Copyright (c) The Crickley Archaeological Hill Trust 1969-2021. The right to use, copy, distribute or otherwise disseminate this material is reserved to those specifically authorised by The Trust.
Richard Savage, assistant director and Trustee
The Trust was very sad to hear of the death of Richard Savage on 4th August 2024, aged 87. Richard had an association with the excavation that exceeded everyone else in the team, and was one of only three people to have been present at every one of the 25 seasons of excavation. He had been a Trustee ever since, including serving as the Secretary to the Trust.
Richard was instrumental in arranging for excavation of Crickley to begin in 1969 when he persuaded Philip Dixon to take on a three season trial project on the rampart entrance. This was in parallel with similar work at nearby Leckhampton hill fort, directed by Sarah Champion. Richard was interested in establishing how the monuments were related. He continued his involvement throughout the burgeoning project, concentrating on the organisation and logistics rather than the excavation per se. In the early seasons the diggers even stayed at his house. Later he was instrumental in obtaining and maintaining the excavation accommodation at Ullenwood.
His interest was principally in the Iron Age, its metalwork (especially the mirrors and razors) and also in the Irish Celtic legends which he felt provided a unique insight into how the Iron Age must have felt to its population. His thoughts on this subject were published at length in Volume 2 of the excavation report. He wrote the popular guide to the site, which is still sold at the Visitor Centre there. He was also the reluctant star of the Crickley site video, which can still be seen on Youtube via the links here.
He was a perennial provider of lectures to diggers in the evenings during the excavation, and his famous ‘drains lecture’ on the perils and proclivities of the arrangements at Ullenwood for volunteer diggers was a much anticipated feature of every season. His dry but acute sense of humour was expertly deployed to explain the dangers of foreign objects in the plumbing.
His constant support, encouragement and energy both during the period of excavation and in the long post-excavation and publication phase continued right until his death, including attending the most recent Trust meeting in person. His advice and enthusiasm has been much appreciated by all who knew him. He will be much missed.
