Robert Richard Biddulph [1892-1959]

Robert Richard Biddulph was the second son of the Reverend William Biddulph and Rebecca Clarke, and the grandson of Nicholas Biddulph of Congor House, County Tipperary, and Isabella Digges La Touche. He was born at Congor.

In the 1901 Census he and his younger brother James are found in Ballyman, Rathmichael, County Dublin, with Benjamin and Elizabeth Taylor. Elizabeth was their aunt Elizabeth Clarke, sister of their mother Rebecca Clarke. Benjamin Taylor and Elizabeth Taylor describe themselves as gardener and domestic servant, and are living in Ballyman in a 2 room house leased from Philip Barrington. Their daughter Kathleen was later to marry Nicholas Biddulph, her first cousin and the younger brother of James and Robert, but she isn't born yet, she was born in 1908.

Robert Richard Biddulph was a member of the Church of Ireland. He was educated in Dublin.

In the 1911 Census Robert is living with his parents and siblings in 30 Park Avenue, Sandymount, Dublin, a private dwelling house with seven rooms. There were nine members of the family living there. There were no servants.  Robert is 18 and in the Blind Trade. The youngest child, Mabel Sarah Margaret R, is two years old.

On the 18^th of April 1927 he married Gladys Maude Sherring in Churchstanton, Somerset.  She was born in Manitoba, Canada, in 1904, the daughter of Albert Sherring, a farmer, from England. The local papers carried detailed accounts of the wedding.

CHURCHSTANTON

The marriage of Miss Gladys Maude Sherring, eldest daughter of Mr and Mrs A. E. Sherring, of the King’s Arms Hotel, and Mr Robert Richard Biddulph formerly of Congor House, Borrosokane, County Tipperary, took place at the Parish Church on Easter Monday, in the presence of a large congregation.  The bridegroom is a popular motor engineer in the village, whilst the bride is equally well-known and popular. The church was charmingly decorated. The bride, who was given away by her father, was attired in heavy white silk fleur-de-chine, trimmed with Honiton lace and pearls, and caught up on the left side, with orange blossom. She wore a wreath and veil, lent by her aunt, Mrs P.R. Ansties, of Bath, white suede shoes and silk stockings, and carried a bouquet of pink and white tulips and roses. Her attendants were Miss Olive Sherring (sister) and Miss Dorothy Langdon (cousin), who wore dressed of crepe-de-chine cornflower blue, with sequin trimmings, and hats to match, and carried bouquets of blue iris and white narcissi. The bridegroom’s brother, Mr. J.G. Biddulph was groomsman. The bride’s mother wore a das-de-beige colour Charnaline coat-frock, with champagne hat to match. The officiating clergyman was the Rector (Rev. W. H. Blight) and Miss Frances Ewins was at the organ. The bridegroom’s present to the bride was a French ivory prayerbook, bound with silver, whilst the bride’s present to her husband was a gold tie-pin with opal stone. The bridegroom gave the bridesmaids gold initial bangles. A reception was held at the King’s Arms, at which about thirty guests attended. The honeymoon was spent at Criccieth, North Wales. The bride’s travelling dress was a bois-de-rose costume, with jumper, hat, shoes and stockings to match. The presents were numerous and included several cheques. The ringers rang merry peals during the day.[1]

Robert Biddulph died on the 5^th of October 1959 aged 67. He is buried at Saints Peter and Paul, Churchstanton, Somerset, England. His wife, Gladys, died in 2002, in Devon.

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[1] Western Times 29 April 1927