Richard Elkington
I'm shocked and saddened by the sudden passing of Richard S. Elkington. He provided a unique space in Chesham. For me it was a Haven. My family and I have lovely memories of Richard and The Drawingroom. Thank you Richard, for everything. We had a lot of lovely times there. You made us so welcome. - Lesley M
Richard was a unique character and brought life, love and enthusiasm to our town. What he created in the Drawingroom was very special for those lucky enough to experience it and became the jewel in our town’s crown. As can be seen from all of the messages since he passed away, he had this incredible gift of making everyone he met feel seen and heard, and he was brilliant at bringing people together. - Hannah L
Pippa and I have some amazing memories of the gigs that Richard hosted in Francis Yard, but one in particular stands out; 20th July 2013, a balmy summer's evening the astonishing Snowapple, a Dutch female trio led by an opera singer, followed by Declan Zapala and then topping the bill, Cole Stacey and Joseph O'Keefe who had everyone dancing on the cobbles. - Wilson C
When we were looking for donations for an auction to raise money for my sons 1st electric wheelchair, back in 2006, Richard contacted me and kindly donated a bronze statue from his art gallery. It raised £500 towards the wheelchair, he was a very generous and caring man, always stopped for a chat & was always happy to see my son driving around town in his wheelchair. Great loss for Chesham, will always be grateful to Richard for his compassion. - Jennie S
We're beyond heartbroken to have learnt this morning of the passing of Richard S. Elkington of The Drawingroom music venue in Chesham. It is no exaggeration to say that Richard was one of our greatest supporters with The Portraits. And we know that a tonne of other artists reading this will immediately think "he was OUR greatest supporter too!". He really put his own wellbeing on the line for years and years to keep this beautiful quirky little venue going, for the sake of the future of live music. For the sake of supporting new artists. For the sake of spreading love and kindness. For the sake of creating brilliant nights of entertainment over many years. He greeted us every time we arrived at the venue with 'Welcome home!' and the biggest hug. He sang with us, appeared on our single 'Harmonise' and came to Cecil Sharp House in London in 2015 to compere the release concert and party for our album 'Lions And Butterflies'. - The Portraits
So, so sad to hear about the passing of Richard S. Elkington of The Drawingroom. Richard was one of the first people we met in Chesham and was a big catalyst for why we moved here. He warmly welcomed us for coffee, took time to talk with us and he had a genuine interest in who we were. He had a gift for building community and introduced us to others. We visited the Drawingroom frequently, to spend time in the magic space Richard created - a place of connection, community and creativity. What a warm hearted and generous soul that I will never forget and has inspired me forever. His story is here... - Jen M
Just wanted to pay tribute to the legend that is Richard S. Elkington, who very sadly and unexpectedly left this world on Wednesday.I say ‘is’ because he will always be the creator of the magical space that is The Drawingroom music venue, where we have spent many hours enjoying original music, dancing, discussing life and eating incredible food! At least 30% of my playlists are made up of artists I’ve discovered at the Drawingroom, such is the quality of the performers. It was particularly poignant that our last Saturday (11th April) was such a joyful occasion with Richard at his best. Our daughter Lucy was playing alongside Clara Tee and our guests all remarked on what a lovely man Richard was. So thank you Richard for the music - and the magic! - Rosie H
Over so many years, he showed such kindness, generosity and unwavering support to me and my family and to all my events especially Peace In The Park—it’s something I’ll always be grateful for. He had a rare gift for bringing people together, lifting others up and making everyone feel welcome, whether through his music, his venue, or simply his presence.He will be missed more than words can really express, not just by those who knew him well, but by the whole community he helped shape and care for so deeply. His legacy will live on in all the lives he touched and the memories he created. - Parveiz A
Richard was a terrific support to Theatre Shed / Shed@the Park, from the start, 20 years ago. He was always encouraging and generous; especially when he created a fund raising evening for us at The Drawing Room, where he supplied delicious food + terrific musicians, which included Shed, to entertain everyone. It was a sold out evening and raised much needed funds for the charity. Richard was a Wonderful soul, who will be sorely missed. - Sally A
We are devastated to learn about the passing of Richard Elkington, who ran the incredible Drawingroom in Chesham - a hallowed stomping ground for us and many others. Richard was so unique, so kind, so giving. He opened up his home to become The Drawingroom for over 20 years, and spent his time curating and championing aspiring musicians, spanning all ages. He respected the musicians and their craft, and he demanded that of his audience and guests too. It’s difficult to put into words how incredible The Drawingroom is. There was no bigger supporter of us than Richard. No matter what was happening, Rich would always have another date in the diary for us. As you can see from the videos, he always had our backs, and after every show with him, the hopeful dreamers in us were reborn, reinvigorated, ready to again take the road less travelled. Playing at The Drawingroom remains one of the great musical memories of my life. Every time we played there, it felt like coming home and there will never be another like it. - Night Flight
A truly wonderful soul who played a huge part in bringing people together in a magical way. Richard offered a space within The Drawingroom that allowed people to feel seen, held and heard. He never judged. He was a source of encouragement and support for me and so many. He was a glorious quirky individual. He wanted to stand out yet he was also a truly gracious, humble host. He adored his musicians and would be seen darting between tables saying ‘shhhh’ to anyone talking whilst they played. I was honoured to meet some phenomenal musicians because of Richard. We laughed, we talked, we had fun and I will miss him. Chesham community has lost a power house of a human who lived for their community. He will live on in every heart he knew and touched. - Willow T
