Francis Northey Richardson
Francis Northey Richardson | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1894 Penticton, British Columbia, Canada |
| Died | 1983-01-29 |
| Occupation(s) | Military officer, brewing industry executive |
| Years active | 1914–1981 |
| Known for | President of the Institute of Brewing |
Lieutenant-Colonel Francis Northey Richardson, OBE, TD, JP (1894 – 29 January 1983), was a Canadian-born English military officer and prominent figure in the brewing industry, who held the position of President at the Institute of Brewing.
Life
Richardson was born in 1894 into a family originating from Penticton, British Columbia. His education included attendance at Harrow School from 1908 to 1912, followed by studies at the University of British Columbia. In 1914, he enlisted in the Canadian Army, acquiring Canadian citizenship and serving as a gunner on the European front during World War I. He earned a field commission, was twice mentioned in dispatches, and was awarded the Territorial Decoration.
After the war, in 1919, Richardson became associated with Wigan Richardson & Company, a hop merchant firm connected to his family. He remained engaged with the company for more than five decades, ultimately acting as a consultant. His involvement extended to leadership roles within industry organizations: he joined the Executive Committee of the Allied Brewery Traders Association in 1925, where he served until 1971 and held the chairmanship during 1931–32, actively opposing increases in beer taxation. Additionally, he chaired the Hop Merchants Association and became a member of the London Section of the Institute of Brewing in 1936.
During World War II, Richardson held the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, commanding a gunnery regiment stationed in Iceland before leading a training regiment based in Cromer. Following the conflict, he took on leadership within the brewing sector as chairman of the IOB London Section from 1954 to 1955, contributed to its Hop Advisory Committee between 1959 and 1981, and served as President from 1962 until 1964.
Outside his professional commitments in brewing, Richardson participated actively in local governance as chair of the Southwark Conservative Association. He also fulfilled duties as comptroller of Southwark Cathedral, engaged with various charitable organizations, and acted as a justice of the peace. In recognition of his contributions to public service and politics, he was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1963. He passed away on 29 January 1983.