public affairs. He was a remarkable person and quite unique.

Trevor Smith
LD Life Peer, UK

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I am very sorry to learn of the passing away of Lord Holme, who I was very fortunate to have known. A man of his stature and intelligence is very difficult to find. I am sure his life will continue to be a source of inspiration for all of us.

R K Pachauri, PhD
Director-General, TERI
USA

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Ten years ago when I first met Lord Holme I was very impressed by him, by the way he spoke to other people, the way he treated students, and the way he thought about education. His comments were clear, clever, and witty.

Every year he came to Prague for the English College Governors’ meeting and always he was nice, polite, smiling, and supportive. As I am in charge of our Prize Giving I usually was very nervous, but Lord Holme, who chaired the meetings, was so relaxed and meantime so responsible that all our Prize Givings became great occasions, where everybody felt comfortable and I lost all my fears.

During his visit in our Prague flat last year he impressed all my children—he discussed with them so many things including Facebook!

We all agreed—Lord Holme was a Gentleman, a gentleman in the very sense, which we know from the classical English literature, from the old good England. We are all very sad and meantime we must thank that we had a chance to meet such a great man.

Mgr. Alena Švejdová
Deputy Head (Pastoral)
English College in Prague

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For nine years Richard Holme was a magnificent Chancellor of the University of Greenwich. We will always remember him with gratitude and affection.

Tessa Blackstone
Vice Chancellor, University of Greenwich

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Richard possessed the rare combination of an infallible intellect, a passion for service, an insatiable thirst for knowledge, and an easy smile backed by a lightning wit. It wasn’t unusual for him to read several books in a single day despite his many commitments at any given time. As such, there were few, if any, topics Richard couldn’t discuss with the deftness of a subject matter expert. He was deeply devoted to his wife and his family, to his country, to ideals for the common good, and to his friends. Richard often paused from the breakneck speed of a day to squeeze in breakfast or tea with a friend—his almost childlike delight for fishcakes was very endearing!

A truly gifted communicator and so generous with his time, Richard even offered invaluable edits to my son’s school applications shortly after undergoing brain surgery late last year. At that moment, although frustrated by some of the motor limitations imposed by his illness, Richard was as energetic and present as at any other time.

I am deeply grateful and privileged to have known Richard as a dear friend and adviser for 23 years. Richard was an honest, tireless, and beloved soul who will be treasured always for his intelligence, generosity, humor, warmth, and compassion. To remember Richard is to see his ready smile and then watch the wheels behind the bright eyes turn. We miss him greatly.

Terry Collins
Principal, ETC Ventures, LLC
USA

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Richard was one of those special people one encounters in life. He had a rare generosity of spirit and an effortless way of making those around him feel valued. He will be greatly missed.

Dr. Mpalive Msiska
Senior Lecturer, Birkbeck/Council Member, Royal African Society
United Kingdom / Malawi

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Richard Holme was my inspiration which kept me going in the Liberal Party during our lean times. I miss his sound advice.

Navnit Dholakia
Peer House of Lords
United Kingdom

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I was Richard’s PA for 15 years and what a rollercoaster of a ride it was! He was a powerhouse of a man, a real “gent”. We kept in touch with each other right to the end and he never lost the determination to keep on going. He wasn't just “the boss” he was my friend and I miss him terribly.

Chrissie Scanlan
United Kingdom

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Richard was an extraordinarily thoughtful, wise and kind friend to me well before I became Leader of the party. I even remember a very enjoyable afternoon canvassing with Richard in Sheffield Hallam in the run-up to my election in the May 2005 General Election. His doorstep charm was great to watch—the quiet tenacity with which he would continue charming, persuading and gently cajoling people until they came round to his own view that the only sensible thing to do was to vote Lib Dem!

I also hugely admired his work as Chair of the Hansard Society, where I saw his passion for political reform at close quarters as a Board Member of the Society.

Above all, he provided the most invaluable thoughts, suggestions, and tips by letter and email on an ongoing basis—always pithy, to the point and unfailingly astute. He wore his vast experience so lightly—expressing his views and guidance without the slightest hint of condescension. Rather, he displayed an infectious interest in, and enthusiasm for, politics and most especially liberal politics right till the very end. He will be sadly missed.

Nick Clegg MP
Leader of the Liberal Democrats
United Kingdom

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Richard Holme was a man of daring intelligence, willing to ask and to answer tactical and strategic political questions others shied away from. He believed in and practised “real politik”—a rare ability on the Left. He saw clearly the utility of this both for himself and the Liberal leaders he advised, but his objective was much greater than either his or their self-interest. He was committed to a realignment of the Centre-Left as the best and probably only way of achieving a fair democratic system in Britain and bringing to an end the two-party polarisation of politics which in his lifetime so frustrated the nation’s potential and his own.

Lord Watson of Richmond CBE
Chairman, CTN Communications
United Kingdom

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Richard was a dear friend ever since our days as roommates at the Harvard Business School 16-week PMD program 39 years ago. He always brought keen insights and a wonderful sense of humor to every occasion we had to be with him. He invariably knew more about the American political scene than we did.

On one of his visits to San Francisco, I met Richard and his wife Kay at the airport while wearing a Richard Nixon mask. Richard loved it and went out the next day and got a Ronald Reagan mask to complete his tour of the city. It was an honor to know him and his passing is a deep personal loss to my family and our fellow Harvard classmates.

Jim Kennedy
President
Management Team Consultants, Inc.
USA

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I don’t really know how to remember Lord Holme (“Richard” as he offered in his always direct sort of way) because by sheer force of will he was so active in the world that I feel him still part of it all. Richard was a board member of my former company, but he was and is so much a part of our family.

He was a tough man who had an immense sense of kindness, and a fierce sense of expectation. We should all be better, I felt his urging, but we shouldn’t lose our humour in realizing we are not always as best as we can be. He had a sense of expectation for my six-year-old son. Playing “Grandmother’s Footsteps” on the lawn at Lurgarshall, he brought the boy to tears at one point. But, my Oscar loves Richard dearly, perhaps in large part because of the kind of expectations Richard had for him.

Upon their first meeting, Oscar asked Richard whether he was a “Lord” in the same way that Lord Vader of Star Wars was a Lord. Richard said not really, but nevertheless Richard occupies that part of Oscar’s imagination about people who are exceptional. He occupies that space in my imagination as well. I don’t know how it started, but my wife Sonia began a series of spoken stories for Oscar about “Super Lord Holme,” a hero who dons a cape to come from England and save some part of the globe from a terrible horror. We have had so many of those tales about Super Lord Holme to pass the miles in journey or occupy some quiet space in the afternoon.

In the past weeks Oscar asks again and again for his Super Lord Holme stories, and we imagine Richard—fierce, kind, always a step ahead—flying around the world for a good cause, arriving just in time.

Roger Berry
Climate Change Capital
USA

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He was a true gentleman, respected by all sides of the House of Lords. He will be greatly missed.

Baroness Anne Gibson
England

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As first Headmaster of the English College in Prague, my relationship with Richard Holme was both close and, necessarily, distant. He had not been a member of the interviewing committees but arranged that we should meet as soon as possible after my appointment.

At our first meeting he made it quite clear that he would always be available in case of need, but equally that he would always support any urgent decisions that had to be taken in what in those days was still a distant, and largely unknown, country.

This was just the measure of reassurance that was needed in the early years and the knowledge of Richard’s support enabled, sometimes vital, decisions to be swiftly taken when the timing of the planning process was critical. The English College Foundation was very fortunate to have as its Chairman a man who could not only get to the point of an issue so quickly but who also understood so well the importance of delegation.

Once the College was open in 1994 he always took a close interest in the progress and well-being of the pupils. News that he was about to visit the College was always received with great excitement by staff and pupils alike. The English College in Prague was very fortunate to have as its Chairman of Governors a man who understood so well the hopes and aspirations of young people, Czech and expatriate alike.

Hubert Ward
Headmaster English College Prague
United Kingdom

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For nine years Richard Holme was a magnificent Chancellor of the University of Greenwich. We will always remember him with gratitude and affection.

Tessa Blackstone
Vice Chancellor, University of Greenwich
United Kingdom

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Richard in my experience of him when we were both working for and with David Steel, was of a highly intelligent, humane and interesting human being. He had a quality of generosity, not often found in politics or indeed anywhere. My acquaintance with him enriched my life, and I am deeply grateful.

Justin Cartwright
Former Steel adviser
United Kingdom

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He was a gentleman in the truest sense of the word, and I doubt if there are many people who possess his depth of knowledge (be it politics, environment, industry, education, social issues, etc.) and high regard for others. It was always a pleasure interacting with him. His subtle sense of humour, his witty remarks on politics, his conduct of chairing a meeting, etc. We will all miss him greatly. It is hard to realise that we will not be seeing him chairing the June meeting, although he had requested that it to be his last. For all of us it was a great privilege to have known Richard.

Manju Bharat ram
LEAD International

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I always felt Lord Holme’s kindness and intelligence every time I had the opportunity to meet with him. I want to join with you in the sadness that this loss represents to LEAD, and to all of us. I am sure LEAD will inherit Lord Holme’s commitment and inspiring personality.

Boris Graizbord
NPD LEAD
Mexico

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Richard brought ideas, insight, wit, wisdom and global thinking to the governance of LEAD. He opened many new doors for our organization and skillfully steered us through the transition phase.

Richard’s passing away is a great loss for LEAD, the many other organizations with which he was associated, and above all his family and close friends.

On a personal note, it was a tremendous privilege for me to work with Richard during my time on the LEAD staff, and more so to be asked by him to serve on the board.

Ehsan Masood
Fellow, LEAD International
United Kingdom

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We are so deeply sorry and shocked to hear the horrible news. What a great man Lord Holme was. So humble, nice and patient he was, a rare combination to see with his great intellectual achievements. He was always reaching out to us in our exchanges, despite his “status”.

We read the news this morning and were as completely shocked as you all are.

Please accept the condolences of all LEAD Francophone Africa on the death of the The Right Honorable Lord Holme of Cheltenham, Richard Holme, whom we held in great esteem. May you never know such a sorrow again.

Abdou Khadire
Training Coordinator
LEAD Afrique Francophone

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I am grateful to Richard Holme for his input on events at Cumberland Lodge here in Windsor, where we run conferences that often have an international as well as an ethical dimension. He was always courteous, helpful and wise. Knowing that at the same time he was connected to so many other organisations, including the Royal African Society, of which I am a long-standing member, only enhanced my admiration for him. Richard was a fine man, the kind that makes a society tolerant and progressive.

Alastair Niven
Principal of Cumberland Lodge
United Kingdom

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I recall Richard with great affection and gratitude not only for the strong personality he was, but for encouraging and mentoring me in my career. He was an early leader of corporate responsibility philosophy and an effective advocate of action, not just words, in this arena. He had an endearing sense of humour and was a wonderfully effective and inspirational communicator. It was a privilege to have known and worked with him in his corporate life.

Shaun Stewart
International and Government Affairs Adviser
Rio Tinto

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Richard Holme was a huge influence on my early political life. I was a young member of the Cheltenham Liberal exec that invited him to apply for the vacant parliamentary candidacy and came to know him well as a national and local campaigner. He led us closer and closer to defeating the Tories in Cheltenham, “looking right but talking left” and forever yanking me back from university to help out.

At the national level, his pioneering cross-party campaigning for the Green Alliance and the Campaign for Free Votes was years ahead of its time but paved the way for these issues to be brought into the political mainstream. Despite all this—and the time he spent quietly advising leaders like David Steel and Paddy Ashdown—he always took time out to encourage and advise young upstarts like me with his trademark gentlemanly charm.

When in 2005 upstart eventually became candidate, imperfectly following where he had led, I was really touched that he came back to Cheltenham for the campaign, despite increasing frailty, to offer support and yet more wise advice.

Martin Horwood
MP for Cheltenham
United Kingdom

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Richard Holme was central to the expansion of the Hansard Society to its current size and prominence. He served for three decades on our Council and for six years as our Chairman, until June last year. Throughout, he displayed an uncanny skill and astuteness, both in spotting where the next opportunities lay for the Society and in his dealings with members of the Council, with staff, and supporters in Parliament and outside. He always saw the big picture and ensured that the Society was actively involved in new challenges affecting Parliament. Apart from the expansion of the Society under his Chairmanship—which largely overlapped with Clare Ettinghausen’s period as Chief Executive—he set up a successful and influential commission under the Hansard Society’s auspices into how Parliament should communicate with the public. This was chaired by Lord Puttnam, now a Vice Chair on the Hansard Society’s Advisory Council.

But, above all, Richard Holme had a zest and enthusiasm for politics, combined with a commitment to improving the way we are governed. His long involvement with the Hansard Society went alongside his leading part in the debate over constitutional reform and his role as a close adviser on strategy to David Steel and Paddy Ashdown as leaders of the Liberals and, then, the Liberal Democrats. Richard Holme was a generous, warm and witty man who will be much missed by all who knew him and everyone at the Hansard Society.

Peter Riddell
Chair
Hansard Society

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Richard Holme had an enormous influence on The English College, first as a member of the council advising on the foundation of a school to provide a British-style of education in English to bright Czech and foreign students aged 13, and then as its Chairman of Governors from the opening of the school in September 1994. He wanted the College to offer a liberal, humanistic education that would develop each student’s full potential and educate responsible and aware citizens equipped and ready to play their part in an ever-smaller interdependent world.

Richard’s visits to the College were inevitably infrequent but he rarely missed a meeting, and there was no mistaking his pride in the College, his interest in the achievements of its students, and his pleasure in its development and success under his governorship. The students and staff who knew Richard recognised his affection for the College and were extremely fond of him. He clearly enjoyed presiding over the annual Graduation and Prize-Giving ceremony, handing out diplomas and speaking to each student individually. He kept in touch with many students after they had left the College, particularly those studying or working in the UK, sometimes inviting them to tea at the House of Lords or supporting them in their studies, and many have been grateful to him for his friendship, his interest and his generosity.

Peter de Voil
Headmaster
The English College in Prague

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As Chairman of the Royal African Society for the past four years, Richard Holme made an immense contribution to a better understanding of Africa in Britain. Despite his failing health he devoted much time and great energy to bringing together a wide range of people from business and government to meetings and debates and played a crucial role in encouraging the private sector to invest in Africa and play a positive developmental role there. With his unerring instinct for clear direction and presentation he helped renew the Society and mould a more positive view of Africa.

Alistair Boyd
Vice Chairman
Royal African Society

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I only got to know Richard in the last 4 to 5 years of his life, and I wish I had known him longer. He was a wonderful man to work with—full of wisdom and good sense, a great intellect but very down-to-earth and worldly, and always with a twinkle in his eye and a quip never far away. He was Chairman of LEAD while I was chief executive; he was “Owl” to my “Tigger.” We shared a passion for sustainable development, about meeting the needs of the less well off without damaging the environment, and we both wanted LEAD to increase its impact on a better world. His strategic thinking on how to do this was first class. He was the best strategist I have worked with, and he was a brilliant person to bounce ideas off. You always got a sympathetic hearing, and always came away with your idea improved.

He also seemed to get on well with everyone. He was a brilliant networker, not only in the UK but all over the world. He commanded respect wherever he went, and his wonderfully British self-deprecatory sense of humour caused both young and old to warm to him everywhere. Since he died the messages of sympathy from around the world have been extraordinary. The great and the good have sent genuine messages of sorrow. And so have the young LEAD Fellows who may only have met him once, but the impression stuck.

LEAD was very lucky to have him as Chairman, and I feel privileged to have worked with him. I am going to miss him hugely.

Dr Simon Lyster
Chief Executive
LEAD International

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It was a great honour for both of us to work so closely with Lord Holme on starting and later on developing the project of the English College in Prague. His enthusiasm and professionalism were always inspiring for us and although our experience and social position could be hardly compared with his, we felt comfortable in his company. We have learnt a lot from him and will never forget those 13 years spent with the same strong motivation: helping the English College to go from strength to strength. His departure is a big loss for the ECP’s family.

Jana and Vladimír Klouda
Former Headmaster’s P.A.
and Former Bursar of the
English College in Prague

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I worked closely with Lord Holme in my capacity of Headmaster of the English College in Prague. It was important to me that in making a move to a fledgling College in another country that I felt able to have a rapport with the Chairman of the Governors. Right from the start Lord Holme made me feel welcome and part of a team. He encouraged me and stimulated me in my work and provided a calm hand of guidance whenever it was necessary. He also provided a listening support when it was needed and on occasions even flew out to Prague at short notice to attend crucial meetings especially with the Ministry, when the best interests of the College were at stake.

Lord Holme could be charm personified but woe betide anyone who underestimated his insight and understanding. He always cut out the verbose and vague and got to the point immediately. He was famous for setting a closing time for Governors’ meetings and never failing to meet his own deadline. Yet everyone felt they had been heard and nothing had been pushed aside.

I know that he will be sorely missed by everyone who has been involved with the College and I for one count myself extremely fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with him.

Albert Hudspeth
Former Headmaster
English College in Prague
(Sep 1996 – Dec 2003)

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So great were Richard’s gifts and so impressive his resolve and discipline for making a contribution to the world, it is tempting to say the likes of him are a dying breed. I mean, how can the rest of us measure up? His PA once confided to me that she had over 130 active files covering his various roles. Yet he made each of us feel that we were one of a handful that he considered his most important roles.

But saying the likes of Lord Holme are a dying breed does a disservice to future generations of leaders the likes of which we can see emerging in various fields of endeavour, even our own organizations. Each generation does it differently, but I think the best we can all do to honour Richard’s life and contribution is to be inspired by it and aspire to be the most we can be—as people, as citizens, as professionals, and as ethical businesspeople.

Goodbye Richard; thank you for inspiring us all by shining so brightly.

Doug Miller, President
GlobeScan Incorporated
London

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GlobeScan was deeply privileged to have Lord Holme’s leadership and guidance over the past 5 years. He was instrumental in shaping the company in so many ways. From timely advice to inspired leadership he was always there at key junctures along our journey, shaping and encouraging us to be world class in all we do.

An example of his courage and commitment was on full display at our January 2008 “Salon” here in London. Despite being very ill and with limited physical mobility, he was intent on moderating the evening’s distinguished panel discussion. He was as masterful as usual, engaging the audience and panellists with the deft touch of a conductor, and adding his wisdom and humour to the discussion. Even in illness, his extraordinary keen level of engagement and intelligence never wavered.

He was a wonderful, accomplished human being, and we are all so much the better for the precious time he shared with us.

Chris Coulter, Vice-President
GlobeScan Incorporated
London