John R.Rickard (70-77)

Died 9th May 2002

John Rickard's death at the age of 42 will sadden the many who remember him. He had to have a liver transplant two years ago, and was able to resume work until last Easter, when his condition suddenly deteriorated.

John's was one of the most extraordinary talents ever to pass through CLS. He came as a diminutive ginger-haired 10 year old from the Gate House Learning Centre in Hackney, already identified as a mathematical prodigy. He was in the A stream forms a year or two ahead of his age, where he held his own in other subjects quite comfortably. In mathematics he was in a league of his own, working individually with voracious enthusiasm at the back of the class, but always aware of what was going on around him. One learnt to recognise the quizzical expression which usually meant that he had spotted an error, either in the book he was using, or in one's teaching; if it was the latter he would, if invited, explain the mistake with great tact and reticence. Though he had little in the way of small talk, John could always express himself clearly and with astonishing maturity. He won an open scholarship in mathematics to Trinity College, Cambridge at the age of 16, but it was agreed that he was not yet ready for college life. Therefore an arrangement was made with King's College, London for him to study there while remaining based at CLS. When the Professor of Mathematics at King's was asked after a few weeks how this was working he replied "Oh, splendidly. He asks such interesting questions, and he has just exposed a fallacy I have been propagating for the last seven years!"

John was member of the British team at the International Mathematical Olympiad for three successive years (1975 in Bulgaria, 1976 in Austria and 1977 in Yugoslavia). He won a gold medal each time, plus one special prize (for an outstanding solution) in 1976 and two in 1977. This is a record which has certainly not been matched in this country, and probably not anywhere else. He was greatly amused by one of his special prizes, a plaque whose inscription described his achievement as 'perfert'.

After his Cambridge mathematics degree he started a PhD for which he did the work but never got round to finishing. This was indicative of his attitude towards mathematics - his main interest was in solving mathematical problems not in writing them down. He was also a person who was very unworldly in general and so perhaps the outcome was not surprising. John lived in Cambridge for the remainder of his life and the rest of his working life was spent in various software businesses here. Outside work, one of John's interests was the game of Go which was his main hobby, in fact his life centred round this. He was one of the best British players of the game, which has a far higher profile in the Far East than it does here. Involvement in Go took him all over the world collecting many trophies along the way. He once represented Britain in the World Amateur Championships in Japan and reached the level of 4-Dan. He will be remembered as a strong but courteous opponent. Endless books and magazines on the game were collected and added to the thousands of other books which lined his walls and floor. John was the ultimate bookworm - he read voraciously on all kinds of subjects including science fiction, the classics and language books. He was learning Italian and Japanese and had dipped into other languages. A friend from the same evening class commented on how amazed everyone was with his ability to master Japanese writing - not only learning the two syllabaries, which was enough for most of them, but also making fantastic progress with the Chinese characters.


Having studied Greek and Latin at school he studied Italian at 'A' level long after leaving school. Italy was very significant to him - he had been there several times and played Go there as was his custom in the countries that he visited. Whilst in Italy he picked up some card games which he brought back to teach to his friends and family. John enjoyed all kinds of intellectual games but had no interest whatsoever in sport, music or TV - in fact he never even owned a TV. Other than his books he was not someone who set great store on possessions. Living in town he never felt the need for a car and travel on public transport was his regular means of visiting family and friends. He was so disorganised that he became notorious for his bus travel arrangements, often missing the planned one and regularly arriving late.

John was a man who was modest about his considerable achievements, who always had time for others and never stood aloof from those who did not share his intellect. He welcomed the opportunity to explain things to others and was above all friendly and amiable. His friendly and learned contributions to the internet discussion group "sci.math" were highly valued: numerous palms were caused to strike foreheads at the incisive simplicity of his solutions.

When John recently heard his prognosis of one year to live he had planned to give up work and review his book holdings and do something about them, but he was not afforded the time to do this after all. Despite his rapid decline in the last few days of his life he had previously enjoyed the mathematics puzzles that his friends brought to him in hospital in place of the traditional flowers. His end came peacefully, just slipping away tranquilly in the presence of his family.

John was a rare spirit who left us too soon and will be greatly missed. The Club's condolences go to his brothers Jeremy (CLS 74-80) and James (CLS 77-83).

[TJH, with acknowledgement to the address given by Helen Bush at the well-attended ceremony of leave-taking at Cambridge crematorium.]