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Grave of the Month March 2024
Ralph Allder 1863-1947
Ralph was born on the 6th April 1863 in Newbury, Berkshire, the son of Ralph, a poulterer and bird stuffer and Mary Anne Alder.
By 1884 Ralph was described as an Engraver & Naturalist. In the same year he was awarded a medal for his work as a taxidermist.
Newbury had several taxidermists (variously described as ‘bird and animal preservers’) and these included Ralph’s brother Tom who operated from premises in Northbrook Street. Ralph had premises at 3 Bartholomew Street, Northbrook Street and finally from 133 Bartholomew Street, an imposing double fronted shop.
In 1902 Ralph married, rather late in life, at aged 40, a May Bray Brickell, aged 26, in Tunbridge Wells. Her father Henry Brickell was the Head Coachman for the Earl of Carnarvon.
They had 2 children, a little girl, Rosa May, who died at 21 days and a son Ralph who did not follow in the family tradition and became a bank official.
In 1910 Ralph undertook the mounting of Major Booth’s famous 37 lb. Pike.
Many examples of Ralph’s work still exist and come up at auction from time to time.
The example shown is an anthropomorphic work of two whimsical Red Squirrels playing chess.
The location of his grave is not known but when he died in 1947 at the age of 83 his probate amounted to over £17k, a large sum at the time.
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