Port Sunlight / Community / News / Lady Lever Art Gallery

NMGM Director's Inquest

A Wirral-based museum director was feeling over-worked and under pressure before he took his own life, an inquest heard. The body of Sir Richard Foster, of Heswall, was found by a walker on the shore of North Beach at Swanage, Dorset, on March 8. The coroner recorded a verdict of suicide after hearing Sir Richard had filled his pockets with sand and drowned after drinking a bottle of whiskey while sitting on the steps of a nearby hotel. After the hearing, Lady Mary Foster, widow of the 59-year-old Director of Museums and Art Galleries on Merseyside said her husband was a very special person with strong sense of public service. "His achievements were enormous to the rest of us but not to him," she said. "He was a very modest man who worked far too hard and always thought he should do better." The father of three returned to Swanage where he grew up to end his life. He had a distinguished 35-year career in the museum industry and latterly led the team responsible for eight Merseyside galleries, including the award-winning Conservation Centre. Sir Richard had planned to retire from his £80,000-a-year post in 2002. In a letter addressed to "My lovely Mary" which he left in a hire-car in which he drove from London to Swanage on March 7, he said he was deeply concerned about his work. Lady Mary reported him missing when he failed to return home to Wirral, Bournemouth coroner, Sheriff Payne, said he had no option but to record a verdict of suicide because it was clear Sir Richard had planned to kill himself. He said: "This letter was not written under the influence of alcohol. I was written in a very clear frame of mind and the sentiments expressed in it were clear. His intentions were expressed in clear terms and was what would be considered a suicide note." After Sir Richard's death tributes poured in from across the arts world praising his vision and achievements, as well as his charm and modesty.

(Article April 2001)

	[ LADY LAEVER ART GALLERY ] [ NMGM ]
.	NMGM Director's Inquest A Wirral-based museum director was feeling over-worked and under pressure before he took his own life, an inquest heard. The body of Sir Richard Foster, of Heswall, was found by a walker on the shore of North Beach at Swanage, Dorset, on March 8. The coroner recorded a verdict of suicide after hearing Sir Richard had filled his pockets with sand and drowned after drinking a bottle of whiskey while sitting on the steps of a nearby hotel. After the hearing, Lady Mary Foster, widow of the 59-year-old Director of Museums and Art Galleries on Merseyside said her husband was a very special person with strong sense of public service. "His achievements were enormous to the rest of us but not to him," she said. "He was a very modest man who worked far too hard and always thought he should do better." The father of three returned to Swanage where he grew up to end his life. He had a distinguished 35-year career in the museum industry and latterly led the team responsible for eight Merseyside galleries, including the award-winning Conservation Centre. Sir Richard had planned to retire from his £80,000-a-year post in 2002. In a letter addressed to "My lovely Mary" which he left in a hire-car in which he drove from London to Swanage on March 7, he said he was deeply concerned about his work. Lady Mary reported him missing when he failed to return home to Wirral, Bournemouth coroner, Sheriff Payne, said he had no option but to record a verdict of suicide because it was clear Sir Richard had planned to kill himself. He said: "This letter was not written under the influence of alcohol. I was written in a very clear frame of mind and the sentiments expressed in it were clear. His intentions were expressed in clear terms and was what would be considered a suicide note." After Sir Richard's death tributes poured in from across the arts world praising his vision and achievements, as well as his charm and modesty. (Article April 2001)