Richard looks to keep busy in retirement

Last Friday Richard began his retirement and he couldn’t have picked a better time with baby daughter Poppy looking to keep him busy.

He said: “It’s a great opportunity and perfect timing with the new baby, I have no major plans yet but I’m going to get started on the new room.

“Long term, I might look for a job in mediation, but I have no major plans yet, maybe some local travelling.”

A local lad raised and schooled in Ballymena, Richard joined the police service 29 and half years ago and for the past number of years he has been the Community Police Officer for Cullybackey, he told the Times that he is going to miss his role.

Richard said one the highlights of the job was being able to help local people, he added: “I enjoyed the grassroots of the job and it was very important to look after everybody. My highlight was helping ordinary people, I developed a good relationship with local schools.”

Richard played a part in the removal of a loyalist mural in the town and said he hopes to have an active role in the community, he added: “I made the initial approach (to remove the mural) and with help from the community, the mural was removed. I hope I have brought pride to the area and in the long term, I still aim to help provide a helping hand with the local community.”