Richard Wallace was born in Hawkhurst, Kent in 1951. Moving to Hythe, he worked for East Kent as Traffic Clerk, Conductor and Driver/Conductor. A spell with London Transport intervened, where he worked on London's iconic number 11 route. A managerial career on the railways then followed, working on the Underground, at the Office of the Rail Regulator, Transport for London's London Rail and finally as European Policy Manager for the Association of Train Operating Companies, representing Great Britain train operators in Brussels. Although he retired in 2013, he still works part-time driving coaches including a 1950s vintage East Kent coach as well as being a volunteer driver for the London Transport Museum. Richard holds a Master's degree in Transport Policy and is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport. He is part-owner of an ex-East Kent AEC Regent V, which he drives regularly at rallies in Kent.