Richard Havers

Richard John Havers (1 April 1951 – 31 December 2017) was a British music author, journalist, consultant and broadcaster.

Life and career Born in Carshalton, Surrey, Havers attended Reigate Grammar School and then worked for British United Airways, later British Caledonian, at Gatwick Airport. Initially he was a messenger but rose to become product manager on the company's North Atlantic routes, and then had responsibility for developing their domestic routes. In 1984, he moved to Continental Airlines, launching their service between Gatwick and Houston, Texas, and contributing to building up the company's organisation. He left the airline industry in 1989 in order to work in the music industry. His first role, drawing on his airline experience, was in promoting concerts and tours by Paul McCartney, Chicago, and The Beach Boys. He wrote and produced in-flight radio shows, and launched a commercial radio station in Turkey, before becoming a prolific writer of books and articles, mainly on jazz, blues, and pop music.

He lived in the Scottish Borders, where he campaigned against wind farm development in the Lammermuir Hills, before moving to Somerset, where he chaired the board of the tourism organisation Visit Exmoor. He was married twice and had two daughters.

Havers died in Minehead on New Year's Eve, 2017, from cancer.