The Albert County Historical Society is saddened by the recent passing of Mr. William (Bill) Herridge, an extraordinary gentleman, with whom the Board of Directors and Society were blessed to share a deep friendship. The Society is ever grateful for his enthusiastic interest and patronage in its ongoing work in the preservation and sharing of the rich history and heritage of Albert County.

Mr. Herridge was supportive of the Society’s efforts in establishing the RB Bennett Commemorative Centre at the Albert County Museum and proudly participated in the Grand Opening on June 9, 2010. The first “RB Bennett Day” celebration was held on July 3, 2011 with Mr. Herridge and his wife, Ruth, in attendance enjoying the programme and festivities. “RB Bennett Day” became an annual event held at the Museum on July 3rd, the date of RB’s birthday. Mr. Herridge always looked forward to his visits to Albert County attending the RB Days in the following years.

Cutting the ribbon in 2022 to officially open the refurbished RB Bennett Exhibit was a highlight, especially with his Uncle RB’s Privy Councillor Jacket, a treasured artefact from New Brunswick Museum, being on display for the day. During his 2023 visit for RB Day, Mr. Herridge greatly appreciated the entertaining performance of “Just Between Friends” and applauded the ‘Character Matters’ actors for so accurately portraying the friendship between Viscount RB Bennett and Lord Beaverbrook.

Mr. Herridge will be dearly missed, but special memories of his visits, shared conversations, and his eloquent speeches so easily spoken with humorous quips, will be truly treasured. Mr. Herridge shared with family, his profound pride in his beloved Bennett heritage with Albert County roots and his obvious appreciation for the history of Albert County and its people for successive generations to preserve and celebrate.

In Respectful Remembrance,

Dawne McLean

President, Albert County Historical Society

From Published Obituary:

Bill Herridge was born in Ottawa in 1932, the son of William Duncan Herridge, and Mildred Marion Bennett of Hopewell Cape. His uncle was R.B. Bennett, Prime Minister of Canada, 1930-1935. Bill was also predeceased by his wife and best friend of sixty-two years, the former Ruth McKinley. He is survived by their daughters Elizabeth, Margaret, (and her husband, Robert Stewart), and Catherine (and her husband, John Hayes), and five grandchildren (Sarah, Graeme and Matthew Stewart and James and Peter Hayes) whom he loved dearly.

Educated at Harvard College and Harvard Law School, Bill was called to the Bar of Ontario in 1958, and practiced law in Toronto for forty-one years which included appearances before the Supreme Court of Canada, and many other courts and administrative tribunals. Bill was created a Queen’s Counsel in 1971. Active in the Presbyterian Church and Community Foundations, he was also a dedicated supporter and patron of the arts. For many years he served as a Board Director of the National Ballet, became a Vice-Chairman, and at the time of his death was a member of the National Ballet’s Honorary Board. For thirty-three years Bill and Ruth took great joy in sailing their Shark sailboat out of the R.C.Y.C. Another nautical love of Bill’s life was his canoe, which he paddled from age eight, until old age made Bill reluctantly put away his paddle.

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