Richard Drew

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Cotswold Archaeology is saddened to learn of the death of its Company Secretary Richard Drew after a protracted battle with cancer. Richard became our Company Secretary in 1998 and over the last 16 years contributed hugely to our success and development. He formulated a Code of Governance to regulate our affairs and oversaw the updating of our Memorandum and Articles of Association in 2011.

Richard graduated in Modern History from Oxford University and worked for much of his career in various corporate posts with the Central Electricity Generating Board. He led the CEGB team which obtained approval for Sizewell B Nuclear Power Station, including management of the two year public inquiry in 1983-5. He was heavily involved in the setting up of the National Grid Company plc and served as its first Company Secretary between 1989 and 1996.

Outside of his work commitments Richard was also active in various charitable and social enterprises in the Coventry area, including serving as Chair of an economic regeneration agency for Coventry and Warwickshire and of Age Concern Warwickshire. He retained an interest in history throughout his life and wrote a paper on the introduction of electricity to Leamington Spa in the 1880s.

Richard will be remembered with affection and respect by trustees and staff alike at Cotswold Archaeology. He was a champion for high standards of corporate and ethical behaviour in business life, but equally had no truck with idle bureaucracy and paper pushing. He was a great supporter of our work and advocate for us to strive for continual improvement. Our thoughts and condolences are with his widow Joy.

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