In 1987, HM The Queen laid the foundation stone for the Humberside Ice Arena, one of Hull's biggest leisure redevelopment projects. Richard Houlton (OH 1956-64) attended the ceremony due to his family's construction business, Houlton, having built the Ice Arena. The opening of the venue was delayed till after the General Election that year, which resulted in the foundation stone requiring a date change. Therefore, the side-on view to the public now has the correct date engraved on it, but the back of the stone has the original date on it.

Richard went to Hymers College and gained his Building degree at Brighton. Following a period with a Sheffield builder Longdens, he joined the family firm in 1970. He started out in the Building & Maintenance division before working in other parts of the business and became joint Managing Director in 1980 before becoming sole Managing Director in 1981. In 1996 he became Chairman and then Life President in August 2018 where he continues in the role today.