Person    | Male  Born 1880  Died 11/5/1936

Richard William Robertson

Categories: Music / songs

Richard William Robertson

For 39 years the organist of All Saints Talbot Road, W11.

Andrew Behan has researched Robertson: Richard William Robertson was born in Kensington in 1880, the eldest of the eleven children of William John Robertson and Theresa Robertson, née Burford. His father was a City Missionary. The 1881 census shows him living at 13 Swinbrook Road, North Kensington with his parents; his brother - Charles Henry Robertson; his maternal grandmother - Hannah Burford who was a 58 years old greengrocer and who was also blind; his aunt - Eliza Burford and cousin - Lydia Burford. The 1891 census records that he was residing at 80 Tavistock Crescent, Notting Hill, with his parents and five of his siblings.

By the time of the 1901 census the family were living at 22 Blenheim Crescent, Notting Hill and his occupation is listed as a House Agents Clerk. The 1911 census shows him boarding at the home of Frances Mary Mason and her daughter, Ethel Mary Mason at 29 Musgrave Crescent, Walham Green and his occupation was given as a Church Musician, Organist & Choirmaster - Music Teacher. On 7 December 1911 he was initiated as a Freemason in the Ley Spring Lodge No.1598, which met in the Masonic Temple in Anderton's Hotel, Fleet Street, London, giving his occupation as an organist and his home address as 26 Tunley Road, Harlesden.

On 14 October 1913 he married Ethel Mary Mason at All Saints Church, Talbot Road, Notting Hill and the marriage register gives his occupation as an Organist and his residence as All Saints Vicarage. His wife's address was shown as 32 Chiddingstone Street, Parsons Green. Electoral registers from 1918 show them living at 10 Chiddingstone Street, Parsons Green. According to probate records he died, aged 56 years, on 11 May 1936 at 16 Fitzroy Square, St Pancras, although his home address remained at 10 Chiddingstone Street. Probate was granted to his widow on 11 June 1936 and his effects totalled £833-10s-0d. 

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Richard William Robertson

Commemorated ati

Richard William Robertson

{Inscribed wooden block, attached to the base below the cross:} Pray for the ...

Read More

Other Subjects

Mellow Mix Studios

Mellow Mix Studios

From the Hackney Citizen: "The plaque has been funded by the local community as part of the ‘Gone But Not Forgotten’ initiative led by one of the borough’s longest standing Black music organisation...

Group, Music / songs

1 memorial
Sammy Davis Jnr

Sammy Davis Jnr

Born Harlem in New York City into a show-biz family.  Hit the big-time in 1951.  Lost his left eye in a car crash in 1954.  Member of Sinatra's Rat Pack.  In 1967 on TV he greeted Frank's daughter,...

Person, Cinema, Dance, Music / songs, Seriously Famous, Theatre, USA

1 memorial
Bon Scott

Bon Scott

Singer and songwriter. Born Ronald Belford Scott in Forfar, Scotland, his family moved to Melbourne, Australia when he was six. He joined the rock group AC/DC as lead singer in 1974. Following a re...

Person, Music / songs, Australia, Scotland

1 memorial
Frank Bates

Frank Bates

Lead vocalist with the Southern Syncopated Orchestra. Born in Barbados, he joined the orchestra initially as a banjo player. He died with seven other members of the band in the sinking of the SS Ro...

Person, Music / songs, Caribbean Islands

1 memorial
Buddy Holly

Buddy Holly

Musician and singer-songwriter. Born as Charles Hardin Holley in Lubbock, Texas. With his backing group The Crickets, he achieved considerable pop chart success with songs such as 'That'll be the D...

Person, Music / songs, USA

1 memorial