Photo courtesy Jonny Hawthorne
Richard Donaldson
A TRIBUTE TO ONE OF RALLYING’S UNSUNG HEROES
As Chief Timekeeper, Monday 26 January was the day my deputy, Victor Lyness and I travelled to Sligo to prepare for Rally Ireland 2009. No sooner had we arrived at what was to be our workshop in Collooney , than word began to filter through that there had been an incident at the Stobart WRC team test at Cooley mountain. Apparently one of the radio crew on duty for organiser Bobby Willis had taken ill and the session had been abandoned.
Colin Duncan later phoned me with the unbelievably shocking news that Richard Donaldson had suffered a fatal heart attack.
At first both Victor and I could hardly believe what we were hearing, our close friend and timekeeping colleague gone. Suddenly Rally Ireland didn’t seem to matter anymore.
Richard had been a member of BMMC/BRMC for more than twelve years. We first met at a Bishopscourt Rally when Colin Rossborough introduced him to the club. Since then we became friends and shared many rallying adventures together.
As a dedicated rally marshal, the safety of all competitors, spectators and officials was always uppermost in his mind. He would volunteer to assist at events all over Northern Ireland and further afield, even when times were hard for him financially.
Richard Donaldson was everyone’s friend and most rally drivers knew him as “Richie the sweetie man” because, when he was on the stop line at events he always gave out sweets to crews as they finished a stage.
The funeral service took place in his home town of Magheralin and the Parish Church was packed with family, friends and motorsport representatives. He was laid to rest wearing his beloved orange overalls.
Photo courtesy Jonny Hawthorne
Rally Ireland went ahead as I know Richard would have wanted and for us it turned out to be a very successful event. Everyone of my timekeepers were in position as planned and all stages ran on time, but at the stop lines of Glenboy, Ballinamallard and Donegal Town there was one timekeeper missing, my old mate Richard Donaldson.
To Anne, Danny and Megan I send my condolences and deepest sympathy at this very sad time, but at least they know that Richard passed away doing what he loved, monitoring rally cars in action, the last car to pass his radio location on Cooley was top WRC driver Urmo Aava travelling flat out as he tested his Ford Focus in readiness for Rally Ireland.
Robert Coursey,
Vice Chairman, BMMC (NI)
At first both Victor and I could hardly believe what we were hearing, our close friend and timekeeping colleague gone. Suddenly Rally Ireland didn’t seem to matter anymore.
Richard had been a member of BMMC/BRMC for more than twelve years. We first met at a Bishopscourt Rally when Colin Rossborough introduced him to the club. Since then we became friends and shared many rallying adventures together.
As a dedicated rally marshal, the safety of all competitors, spectators and officials was always uppermost in his mind. He would volunteer to assist at events all over Northern Ireland and further afield, even when times were hard for him financially.
Richard Donaldson was everyone’s friend and most rally drivers knew him as “Richie the sweetie man” because, when he was on the stop line at events he always gave out sweets to crews as they finished a stage.
The funeral service took place in his home town of Magheralin and the Parish Church was packed with family, friends and motorsport representatives. He was laid to rest wearing his beloved orange overalls.
Photo courtesy Jonny Hawthorne
Rally Ireland went ahead as I know Richard would have wanted and for us it turned out to be a very successful event. Everyone of my timekeepers were in position as planned and all stages ran on time, but at the stop lines of Glenboy, Ballinamallard and Donegal Town there was one timekeeper missing, my old mate Richard Donaldson.
To Anne, Danny and Megan I send my condolences and deepest sympathy at this very sad time, but at least they know that Richard passed away doing what he loved, monitoring rally cars in action, the last car to pass his radio location on Cooley was top WRC driver Urmo Aava travelling flat out as he tested his Ford Focus in readiness for Rally Ireland.
Robert Coursey,
Vice Chairman, BMMC (NI)
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Categories: British & Irish Rallying
Tags: bmmc, british motorsport marshals club, brmc, cooley test, marshal, rally marshal, richard donaldson, rip, stobart test, timekeeper
Tags: bmmc, british motorsport marshals club, brmc, cooley test, marshal, rally marshal, richard donaldson, rip, stobart test, timekeeper
