ON Saturday, May 4, The Friends of St Thomas à Becket Church, Huntington held their second event of the year.

Richard Goode, local entrepreneur and businessman gave the audience a fascinating insight into his early life and his experience of buying and restoring fine houses.

He described his formative years, including stories from his colonial childhood in Asia and Africa (he didn't speak English until the age of four) where he was often living on a different continent to his parents. The audience was then given an outline of an astonishing array of endeavours which included; selling banknotes in Africa, becoming a managing partner in the world's largest headhunting company and flying for the British aerobatic team.

On finding, buying and restoring fine houses, Richard explained that his only pre-condition in buying a house was that he had at least one friend living in the area and that the house was near an airport.

His talk was illustrated by a selection of before and after photos of Richard's projects. These were Hitcham House, a Grade II property in Burnham, Bucks, The Manor House, a National Trust Grade II property in Thornhill Park, North Dorset, and the important Grade II Newport House in Herefordshire, where the Georgian clock house was restored to become a private pub, 'The Running Spaniel'.

Richard's Photos were accompanied by many intriguing anecdotes about the history of the houses and the people connected to them.

Having lived and worked all over the world Richard finally settled in Herefordshire with his wife Cary, who was instrumental in both the interior design and restoration of the gardens of the houses. They have both fallen in love with the county and have found their 'forever home' near Lyonshall.

Richard continues to work in aviation but he has also been busy writing a book about his action-packed life - 'Living the Goode Life - at full throttle' which is soon to be published.

For upcoming events please visit