MR. VIVIAN RIDDIFORD

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 15, 12 October 1934, Page 12

MR. VIVIAN RIDDIFORD

Death at Sea on Liner Rangitiki PASTORALIST, SPORTSMAN Private advice was received in Wellington last evening of the death at sea yesterday morning of Mr. Edward Vivian Riddiford, of “Glenburn” and "Tablelands.” Mr. Riddiford was returning from a trip to England as a passenger in the Rangitiki, which is due at Auckland on October 24, and was accompanied by hi s wife and ills daughter Pamela. Although in recent months Mr. Riddiford had not enjoyed his usual robust health, he was believed to have derived much benefit from his journey overseas, and the news of his sudden passing comes as a shock to his relatives and tlie very wide circle of friends who looked forward to his return to New Zealand, rested and refreshed. One of tlie Dominion’s best-known and most successful pastoralists, th? late Mr. Riddiford, whose home is at Woburn, Lower Hutt, was equally prominent in racing circles. He was a notable participant and enthusiast, one of a family whose turf associations are part of the history of the sport in this country. But apart from his activities as a pastoralist, racehorse owner and

breeder, Mr. Riddiford was a widelyknown and popular citizen, a sportsman in the fullest sense who played a large part in the social life of the community and whose allegiance to racing did not overshadow Ills interest in golf and tennis, the two pastimes with which he was most prominently identified. Beginning as a cadet on his father’s properties, he had a long and successful career as a sheepfarmer, first as an estate manager and afterward as an owner.

The late Mr. Riddiford was 55 years of age. He was born at Lower Hutt, a son of tlie late Mr. E. J. Riddiford and n grandson of one of New Zealand’s earliest pioneers, Mr. Daniel Riddiford, who arrived in New Zealand in 1840. Mr. Vivian was educated at Wanganui Collegiate School and began his career ns a sheepfarmer on his father’s property, “Te Await!,” Wairarapa. Later he managed his father's properties, including “Longburn” and “Cheltenham.”

Mr. E. J. Riddiford died in 1911 and Mr. Vivian took over “Glenburn." n sheep and cattle run on the East Coast, “Tablelands,” the Romney Marsh sheep stud in the Wairarapa, and “Brentwood,” the Trent.ha.ni racing stud. In 1908 he married Miss Zoe Thorne George, third daughter of the Hon. Seymour Thorne George, of Auckland. Their two daughters are Mrs. J. Vogel, of Lower Hutt, and Miss Pamela Riddiford.

The late Mr. Riddiford’s brother, Mr. Eric Riddiford, owner of the Orongorongo station, where lie resides, was his partner in a remarkably successful racing career, during which they won a large number of the principal handicap races in New Zealand, including the New Zealand Cup, the Auckland Cup, and the Grand National. On his own account. Mr. Riddiford won tlie Wellington Cup, the Mitclielson Cup and other coveted racing trophies. Two of his best-known horses were Historic and Grand Knight, .the latter an English importation. Early last year Mr. Riddiford considerably curtailed his racing activities, and at his death had only two horses in training. A prominent clubman, the late Mr. Riddiford was a member of tlie Wellington Club, the Wellesley Club, the Northern Club (Auckland), tlie Christchurch Club, the Boodles Club (London) and the Princes Club (London) He was also a member of the Wellington and Lower Hutt Golf Clubs. He was recently re-elected a steward of the Wellington Racing Club.