My heart is broken to hear the sad news this evening.
Richard taught me in primary 6 at Mill Strand and it was one of my fondest years at the school.
Richard took us out bird watching, we would have walked along the coast on bright sunny days. You could bet that Mr Reid knew the type of every bird and flowers we came across.
I remember once he took us down the road to do some life drawings of houses, lamp post, trees, "nothing that would move". My whole class lay all long the foot path doing their drawings in the sun, it was just bliss in that moment.
Everyone knows Richard's love for Drama, one of my favorite memories is when he got everyone to write their own play, the lucky few choosen got to act them out. It's one of my favorite because mine was the best (I wasn't usually good at writing) and we would act it out over and over again.
Not only did we do a Christmas play that year "A Christmas Coral", We also got to make an actual film too when aliens took Mr Reid and we had to go rescue him.
I can honestly say my confidence grew so much that year and i would say it was mostly down to Mr Reid's teaching methods.
I now work at Mill Strand and would often see Mr Reid on our outdoor classroom days down at the beach and he always knew who I was and was keen to ask about my friends from Mill Strand days.
He will be missed by so many. My thoughts are with you all.
We cannot bring the old times back, when we were all together,
but loving thoughts we have of you will remain with us forever.
Treasured memories silently kept, of the one we loved and will never forget.
Tuesday 31 March 2020
Shauna Lafferty, Portrush
Dear Richard, you were one in a million! As I’m writing this I know you would be checking it for spelling, grammar & punctuation! I have been so inspired by your knowledge & passion over these 23 or so years that some of it has actually rubbed off on me and I hope that I can inspire others as you have inspired me!
My thoughts are with your family during this difficult time! But you will not be forgotten! Rest easy Richard?? Peacefully sleeping free from all pain, we would not awake you to suffer again.
Tuesday 31 March 2020
Deirdre Doherty