Richard Rumary (1960)

RICHARD GEORGE RUMARY
8.3.1941-16.7.2024

After Oundle, at which he achieved prominence as Head of his House and a valued member of the 1^st XV, Richard came up to Queens’ in October 1960 with an Exhibition to read history.  With a belated recognition that a professional qualification was more likely to keep the wolf from the door than a degree solely in history, for which a career only as a schoolmaster beckoned (and with no enthusiasm for teaching), Richard switched to law in the summer of 1962.  Having progressed to a LL.B in 1964, Richard obtained articles with a Sussex solicitor, and was swiftly taken into partnership in a thriving general practice.

Repeated back problems, no doubt related to his Rugby career, encouraged him, with his enquiring mind, not only to investigate their causes, but to undertake a lengthy training as a chiropractor, to help others.  Once duly qualified in this specialist field, Richard used his legal experience and expertise to assist the fledgling British Chiropractic Association, following its statutory incorporation in 1994, to develop a Code of Conduct; and played a quiet but decisive role in its creation.

When retirement as a chiropractor loomed, Richard embarked on his third career, as an adviser for the Citizens Advice Bureau.   He enthusiastically embraced the necessary training for this specialist role.  His legal experience and his support for his patients as a chiropractor uniquely combined to enable him to deploy the qualities of kindness and empathy which made him such a valued member of the CAB team.   Despite reaching his 80s, Richard remained an enthusiastic tennis player, and was apparently in good health, until he sustained a massive stroke, from which he never regained consciousness.

At Queens’ Richard was one of a group of close friends, who met up to celebrate the 50th anniversary of their matriculation in 2010, as in the photograph.