Richard studied natural sciences at Cambridge, culminating in a masters degree in physics. He cut his editing teeth as the subeditor on the journal Materials Science and Technology at the Institute of Materials in London and went on to manage the production of engineering and information technology texts as a technical editor at the British Standards Institution. After several years as a technical editor working on all sections of the BMJ and as managing editor of the Student BMJ, Richard is now deputy magazine editor on the big BMJ, with responsibility for the Views and Reviews section. This includes reviews, personal views, medical classics pieces, and the columnists, including Des Spence. Richard also looks after the lead obituaries and writes when he finds the time. Richard was a member of the publications committee of the European Association of Science Editors from 2006 to 2010.

Competing Interests

Have you in the past five years accepted the following from an organisation that may in any way gain or lose financially from the publication of papers in the BMJ?

Reimbursement for attending a symposium?
No

A fee for speaking?
No

A fee for organising education?
No

Funds for research?
No

Funds for a member of staff?
No

Fees for consulting?
No

Have you in the past five years been employed by any organisation that may in any way gain or lose financially from the publication of papers in the BMJ?

Do you hold any stocks or shares in an organisation?
No

Do you have any other competing financial interests?
No

I have no competing interests/I have the following competing interests.
None