by Sam McBride

I am fortunate that a wealth of photographs of my paternal grandfather were taken (mostly by his wife, and my grandmother, Winnifred Mae Foote), and kept in albums and old suitcases so they survived a century or more intact.

R.L. McBride (far left) in about 1890 with his parents Richard McBride and Fanny Morgan, as well as sisters Edith (later Munroe) and Josie (later Rollins). Richard was a tinsmith who trained under his father Samuel McBride, and described as “a hail fellow, well met” by his cousin Harry Bapty. Fanny was an outstanding soprano singer of proud Welsh heritage.

R.L. McBride (right) with older brother George and sisters Edith and Josie. Circa 1895.
R.L. McBride in Rossland, circa 1902.
R.L, McBride in Nelson in about 1905, soon after joining the staff of the new Wood Vallance Hardware Company.
Well-known in the Nelson and region community as “Leigh” McBride. Circa 1907.
London newspaper reports of the death of Fanny Morgan McBride.
Close friends of R.L. McBride during his early days in Nelson, including Roy Sharp (right of bottom photo) and Dr. Wilmot Steed (bottom right of top photo).
Article in Nelson Daily News in 1908 announces R.L. McBride elected as chairman of fund-raising committee for new Nelson hockey arena by Hall Mines Road. High-powered group included future Hockey Hall of Famers Lester and Frank Patrick, and their father Joe, who ran a very prosperous lumber operation in South Slocan.
In middle of top row, with round hat, is R.L. McBride, along with close friends in his bachelor days, c. 1908.
With his first wife, Eva Mackay Hume (1885-1912), who worked at Wood Vallance Hardware as a stenographer, and was a niece, and adopted daughter, of renowned Nelson pioneer J. Fred Hume and his wife Lydia Irvine.. From Alex Leith Collection, Nelson Archives.
scene from Sept. 5, 1911 wedding of R.L. McBride and Eva Hume, described by her sister Freeda Hume Bolton as “the social event of the year in Nelson”.

R.L. McBride courting his second wife Winnie Foote, after Winnie’s best friend Eva died in 1912 and encouraged her to get together with her husband after her death.
This interesting posed photo appears to have been taken in one of Nelson’s first cars after R.L.’s marriage with Eva.
Ornate certificate of marriage with Winnie Foote in 1914.
With wife Winnie and sons Leigh Morgan McBride (1917-1995) and Kenneth Gilbert McBride (1920-1944).

Leigh, Ken and R.L. at the Nelson dock.

R.L. (left) presenting the Wood Vallance Trophy at the Kimberley Golf Club, circa 1930.
R.L. with son Ken, circa 1926.

with son Leigh, circa 1942.

studio photo of R,L. McBride, circa 1945
R.L. in middle of bottom row, with his Wood Vallance staff, 1949
his 1959 obituary in Nanaimo newspaper. With his work he was well-known from Vancouver Island to Montreal.
obituary in Nelson Daily News, May 1959
flowers at his Nelson grave, part of the Masonic committal ceremony.