Former London Boat Show manager Richard Gordon dies age 85

Richard Gordon, former exhibition manager and historian of the London International Boat Show at Earls Court, has died following an illness. He was 85.

Gordon held a management position at National Boat Shows Limited, a division of the Ship and Boat Builders National Federation (now British Marine). The organisation was responsible for establishing and running the London Boat Show, also known as the Earls Court Boat Show, which was sponsored by the Daily Express newspaper. The show ran from 1955 to 2018.

Gordon’s role involved the annual planning of stand layouts, the allocation of exhibition space, and the coordination of arrivals and departures for lorries and boat exhibits. He worked for National Boat Shows from the late 1960s through to the end of the 1970s.

During the annual show, Gordon oversaw day-to-day operations and monitored public attendance, which at its peak exceeded 300,000 visitors across eight days in January. The event was widely recognised as a major international boat show and attracted overseas visitors, contributing to the development of the British boating industry.

He was regarded for his detailed approach and effective problem solving, as well as his informal expertise on the history and operations of the Earls Court Boat Shows.

Gordon spent his early life in India, where his father served in the police. As a teenager, he joined ‘Shakespeareana’, a British touring theatre company led by Geoffrey and Laura Kendal. He travelled extensively through India and Southeast Asia with the group.

He is survived by his five sons.

A service to celebrate Gordon’s life will take place at 2.00pm on Thursday, 17 July 2025 at St Peter’s Church, Church Lane, Hambledon, Godalming, Surrey, GU8 4DS.