Richard Ratcliffe Taylor

Reeve of Oak Bay (1936–1940)

RICHARD RATCLIFFE TAYLOR 1884–1942

	Richard R. Taylor (nicknamed Dick) was born in 1884 in Todmorden, England.
	His father had been a drysalter (a dealer in chemical products such as dyes, usually supplying manufacturers). His father's first wife was Maryann Winterbottom who died in 1886, when Dick was just two years old. Her sister Anne Winterbottom had married Richard's brother, John, who died in 1875. When Maryann died, the widower Richard and the widow Anne then amalgamated their families, marrying in Switzerland because the Church of England did not recognize unions between in-laws. Anne's children, Henry, Samuel and John, cousins to Richard Senior's children, now became Annie, Ellen, Alice and Richard junior's step-siblings.
	With his parents and his siblings, Dick emigrated to Canada in 1886. The family settled in Winnipeg where his father (also named Richard Ratcliffe Taylor) became a wealthy coal-mine owner. Dick worked for a while for his father with the latter's Souris Mining Co. as stenographer and assistant bookkeeper.
	Apparently Dick was the tallest of his brothers and sisters. In his youth in Manitoba, he played hockey and was a marksman.
	Dick became the manager of Drake Hardware (later Oak Bay Hardware) in the Bell Block on Oak Bay Avenue.
	Dick came to Victoria in 1908 with his parents, Richard Ratcliffe Taylor senior and Anne.
	They lived at the corner of Richmond Road and Lansdowne Road across from what would become the Normal School (now Camosun College). The residence, known as Ormerod House, has been demolished, replaced with an apartment building, but the carriage house still stands on Lansdowne.
	In 1912, Dick married Hannah (Annie) Winterbottom, a daughter of Anne and Maryann Winterbottom's brother, and hence his first cousin. They had one child, Marjory Winterbottom Taylor and lived at 1388 Monterey Avenue, in a house which is extant.
	Dick became the manager of Drake Hardware (later the Oak Bay Hardware) in the Bell Block on Oak Bay Avenue. Later he was a partner in the Victoria Super Service Station at Blanshard and Johnson Streets.
	He was a member of the Uplands Golf Club where he served on the Board of Directors and as President. He was a Freemason.
	In 1918-1920 he was Police Commissioner of Oak Bay. From 1927 he served on the Zoning Appeal Board. Later he served as an Oak Bay municipal councillor (1933-36) and as Reeve (1935-1940). In the latter capacity he represented Oak Bay at the coronation of King George VI in 1937. In 1939, he and his wife were part of the parade carrying the King and Queen through Oak Bay.
	OAK BAY ROSE GARDEN formally opened by Reeve Taylor
	During his tenure as Reeve, the council accepted Ada Beaven's offer to provide good quality plants to establish the Oak Bay Rose Garden in Windsor Park, which was formally opened by Reeve Taylor. Mrs Beaven also transferred title to three and one-half lots at the corner of Margate Avenue and Beach Drive for use as a Native Plant Park, a donation which Reeve Taylor's council accepted.
	After Council decided to float a loan for $36,000 in order to establish its own fire protection for Oak Bay, the Reeve formally opened the new Fire Hall on Monterey Avenue.
	Throughout Taylor's period in office, Oak Bay wrangled with the City of Victoria over water rates. The council also discussed a project to build a municipal swimming pool, but nothing came of the plan.
	Reeve Taylor oversaw the purchase of the municipality's first Elgin garbage collector and compactor. An addition was built on to the municipal hall for police accommodation while he was Reeve.
	Reeve Taylor represented Oak Bay at the coronation of King George VI in 1937.
	In 1940 the Reeve announced that, due to commitments with his private business, he did not plan to run again in the next election.
	Because he had always taken great interest in the Fire Department, it was suggested that he be given an Honourary Fire Chief's badge, which was presented to him by the Fire Chief at a council meeting.
	When he died in1942, his obituary described him as a man of high character and ideals. At Oak Bay Municipal Hall, he was held in high esteem by both council and staff.
	— Robert Ratcliffe Taylor, OBHS class of 1957 and grandson of Reeve Richard Ratcliffe Taylor

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