Richard Buckland
Richard Buckland 1933-2011.
On 17th March 1912, Captain Oates, weak and stricken with frostbite, told his friends, "I am going outside, I may be some time." and, against their advice, vanished into the antarctic waste, never to be seen again. He chose to die, because he felt that he had become a burden to his companions - such a burden, in fact, that he was putting their lives at risk. Captain Oates' action has echoed down the generations as a model of self-sacrifice for a true officer and gentleman- "Greater love hath no man than this - that a Man laid down his life for his friends." And that we know is true, even if, like many of the Apostles and the rest of Scott's party, their lives too will soon be lost.
The Richard Buckland that we all knew was cut of that same cloth. His parents sent him from the mining town of Kitwe, where he was born, to Western Province Prep. School (Wetpups) then to Michaelhouse (recently celebrated by "Spud") and finally to Rhodes, where he spent only two years - enough to find Wendy, the talented, artistic girl of his dreams. What better has Rhodes to offer? With an education, if not a qualification, Richard did pioneering work in the nascent broadcasting services in Malawi and Zambia. As many of us will recall from interviews which he conducted here in the Cathedral, he had a great gift for helping shy people to talk easily about themselves, a courtesy which inspired confidence. From broadcasting he graduated smoothly to diplomacy for what was then Rhodesia before returning to Grahamstown in 1979, for the rest of his life. Throughout the turbulent 1980s he was head of Public Relations at Rhodes - astonishing years as the University doubled in size and rode the stormy political seas with remarkable equanimity, with Richard playing a crucial, calming role. Sadly, Wendy died in 1987, leaving him to care for their young daughter alone - and I need hardly say of the youngest ever Grahamstown Citizen of the Year, that Richard made a very good job of parenting. Wendy's artistic talent is commemorated in the windows above the north aisle, the stained glass repeating some of her memorable motifs. From 1994-2000 Richard was the Editor of Grocotts, the last before that fine old paper become the training ground for the Rhodes Journalism Department. His dedication and meticulous editing became legendry - no longer was the paper read for the amusement provided by typos and gaffes. As befits an officer and a gentleman, he led from the front. I recall him sitting relaxed but alert, through tedious Municipal Council meetings - and hurrying away to work far into the night to get his perfect copy ready. His own writing was always a pleasure to read, and often gently provocative.
In"retirement" (which means during the years when one has a pension but no employment, so one is expected to be grateful when one is asked to do something for nothing) Richard remained quietly active. The faithful "Macduff" demanded regular exercise, Richard steered the Red Cross Society through many difficult years as its local President, he edited The Spire for some years and the Historical Society Annals for a decade. He supported the development of the Grahamstown radio station, served on the Albany Museums' Board and the British Ex-Serviceman's League. He also shared a column in the Makana Moon with Thelma Neville, his devoted chum and co-author of A Story of Rhodes which celebrated the centenary of the University. Above all, he was a devout and devoted member of our Cathedral congregation - quietly bringing a lifetime of professional experience to many of its outreach activities, and unfailingly present at communion each Sunday. His final years became an increasing burden to him following a nasty accident which hastened the inevitable process of aging. He who had given so much to so many people, quietly, cheerfully, generously found it hard to bear becoming a burden to others, no matter how gladly and lovingly they cared for him. And so, on the 99th anniversary of that legendry and heroic walk into the night, Richard chose to take his own lonely path. We miss him for so many good things that he brought into our lives, we regret his passing, but we respect his judgement and his courage.
Michael Whisson
25th March 2011
