Albert Chandler (1870 - 1946)

Ref, death cert. Albert died on 1 March 1946 aged 75 in the Hospital of St Cross, Rugby. He was murdered by Arthur Henry Harrison, a person of unsound mind.

Obituary

The Rugby Advertiser 8th March 1946 Fifty years at Coton House Clever Topiary Artist Mr Chandler was in the fiftieth year as head gardener at Cotton House, having joined the staff from the Duke of Bedford’s estate at Woburn. Many people in the district will recall with delight the pleasure of visiting Coton House on Daffodil Day and the interesting examples of topiary which were among Mr Chandler’s particular cares. Noted as a chrysanthemum grower and exhibitor, he won many prizes at national shows and, after he had finished exhibiting, became a national judge who was greatly in demand. During the 1914-1918 war he was associated with the campaign for increasing food production against the submarine menace and in those days, as well as later, he acted often as a judge of allotments and at local flower and vegetable shows. These activities naturally absorbed one who came of a family of gardeners. His father was a gardener to Lord Rosebery, on whose estate Mr Chandler was born and a brother was head gardener to Lord Craven. For many years Mr Chandler was a warden at Churchover Parish Church and he was a keen member of the cricket club. He leaves a widow and one married daughter.