Vivian Ridler
Encyclopedia
Vivian Ridler, CBE
(2 October 1913–11 January 2009), was an English printer, typographer and scholar, born in Cardiff
. He was Printer to the University of Oxford at Oxford University Press
from 1958 until his retirement in 1978. Educated at Bristol Grammar School
, he soon became interested in typography and with the help of a friend, David Bland, bought a small Adana
printing press. Together they established the Perpetua Press, a private press which they ran between 1931 and 1936. Ridler got to know John Johnson
, then Printer to the University, and in 1936 came to Oxford
to help the Assistant Printer, Charles Batey. In the late 1930s Ridler moved away from Oxford
, establishing the Bunhill Press in London
. He served in the Royal Air Force
during the Second World War.
After the war, Ridler became the first tutor in typography at the Royal College of Art
and typographer to Lund Humphries & Co. in Bradford
, before returning to Oxford University Press
as Works Manager in 1948. He was appointed Assistant Printer in 1950 and Printer in 1958.
Ridler was widely known in printing beyond Oxford
. He was a founder of the Institute of Printing, an examiner in typographic design for the City and Guilds of London Institute
and was elected President of the British Federation of Master Printers in 1968. He was made a CBE
in 1970. After his retirement from OUP in 1978, he continued to print at home, refounding the Perpetua Press and produced a series of small books, broadsides
and ephemera
on a hand-press.
In 1938 he married the writer Anne Ridler
née Bradby, who worked as secretary to T. S. Eliot
at Faber and Faber
. Several of Anne's works were printed by Vivian at his Perpetua Press. The Ridlers had four children, and Anne died in 2001.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(2 October 1913–11 January 2009), was an English printer, typographer and scholar, born in Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
. He was Printer to the University of Oxford at Oxford University Press
Oxford University Press
Oxford University Press is the largest university press in the world. It is a department of the University of Oxford and is governed by a group of 15 academics appointed by the Vice-Chancellor known as the Delegates of the Press. They are headed by the Secretary to the Delegates, who serves as...
from 1958 until his retirement in 1978. Educated at Bristol Grammar School
Bristol Grammar School
Bristol Grammar School is a co-educational independent school in Clifton, Bristol, England. The school was founded in 1532 by two brothers, Robert and Nicholas Thorne....
, he soon became interested in typography and with the help of a friend, David Bland, bought a small Adana
Adana
Adana is a city in southern Turkey and a major agricultural and commercial center. The city is situated on the Seyhan River, 30 kilometres inland from the Mediterranean, in south-central Anatolia...
printing press. Together they established the Perpetua Press, a private press which they ran between 1931 and 1936. Ridler got to know John Johnson
John de Monins Johnson
John de Monins Johnson was an English papyrologist, printer of the Oxford English Dictionary, and collector.-Biography:...
, then Printer to the University, and in 1936 came to Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
to help the Assistant Printer, Charles Batey. In the late 1930s Ridler moved away from Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
, establishing the Bunhill Press in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. He served in the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
during the Second World War.
After the war, Ridler became the first tutor in typography at the Royal College of Art
Royal College of Art
The Royal College of Art is an art school located in London, United Kingdom. It is the world’s only wholly postgraduate university of art and design, offering the degrees of Master of Arts , Master of Philosophy and Doctor of Philosophy...
and typographer to Lund Humphries & Co. in Bradford
Bradford
Bradford lies at the heart of the City of Bradford, a metropolitan borough of West Yorkshire, in Northern England. It is situated in the foothills of the Pennines, west of Leeds, and northwest of Wakefield. Bradford became a municipal borough in 1847, and received its charter as a city in 1897...
, before returning to Oxford University Press
Oxford University Press
Oxford University Press is the largest university press in the world. It is a department of the University of Oxford and is governed by a group of 15 academics appointed by the Vice-Chancellor known as the Delegates of the Press. They are headed by the Secretary to the Delegates, who serves as...
as Works Manager in 1948. He was appointed Assistant Printer in 1950 and Printer in 1958.
Ridler was widely known in printing beyond Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
. He was a founder of the Institute of Printing, an examiner in typographic design for the City and Guilds of London Institute
City and Guilds of London Institute
The City and Guilds of London Institute is a leading United Kingdom vocational education organisation. City & Guilds offers more than 500 qualifications over the whole range of industry sectors through 8500 colleges and training providers in 81 countries worldwide...
and was elected President of the British Federation of Master Printers in 1968. He was made a CBE
CBE
CBE and C.B.E. are abbreviations for "Commander of the Order of the British Empire", a grade in the Order of the British Empire.Other uses include:* Chemical and Biochemical Engineering...
in 1970. After his retirement from OUP in 1978, he continued to print at home, refounding the Perpetua Press and produced a series of small books, broadsides
Broadside (printing)
A broadside is a large sheet of paper printed on one side only. Historically, broadsides were posters, announcing events or proclamations, or simply advertisements...
and ephemera
Ephemera
Ephemera are transitory written and printed matter not intended to be retained or preserved. The word derives from the Greek, meaning things lasting no more than a day. Some collectible ephemera are advertising trade cards, airsickness bags, bookmarks, catalogues, greeting cards, letters,...
on a hand-press.
In 1938 he married the writer Anne Ridler
Anne Ridler
Anne Barbara Ridler OBE was a British poet, and Faber and Faber editor, selecting the Faber A Little Book of Modern Verse with T. S. Eliot . Her Collected Poems were published in 1994...
née Bradby, who worked as secretary to T. S. Eliot
T. S. Eliot
Thomas Stearns "T. S." Eliot OM was a playwright, literary critic, and arguably the most important English-language poet of the 20th century. Although he was born an American he moved to the United Kingdom in 1914 and was naturalised as a British subject in 1927 at age 39.The poem that made his...
at Faber and Faber
Faber and Faber
Faber and Faber Limited, often abbreviated to Faber, is an independent publishing house in the UK, notable in particular for publishing a great deal of poetry and for its former editor T. S. Eliot. Faber has a rich tradition of publishing a wide range of fiction, non fiction, drama, film and music...
. Several of Anne's works were printed by Vivian at his Perpetua Press. The Ridlers had four children, and Anne died in 2001.