Tribute to Kelso lawyer Richard Hawkins

It is with great sadness that we record the death in July of Richard Hawkins of Eden Hall, Kelso. He was 84.
Richard HawkinRichard Hawkin
Richard Hawkin

Mr Hawkins was born in Cambridge. He was educated at Eton and read law at New College, Oxford.

He went through Pirbright Army Training College and Sandhurst before serving in the Coldstream Guards in Malaya and Aden.

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After his call to the Bar, he embarked on a career in industry as an in-house lawyer.

Many tributes have been paid that recognise his pioneering work over many years as one of the leading environmental lawyers and he was closely involved in the reshaping of waste management in Britain.

He was extremely widely travelled with a well- stocked mind.

In music, his great passion was the operas of Wagner. He also loved (and wrote) poetry. He particularly enjoyed Robert Browning, WB Yeats and his favourite, TS Eliot, all of which he could recite at length.

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He enjoyed sport and was a formidable player and opponent when playing racquets, cricket and tennis, and he was a member of the Lennel Tennis Club in Coldstream.

Mr Hawkins and his wife, Lady Sylvia Loch, the well-known author and expert equestrian, have lived in the Borders for the past 18 years.

He always regarded himself first and foremost as an Englishman, and is buried at Cornhill in accordance with his wishes. However, he also took immense pride in being a Coldstreamer and in ‘coming home’ to his regiment.

Everyone who knew him will have very personal memories of this complex and multifaceted man.

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He was very funny, with a great sense of humour, immensely generous and always kind and helpful. He was also a lover of good food and wine, and enjoyed the company of his friends.

Mr Hawkins died at Kelso Hospital where he had been looked after both by his doctor, Sandy Morris, from Kelso Health Centre, and through several years of illness by many cherished local carers and nurses.

To Sylvia and Allegra we extend our deepest sympathy and condolences at his passing.

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