Richard Hopkins retired nearly 9 years ago after a wide variety of jobs ranging from polymer research to teaching monkeys to watch television, via banking, commercial security, industrial archaeology, even a short spell in a call centre.
Meanwhile, he became an archery instructor, made boomerangs, and was involved in reconstructing a number of chariots for museums and television.
He has found retirement to be busier than work, as an interest in too many things eats up his time. Apart from collecting books on a wide range of subjects his other main hobby (apart from practical knot tying) is collecting locks and keys. He hates to have his photograph taken.