South Yorkshire Times, May 16th, 1970
Mr. Edward Ridyard, who died on Friday (his 81st birthday) at his Wath home was a familiar figure in British Legion circles throughout the Don Valley group of Branches. His association with the organisation began shortly after his service with the Army in the 1914-18 war. As Chairman at Wath he succeeded as branch president the late Dr. G. R. Bailey, and though he subsequently relinquished this office he continued to devote himself ardently and tirelessly to the problems of pensions cases, retaining his office as Pensions and Publicity Officer to the time of his death.
He had a considerable knowledge of legislation and had met with a tremendous amount of success in his negotiations. Stemming from this interest had been his valued service with the Sheffield and South Yorkshire Advisory Committee of the National Assistance Board (Wath Area Sub-Committee) and with the Rotherham and District war pensions committee he held the Legions Gold Badge and its Certificate of Appreciation.
Boyhood and Youth
Mr. Ridyard spent his boy and youth near Carlton, near Leeds, moving to Beeston on his marriage and subsequently to Far Headingly. He had lived in Wath and West Melton for the greater part of his life and had spent most of his working life as a draper with Edward Smith and Sons Limited. His first wife died in 1951. He remarried two years later and is survived by his second wife, formerly Mrs. A. B. Lord of Wath and by his only son Mr. R. D. Ridyard, Editor of the “South Yorkshire Times.”
Mr. Ridyard had always taken a very personal interest in the township of his adoption. He was concerned with the Comforts Fund during the 1939-45 war and he had been especially interested in road safety, for several years as a member of the local committee. He will also be remembered as a regular contributor on a variety of topics – particular in more recent years on problems affecting pensioners – to the correspondence column of this newspaper.
Interest in Sport
In his younger days he took an active interest in football and track cycling. In the latter he met with a good deal of competitive success. He had always been interested in walking and had covered most of his native Yorkshire – often in 20-mile treks. In later years he had continued with his lifetime interest in snooker and had played a good deal at the British Legion Club in partnership with an old friend and colleague Mr. Jim Brooke. The illness to which he succumbed his first serious illness since Army days, had been of only short duration but much to his distress in the light of his constantly active life, it had confined him to bed.
The Funeral
Internment took place at Wath on Wednesday following a service conducted by the vicar, the Rev. J. H. Oxer M.A. The flag at Burlington House has been flown at half-mast this week and British Legion colleagues presented a guard of honour as the coffin passed through the cemetery gates. The Legion and other organisations with which Mr. Ridyard has been so closely associated were represented among the family mourners and friends. With a poppy wreath from the Legion was a tribute in Legion colours from the Rotherham and District War Pensions Committee.