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About Richard J Higgins
Born in 1948, in Clacton-on-Sea in Essex, son of professional
pianist and local dance-bandleader Ken Higgins. Mother, Jean, and elder sister
Annie, completed the family. His early musical diet was the golden years of
the British big-bands, Ted Heath, Jack Hylton as well as the American jazz sounds
of Duke Ellington and Ella Fitzgerald. Formed his first band during his teenage
years in the swinging sixties – the time of The Beatles, Carnaby Street and
Mary Quant. As drummer and singer of the Blue Berries billed as “Clacton’s latest
beat group” – he played the local entertainment circuit of school dances, birthday
parties, yacht club dinners and town hall hops. Resisting the lure of a career
in the music industry, he set off down the education path, staying at school
until 18 completing “O” and “A” levels. A BSc and PhD in Chemistry followed
at Imperial College, London University which led on to a successful career in
industry – in British chemicals, fibres and coatings manufacturer Courtaulds,
later acquired by Dutch industrial giant Akzo Nobel. He has held various management
roles in R&D, Marketing, Strategic Planning and most recently as Human Resources
Manager of Akzo Nobel’s Powder Coatings global business unit which was headquartered
in the NE of the UK near Newcastle Upon Tyne. Music has been a continuing passion
and pastime throughout his life. Richard retired on reaching his 60th
birthday in January 2008 and lives with wife Katherine,
herself a retired teacher, in the village of Rowlands Gill, Tyne & Wear.
