Richard Andrew Palethorpe Todd

Following the sad news of the death of Richard Todd, one of our best thought of and respected actors of the last century, I would like to send my very deepest sympathy to the surviving members of his family.
This is a personal recollection of a man who was my hero from the age of 10 in 1952. When I was a little girl I used to ride my pony at full gallop down Goats Green, Pinkneys Green, and come to an abrupt halt outside the Todd house to try and catch a glimpse of this famous actor - my hero from the films!! I managed to see the family in the garden on the day of a christening. Richard and his wife would come to the Horse and Pony Show at Littlewick Green where I lived - our local celebrity at that time - and of such high calibre.
When I was 16 I was invited to a dinner party at the Henley home of Richard and his wife, prior to going to Cliveden for the 21st birthday and coming out dance of the Dundas's. So I was able to tell him of my childhood antics.
Later Richard and his wife moved to Chipping or Broad Campden and lived near my parents in law who got to know him.
When my husband and I moved to the Midlands in the early 70's Richard was appearing at the Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton - which play I forget, but we went to see him perform. I wrote asking him to contact us if he was bored and to have dinner with us at home, never thinking for a minute he would reply as he would have been surrounded by intersting theatrical people - but he did, twice, during that week!!! He was charming and it was a joy to get to know him.
At the end of the 70's or beginning of the eighties we bumped into him at Plymouth when he was appearing at the theatre on the Hoe. Sadly he asked us not to come to see him in this show.
Unfortunately I never saw him again although latterly I discovered through friends he was living in Lincolnshire and that he had another farm near Faringdon I believe. I regret not making contact with him again.
There have been so many absolutely marvellous and correct tributes to him - he clearly was one of our finest actors and a thoroughly nice man.
I should be very grateful if you would allow me to attend any Memorial Service.

Very best wishes

Priscilla Rawlins - 01892 534403 - 16 York Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent.

A true gentleman has gone to his rest. He embodied and represented the best of British.
Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this time. He will be sorely missed.