What connects gardening, civic leadership, an enlightened employer and a sporting event that attracts an audience of millions around the world?
It’s Samuel Ryder (1858-1936) of course, the Ryder Cup competition spans nearly 100 years and has become one of the world’s greatest sporting events.
Samuel Ryder was an active participant in his community, contributing through political engagement and social responsibility. These were hallmarks of Ryder’s life.
His vision was to make it affordable for ordinary people to grow vegetables and flowers, by selling penny packets of seed through mail order under the slogan, "if a Pennyworth is enough, why buy more?"
By 1910 Ryders were sending out a million copies of their catalogue all over the world, and an average of 10,000 seed packets in a 12-hour day.
The famous Art Deco Ryder Seed Hall, now Grade II-listed, is still on Holywell Hill, next to the Hotel formerly Ryders headquarters, bearing his name, designed by his friend the architect Percival Blow.
Ryder was an enlightened employer, providing employees, many of whom were women, with good working conditions. He was one of the first employers to provide their workforce with breaks and paid sick leave.
He was determined that everyone should benefit from his success, especially the less well off in St Albans. He supported city charities caring for the poor, the elderly, and women whose husbands were away fighting during the First World War.
A committed Christian nonconformist, Ryder supported his local church, encouraged Sunday Schools and became a city councillor, magistrate and in 1905, the Mayor of St Albans.
With his brother James, he founded another business, Heath & Heather, using herbs to alleviate illnesses. Retail success followed and the business is still thriving as part of Holland and Barrett.
His health had never been good and his time as Mayor was taxing, he was persuaded to take up golf, so he joined Verulam Golf Club, his health improved and within two years he was club captain.
The brothers staged a series of professional competitions. This provided support for golf professionals, whilst advertising their Heath & Heather business.
For the first time in golf, all the players were paid expenses for appearing. Ryder was concerned that British players should be given an equal chance against their better off American rivals.
In 1927 he donated a gold cup for the first official Ryder Cup match between Great Britain and America, now played every two years as a 'challenge match' between Europe and the USA.
To celebrate his many accomplishments, we believe Ryder deserves a memorial, a point of interest for residents and visitors alike, in the city he made his home.
We are asking for support by the public, to place a memorial of Samuel Ryder in St Albans City Centre.
The Samuel Ryder Memorial campaign will be launched on UK Civic Day, Saturday, June 14 at the St Albans Civic Society’s market stall close to the Clocktower. To find out more go to https://www.stalbanscivicsociety.com/.
Also supporting it are the Samuel Ryder Foundation and the St Albans & Hertfordshire Architectural & Archaeological Society. Please do come along on the day and sign the petition.
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