Richard Topham Hatt IV, also known as the Fat Controller, is the son of Sir Stephen Topham Hatt III, grandson of Sir Charles Topham Hatt II and great-grandson of Sir Topham Hatt I. He took over his father's role as the controller of the North Western Railway in 2023.[3]
Biography[]
Richard Hatt was born to Stephen Topham and Helen Hatt (née Margaret) in 1972, while his brother Charles Nicholas was born two years later in 1974 and his sister Emily Helen was born 5 years later in 1977.[1]
As heir apparent, Richard Hatt became the Fat Controller when his father retired in 2023 at the age of 82.[3] As a retirement gift, he presented his father with Neil who would become the first engine entered into the newly formed Crovan's Gate Preservation Society.[3] In addition to being controller of the North Western Railway, he also serves as an advisor for the Sodor Industrial Relations Service.[2]
Family Tree[]
| Lord Frederick Regaby † | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lancelot Qualtrough | Lady Dorothy Lloyd | Sir Handel Brown I † | Jabez Croarie | Lady Jane Brown | Sir Topham Hatt I † | Albert Regaby † | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lady Rachel Qualtrough | Sir Handel Lloyd Brown II | John Croarie | Lady Amanda Croarie | Sir Charles Topham Hatt II † | Barbara Jane Hatt | Henry Regaby | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rebecca Dorothy Brown | Handel Qualtrough Brown | Bridget Amanda Hatt | Sir Stephen Topham Hatt III | Lady Helen Margaret | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Richard Topham Hatt IV | Charles Nicholas Hatt | Emily Helen Hatt | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Appearances[]
The Railway Series[]
Companion Volumes[]
- 2005 - Sodor: Reading Between the Lines (mentioned)
Lectures[]
- 2025 - Sodor in 2025 (mentioned)
Official Description[]
From Sodor: Reading Between the Lines:[1]
| “ | Richard Topham, born in 1972 and no doubt destined to be Sir Topham Hatt (4) - his father will be 65 in 2006 though he has, as yet, given no hint of an impending retirement. | ” |
Trivia[]
- Richard Hatt shares his first name with Christopher Awdry's own son, Richard Awdry.