573 
!J: Jrti 26. 1913. 
THE GARDENERS' MAGAZINE. 
T I* 
. 1 ' 
OBITUARY. 
Ml?. ROBERT SYDENHAII. 
It is difficult to beli-eve we have bid the 
long farewell ” to Mr. Eobt. Sydenham, and 
that never again shall we see his sturdy, 
grey-clad figure, and hear his hearty laugh 
at sweet pea and daffodil exhibitions, and 
other horticultural gatherings. Not one of 
the fifty or more who said good-bye to 
him, at the close of the dinner following 
the Great Sweet Pea Show in London on 
Thur-sday, July 17, imagined for one moment 
it was the last good-bye, and that about 
forty-eight hours later he would pass into 
the "‘"great beyond.^* Mr. Eobert Sydenham, 
founder and director of Eobert Sydenham 
Limited, seedsmen and bulb merchants, of 
Tenby Street, Birmingham, went from Lon¬ 
don to the Birmingham Show on Friday, 
July 18; on Saturday, July 19, he was at 
the offices at Tenby Street, as usual, where 
about eleven o’clock he was found insensible, 
death supervening with tragic suddenness. 
A tremendous worker and a keen business 
man to the finger-tips, Mr. Eobert Syden¬ 
ham crowded an enormous amount of work 
into his sixty-five years of life. He was born 
at Salisbury in 1848, and after school Ijecame 
apprenticed to a general hardware firm in 
Birmingham. His great ability, applica¬ 
tion, and industry soon secured advance¬ 
ment, and he became the firm’s representa¬ 
tive in the United States and British North 
America, where he travelled for i^veral 
years. In 1872 he entered the wholesale 
jewellery business, and established the firm 
of Sydenham Brothers. For ten years or so 
he travelled in the southern and western coun¬ 
ties and in South Wales on behalf of this 
business. He was eminently successful l 3 oth 
as traveller and as director, and in later 
years, after the retirement of one brother 
4^&fh of another, the responsibility' 
of this big concern fell upon his shoulders. 
About 1884 Mr. Sydenham took up garden¬ 
ing as a hobby, and put as much energy and 
Koenne^ into his hobby as into his busi- 
began to purchase seeds 
and bulbs in some quantity for himself and 
eventually commenced a small 
seed and bulb business as a “ side line.'’ So 
4 ??^ 1 ^’ ^^w^ver, did the business extend 
iiat large Remises were built to accommo- 
date it, at Tenby Street, attached to those 
Hnof jewellery business is con- 
xr Sydenham was quick to see 
fi, P^^i^^V^ies of fibre for bulb growing and 
e attractiveness of undrained Jbowls fancv 
RnJf’ cultivation indoors of 
P g“-flowering bulbs, and he made these 
business. In con- 
business he visited Hol- 
ouenVi Channel Islands fre- 
daff^T' fostered the cultivation of 
caup-bL v^^f Sweet peas early 
tion^rif since the celebra- 
of tb/i o t>icentenary of the introduction 
steadilT-^^^ England he has been 
of claims of the queen 
P^as at prizes for sweet 
the countrT**!,”^ leading exhibitions in 
of the Vaf ’ was a generous supporter 
1912 vua Sweet Pea Society and in 
1912 was president of that Body. 
years fascinated him, and for many 
den at Fdo-^^^ 4 -^^’ grown in his private gar- 
years he successive 
fion Medal ^ Midland Champion Carna- 
in securino-’ he «par^ no pains or money 
^nltivation and the highest 
^^ils anH years, however, daf- 
^ifes, althoii^lf prime favou- 
hanniPr^?^ lov^ all flowers, and was 
^i^ garden family in 
^asonfof Vr Daffodil Society 
fions and Sydenham s favourite institu- 
and monev lavished time 
daffodil show iV • previous to the 
the leading invariably invited a few of 
his privftPb raisers to dinner 
?.t any time Ld^t^’ and to those who have 
these fiiilf; privilege of an invita- 
Pieasant remain as very 
memories. Then there would bi 
luncheon to all exhibitors and helpers in the 
Botanic Gardens on show day, and, in the 
evening, dinner at an hotel to all wdio had 
taken part, followed by an informal discus¬ 
sion upon some daffodil subject. 
Keen business ability did not blunt Mr. 
Sydenham’s generous instincts. His leading 
employees all have a direct interest in the 
success of the business. A hard worker him¬ 
self, he expected full measure from others, 
but he was none the less a kind and con¬ 
siderate employer. In illness or trouble he 
became a personal friend, and every bit of 
extra work or special success received ac¬ 
knowledgment. One of his happiest days 
was that on which he visited London with 
Mrs. Sydenham, to purchase blouses and 
dress lengths for Christmas presents to his 
girl employees. He dearly loved to get the 
Mr. Albert Sydenham (the two surviving 
brothers), the two sons-in-law, and Mr. Hot- 
bert Smith. Others present at the service 
and the interment at Lodge Hill Cemetery, 
Selly Oak, were: Air. Pressly, Air. Price, and 
Air. Dean, members of the staff at Tenby 
Street; Air. W. H. Parton. who represented 
the Alidland Carnation Societ}'; Air. C. 
Lemeslie Adams, Midland Daffodil Society; 
Air. Chri.stopher Bourne and Mr. Goodwin, 
E.H.S. Daffodil Committee; Mr. C. H. 
Curtis, who represented the National Sweet 
Pea Society and Thk Gardeners’ AIagazine ; 
Air. F. AV. Harvey and Air. Quick, from 
“The Garden”; Air. W. H. Alortar, Superin¬ 
tendent of the Birmingham Parks; Mr. ^los. 
Humphreys, Superintendent of the Birming¬ 
ham Botanic Gardens; Air. Walter Jones 
and Mr. Spinks, who repre.sented the Bir- 
THE LATE AIE. EOBEET SYDENHAM. 
best of a business deal, but had an open- 
hearted generosity that was none the less 
real because so much of it found expression 
in a quiet and unostentatious manner. 
Those who were his keenest competitors 
in business had a great admiration for Air. 
Eobt. Sydenham’s talents. His methods of 
advertising were often quaint, but always 
effective, and he had a wonderful knack of 
getting his business and himself talked about. 
Mr. Sydenham leaves a widow and two 
married daughters, and to these we tender 
our sincerest condolence and sympathy, for 
now^here will his loss be so greatly felt as at 
Beech Court, Edgbaston. 
The funeral took place on Tuesday, July 
22 and the service, conducted chiefly by 
the Eev. Joseph Jacob, of AYhitchurch, was 
held in the Old Church, Edgbaston. There 
was a large attendance, and the chief 
mourners included; Mr. AA^illiam Sydenham. 
mingham Horticultural Societies; and Mr. 
Alfred Watkins, who represented the London 
wholesale seedsmen. 
Flowers were sent in quantities as tokens 
of respect from relatives, friends, and the 
various societies wnth which Mr. Sydenham 
was connected, and it was noticeable that 
carnations and sweet peas were the chief 
flowers used, and a wreath of rosemary, “ for 
remembrance,” w^as placed on the coffin. 
Sa.ndring:ham Gardens. — Air. 
Cyril Ward, R.C.A., the author-artist of 
“Royal Gardena,” has, by command of 
Queen Alexandra, just painted for her 
Alajesty a series of water-colour drawings 
representing various aspects of the delight¬ 
ful gardens and grounds of Sandringham, 
which have been exceptionally beautiful 
during the past spring season. 
