Marc Riley on Richard Hawley

As part of the Richard Hawley exhibition we asked his friends and family to recall and contribute their stories about him.

BBC 6 Music's Marc Riley describes the time he met Richard on a boat...

"I remember fondly the weekend I spent in Ireland  with Rich and Jarvis for a Radio 4 wildlife program about whale watching in the September of 2010. When we reached our destination and hit the  local boozer I was only too aware of Richard’s legendary quaffing ability. I was also only too aware  of the sea conditions we were facing the following day…so  at Midnight I retired to my bed  having had the best part of a gallon of Black stuff. Needless to say I left Rich in the watering hole  knowing  he’d  be turfed out within 30 minutes or so and in bed not long after me…all professional and responsible like. WRONG. As I surfaced bleary eyed at 8.30 the following morning all the expected party arrived on time, Me, Jarvis, Producer John and Soundman David…with John  carrying the tale of the previous nights exploits.  

As expected the 12.30  eviction didn’t happen…it was more like 2 am..at which point Rich returned to the B+B we were using, along with the owner of said residence, guitar in tow. The almost obligatory whiskey bottle was emptied to the sound of Mr Hawley serenading our happy landlord till  dawn.
Upon hearing this I feared Richard’s contribution to  the days events might be somewhat jaded. WRONG!  Only 10 minutes later than planned Rich came down  to  the table…scoffed a sizable breakfast fit for a  king… and spent the day happily bobbing about on the choppy  irish  sea… not a green gill in sight. 

Indeed Rich  was as happy as Larry,  and  spent  much  of the day  steering the boat, as did we all !  If I remember rightly, the conversation towards the end of the day was of Rich and Jarvis buying a boat together and forming a business concern called Hawley and Cocker’s Eco Tours. I still fully expect this to happen."