Subject

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.