Richard Forrest
Affectionately known as Palaeo Gandalf, Richard was a valued member of ESOUK until he suddenly passed away on 9th Janaury 2026. He featured in this wonderful article in The Guardian that everyone should take a moment to read.
Richard was a mentor to many, a friend to many more, and a source of boundless enthusiasm for fossils and discovery. He was a joy to dig with, a joy to drink with and deeply loved and respected by so many.
He was generous with his knowledge, encouragement, and patience when it mattered most. A huge part of his legacy will be the vast number of people he inspired, encouraged and supported. He took the time to get to know everyone, he always made people feel valued and listened to, and through this he is directly responsible for fostering a lasting sense of belonging among today’s young palaeontologists. He was also an excellent, careful, and fastidious fossil preparator, treating every specimen with real respect and attention.
Richard was one of the country’s leading plesiosaur experts. It was a true passion of his, and he embodied everything that is best about citizen science and collaboration. He showed the incredible impact that curiosity, dedication, and generosity can have, even without formal academic training in the field. His legacy will live on in the science he shaped and mostly in the people he inspired.
In his own words, he was a renowned amateur scientists with many published articles on marine reptiles of the mesozoic. He was Chair of the Northampton Geological Society and the Peterborough Palaeontological Society and has organised international conferences in Lyme Regis.
He supervised the excavation of several marine reptiles, and had a reputation for preparing fossils which only an idiot would tackle.
Richard will be sorely missed in the Palaeontology community however, he inspired a whole new generation who will carry his name, his knowledge and his experience forward.
A wonderful friend and mentor to so many young students, encouraging the next generation. Will never forget the genuine tears of joy when the crocodile skull was found on the 2024 dig or the 2025 conversation when we discussed all that had been found and whether there was anything else that we wanted to find but hadn’t found yet, of course he said it would be wonderful to find a plesiosaur, roll forward 24 hours and one was found in a nodule. Our very own palaeo Gandalf x
Everything we know about plesiosaurs, is wrong’, he used to shout out jokingly during the evening games. I've only known Richard for nearly 3 years, but made a strong friendship with him during the digs and museum set up. I will miss him dearly.
Richard put us all to shame - he would dig so hard and so enthusiastically, and then go out for a run when the rest of us were absolutely knackered. He would then casually remind you that he was 70+.
Richard was the most impressive paleontologist I ever met and an amazing and inspiring scientist. No matter the weather he was never afraid to get his hands dirty!
The discovery of the crocodile brought him such delight, even during his battle with all the "bloody pyrite" in the nodule and the hundreds of hours of painstaking preparation, resulting in a truly remarkable specimen.
I met Richard two years ago at Cerney Wick, upon showing him a very nice Cadoceras, he remarked that ammonites were mere petrol tokens, and that marine reptiles were much more interesting.
I only met Richard at this year's Cerney Wick but I could tell he was a kind soul with a great sense of humour. He identified my 1st ever Jurassic bone; a bit of plesiosaur rib; and I know he had a huge impact on so many people.
Richard identified my first ichthyosaur fossil! He looked at it and told me I had found a small piece of ichthyosaur rostrum
Richard provided and endless wealth of knowledge from the very first time I met him despite not, at that time, knowing who he was. He was free to share what he knew even with perfect strangers which made him a fine example of how the world should always be.