Conrad Fearnley Sander 1874-1957

See also Conrad's memoirs . I have only incorporated just some of the details from that in this account here of his life- much more to do

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Conrad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . probably!, .L to R (back)  Frederick K , Conrad, Louis . (front) HFC Sander, & Mr W Watson

    

1874. Conrad Fearnley Sander was born Howard Park, Forest Hill, Lewisham 26/12/1874, baptised 29/3/1876 , alongside 2 siblings to Henry Friedrich Sander, seedsman, & Eliza Fearnley, their address Abbey Parish, St Albans . Another sibling, Louis Lohman Sander was born 1878

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Eliza Diederik Sander was born Lewisham Jun 1873; Conrad Fearnley Sander Lewisham Mar 1875; Friedrich Kropp Sander St Albans Mar 1876; Louis Lohmann Sander St Albans Jun 1878

1881C.Fearnley Sander, 6 is living George Street, St Albans. Siblings Eliza and Friedrick are with their grandfather, James Fearnley, in Welling Kent

Frederick Sander Head Married Male 35 1846 Seedsman Em 12 Men 3 Boys Germany British subject
Eliza Sander Wife Married Female 35 1846 - Lewisham, Kent, England
Fearuley Sander Son Single Male 6 1875 Scholar St Albans, Hertfordshire, England
Louis Sander Son Single Male 4 1877 - St Albans, Hertfordshire, England
Emma V Lunfle Servant Single Female 23 1858 Domestic Servant Hertfordshire, England
Ellen Kirrison Servant Single Female 13 1868 Domestic Servant Sandridge, Hertfor

1880-1887. Details of the many family holidays are covered in his 1941 Memoirs, in great detail

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Photo taken ~1881 I reckon - courtesy Susanne . The writing must be that of the child Conrad

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No doubt sent to James Fearnley 1807-1894 - courtesy Susanne . Conrad could only have been 5 even at the end of 1879!

~1885-1887. Conrad, Frederick and Louis were educated in a private school in Margate. originally just the first 2 were sent there: the junior school was called Napier Lodge

1887. Aged 13 he was sent to a day school , a Real school, in Bremen for 3 years, with his "elder brother" - presumably Frederick Kropp Sander 1876 ( he obviously means the elder of his 2 brothers, both younger then he!) .. Unfortunately he does not say who he stayed with!.I have yet to attain whether he still had any relations still there They only returned home for the summer holidays

1890-1892. Aged 16, he spent 3 years with French Rose growers, Scipion Cochet, at Suisnes, S of Paris and then in Paris with their firm

scipion

He was physically fit, a regular tennis player,  a football player ( inside right) and one of the founders of Bruges football club. He was an avid cyclist. 
He describes himself as a 'plodder' at work - phrase lifted by Arthur Swinson. 

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The writing maybe of his daughter Evelyn - photo could be of Conrad in Garvanie later on his life, perhaps ~1910?: photo courtesy of Susanne

1890s. He met Freda Waugh in St Albans and she was his 'first love'.Her father BW and his family lived quite close to HFS and family in their house at "The Camp" by the Nursery. Family myth is that he courted her- but she refused him: this is not what he says in his Memoirs .

1897. Conrad Fearnley Sander married Rose Marguerite Autrand on 9/12/1897 in Avignon, her natal town ,

marguerite .

Marguerite probably with Magali & Evelyn in 1900 - courtesy of Walden-Slakttrad Ancestry tree

. She had stayed with his parents on the way back from school in Southport: her aunt was the lady Conrad's sister, Eliza, had stayed with in Paris

Apparently he cycled from Bruges to Avignon to propose to her!

They had 4 children: Rose Magali Sander 1898; Katherine May Evelyn Sander 1900-1989; Eliza Laelia Sander1902- 1962 and Frederick Mark Roger Sander 1904-1978

1905. His wife, Marguerite Sander, died on 25/11/1905 in St Andre des Bruges. Aged 29, buried in Eglise Anglaise ('t Keerske) - Brugge (Bruges ), 8000, West-Vlaanderen, Vlaanderen, Belgique: https://gw.geneanet.org/jpbohin?lang=en&n=autrand&oc=0&p=rose+marguerite

Conrad had met Freda Waugh in St Albans before his 1897 marriage .

1907 . Conrad F F Sander remarried Freda Waugh in Weybridge C.McG.files. Marriage conducted by Freda's brother, Norman Waugh 1867, who had also converted to Catholicism .Chertsey Jun 1907 Freda was a fervent Catholic , he a stalwart of the English Anglican Church in Bruges

Children: James Julian Fearnley Sander 1908-2000; Ralph Benjamin Waugh Fearnley Sander 1909-1978; Mary Harrison Fearnley Sander 1912-1990; Conrad Peter Fearnley Sander 1914-1945 and

1911. Louis D M Fearnley Sander was born to Conrad & Freda on 4/3/1911 in Bruges- FMP Consular Births 1911-1915: all 9 children in fact recorded. Exact date from his son, Michael. His d.c. states born 17/3/1911. Always known as David

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.a maid, then probably Conrad, Freda with a baby David ,and (I think) two more maids, at the back sitting on the windowsill probably Laelia, Evelyn and Roger, in front Magali , Julian & Ralph- ~ 1911, in Bruges. Courtesy of Susanne

1911C. His daughters, Evelyn Sander, 10, & Magali Sander, 12, were at Westcliffe School, Herne Bay . He and Freda were presumably in Bruges.

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Conrad & Freda- likely they are outside the main nursery offices in Bruges, which had accommodation upstairs, and which was at the entrance to the (many hectares) Nursery. But long since demolished for a new block of flats called “Les Orchidees” - photo courtesy of Susanne.

1914. Left Bruges alone on just about the last mail boat on 26/8/1914, having sent ahead his younger children with a sister in law, his older children with Mr & Mrs Lawrence, and his wife, newly born babe, Peter , with a nurse, on 3 different mail boats over a period of ~ 8 days

Photos of his children

1914-1919. He worked from the outset of WW1 for its duration at the Censor’s Office in London, using his multilingual skills. For a few weeks of WW11 he did the same but was then dismissed- his Memoirs. He seemingly applied for a medal- this refused

conrad-medal-card

Fearnley ( as he was called from 1917 ) had aspirations for his sons earlier on in his life. - his Memoirs.
Roger was to be a farmer ( presumably by marrying into a farm)
Ralph was to be a sea captain and David to fulfil his interest in electricity by becoming an electrical engineer. His application to Farraday house was never considered despite letters from David to his parents about it being possible 'without matriculation', as exampled by a Mayfield boy ( whose father presumably payed Faraday house).
Instead of educating his children towards these aspirations he simply noted them in a book .
Letters home- from David- were nearly all to his mother. However, after he, David, was elected to St Albans City council and also after his name first appeared on 'Orchids and their Cultivation' mum told me his father's attitude changed and he became warm towards him.
He, Conrad, devoted his hand written173 page  tome to his son-in-law, Peter Rawlins ' "sometime barrister in the middle temple" which also speaks volumes of his need, amongst others, for what he perceived as reflected glory.  Peter Rawlins married Conrad's 2nd daughter, Evelyn


1919 onwards. Conrad was in charge of the financial side of the Bruges Nursery from mid 1919; his brother Louis was head of the plants . Conrad and Freda and children lived in St Andre, Bruges.- but he was registered as living at the Camp, St Albans in 1922-1927, but was still working in Bruges . Both he, and his father before him, travelled backwards and forwards: St Albans/Dover/Ostende/Bruges. Frederick even had a flat just behind Dover Town Centre. They used to dine at the Captains Table.

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Magali, Evelyn, Laelia, Roger, Julian, Ralph, David, Mary & Peter

1920. His father died on a visit to Bruges . The body was returned to St Albans for burial : Conrad sat on the cart, dangling his legs, whilst his 2 brothers, and Louis's fiancee walked behind it

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Freda and her five children; L to R. Julian ,Peter, Freda, Mary, Ralph & David ~1921 - photo courtesy of Susanne

1922. Conrad, & his mother Eliza, were living Kinsale, Camp Road, St Albans Herts, with Frederick Kroft and Louis Sander, these two his brothers . Isobel Sander was Fregerick's wife . But, where is Freda- no doubt in Bruges!!_Camp Road adjacent to Cape Road and Sanders Nursery in this Electoral Roll

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Magali, Evelyn, Laelia, Roger, Julian, Ralph, David, Mary & Peter

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The above 2 photos taken either Knokke (most likely) or Ostende ~1924

1927. He is still in the same road in St Albans Electoral Roll, with Frederick Kropp, Louis / Isabel, but no Eliza ' she died 1922.

Conrad was really a top administrator. The horticulturists in Bruges were Louis then Roger (who seemingly was stretched in management and whose business approach ultimately failed )

Conrad was an amazing sportsman, and ladies man! He founded the first football team in Paris, cycled from Bruges to Avignon to propose to his first wife, and played tennis all his life - inc in working hours - which vexed his father - Frederick!

1934. He retired, aged almost 60, on 4/4/1934 to Woburn Sands

1938. Feeling that war was likely , he applied to work again the Censorship Office in that event

1939 Register. Freda Fearnley-Sander is living Kynaston, Newport Road, Newport Pagnell with their unmarried daughter . Where is Conrad?- see below

1939. 2/9/1939. He received a summons to report for work the very next day at the Censors Office . His salary was £4 and he managed to get B & B at the nearby Manchester Hotel for £ 4.4s! - Memoirs

1939 Reg. 29/9/1939 Manchester Hotel, City of London. Conrad F Fearnley- Sander , born 24/12/1874, employed under War Office, M C5 Incorrectly transcribed by FMP!!

Conrad F Fearnley-Sander 25 Sep 1867 Male Commercial Traveller (Foodstuff) Married Visitor 1

The Censorship Office was then moved to Liverpool but he was dismissed within 3 weeks ( suspicion over his non English Christian name? ) on 23/10/1939 and returned home with his 7 trunks!! - his Memoirs end here

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courtesy of Walden-Slakttrad tree- Conrad is on the left. Does anyone know who the other man is?

1941-2. Conrad wrote an account of his life/Memoirs - 154 handwritten pages surrvive. These are priceless and should certainly be typed up to preserve for posterity.

1945. His son, Lieutenant, 245695, Peter Conrad Fearnley Sander, of the Royal Armoured Corps aged 30, was killed in action in Heinsberg on 24/1/1945 . Buried in Bruges general cemetery

Conrad was a sportsman and fit, but liked his comforts. Michael remembers him in bed in his later years demanding handkerchiefs, using them only once and then throwing them (dozens ) on the floor!

From his memoirs I have concluded that he was very much of the opinion that his enjoyment of life was paramount: he rarely refers to his wife or children

1953. His wife, Freda Sander, 80, dies North Bucks Jun 1953. No probate, no Obituary

 

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Photo sent to Evelyn 11/9/1956 , maybe of himself at a younger age!, maybe around 1894? - courtesy of Susanne

Michael disputes this: "I don't know who this is of but it is neither Conrad nor my father".He thinks it might be one of the Moon boys- but do not see why Evelyn would want one of them! Could it be of one of Evelyn's brothers??.

1957. Conrad F Fearnley Sander, of Kynaston, Woburn Sands, died 10/1/1957 . Probate of £10531, the 2 executors non relatives. He converted to Catholicism on his death bed, although he had been a pillar of the Anglican Church in Bruges

probate

He died in the General Hospital, Bedford

I think the most upsetting thing - especially to Evelyn - was his "conversion" to Catholicism on his deathbed. He had been very friendly with the local Catholic Priest. And of course Evelyn was very conscious of her Huguenot background through her mother.

 

The Sander War Legacy

During the mid 19th Century Otto von Bismark  was unifying the various states that made up Germany and deciding the borders. Disputes with Denmark about the border in Schleswig Holstein caused two wars with Denmark, the second of which was in 1864.

Heinrich Frederick Sander, born in Bremen and living in Schleswig Holstein where his mother ran a horticultural establishment, was affected by this aged 17 and  told his family it was the reason he emigrated to England the next year, 1865, aged 18. His father had died when he was very young and his ‘father figure’ was his uncle, Diedrich Kropp, his mother’s brother.  Kropp was a sculptor who travelled abroad and probably introduced Sander to travel with the stories of his adventures.

During Queen Victoria’s reign England fought wars to protect its empire in the Crimea and the Boer wars in South Africa but was peaceful within Europe. Between 1865 and 1914 Sander enjoyed almost 50 years of peace, building his empire, including probably the largest horticultural establishment in the world in Bruges, Belgium. When WW1 started and Belgium was invaded, the decline of Sander’s empire began immediately, taking a further step downhill during WW11, and finally ending in 1970. As a naturalized British subject Sander had reluctantly returned to England at the beginning of August 1914, his worst fears having been realised.  An undischarged bankrupt, still with no funds, his friend (later ‘Sir’) Alfred Gilbert, stayed on.

As requested by his friend, Sander, Gilbert reported subsequent events in his long letter of October 1914 to Frederick Sander. He writes about the invasion of Bruges , as he witnessed it from the upstairs windows of his hiding place. A transcript of this 30 page letter can be found at .

https://www.sandersorchids.com/war-legacy/

The original has been donated to the Imperial War Museum in London and can be seen there by appointment.

WW1 was to lead to the death of Sander’sgrandchild, Philip Moon, the second son of his only daughter and eldest child, Deidi, who had married the artist Henry Moon. Philip Moon died in 1915 in Arras some time before the main battle there in 1917. His body was never recovered but there is a memorial stone to him in the family grave in St. Albans where Sander himself was buried 6 years later. Between the outbreak of WW1 and Philip’s death Sander named a number of Paphiopedilum hybrids after the battles we think that he was involved in.

For the first year of WW1, despite his father’s pleading, his youngest son Louis- 1877 - had stayed in Bruges to try to save the business there. During the winter of 1914/15, which was very cold, he managed to continue paying staff wages by skating north along the canal to neutral Holland where he could get cash from the bank. Finally, despite being fluent in Flemish German and French, it became too dangerous as a British citizen to stay in occupied Belgium and he returned to England via Holland. When he left for England he handed over the running of the nursery to Mr Melstrom, who was a citizen of neutral Sweden. The nursery grew a lot of vegetables and fruit helping sustain the population of Bruges for the duration.

On arrival in England Louis immediately joined the Sherwood Forresters and fought in the Battle of the Somme where he was badly gassed. He returned to help run the business in Bruges in 1920 but because of his health was a shadow of his former industrious self and died young in 1936 leaving his widow Nellie with four young children.

The anti-German sentiment in England had reached fever pitch by 1917 and King George V changed his family name from Saxe-Coburg- Goethe to the current ‘Windsor’. Sander’s eldest son, Conrad, changed , by deed poll, his very German name 'Conrad Friedrich' to his mother’s maiden name, Fearnley. . After this he was known as Fearnley Sander

He worked from the outset of WW1 for its duration at the Censor’s Office in London, using his multilingual skills. For the first few months of WW11 her did the same but, already in his sixties, probably did not adapt to the latest methods and technology.

Three of his sons were involved in WW11, the youngest, Peter, being killed in action in Heinsberg in January 1945. Roger, David and Fearnley’s youngest daughter Mary all joined the RAF.

Roger and David both used their linguistic skills in the intelligence service, Roger in Coastal Command and David working with Enigma, attached to the Royal Navy on the Arctic Convoys. Mary was involved in photo reconnaissance.

David and Roger ran the family firm until Fearnley’s death in 1957 when they each set up separate businesses on their own.  The legacy of War on the history of ‘Sander’s Orchids is very significant indeed.

OBITUARY

The last surviving son of Mr. H. F. Sander died in Bedford Hospital on January 10th. in his eighty-third year. He was Mr. C. F. Fearnley Sander who was closely associated with his father in founding and maintaining the establishment of Messrs.' Sander and Sons at Bruges, Belgium, in 1894.

Mr. Fearnley Sander was a clever administrator and so closely associated with the nursery at Bruges that he was not very well known to Orchid growers in England.

He served his firm for forty years. and after the death of his father, in 1920. he was mainly responsible for the conduct of the Bruges establishment until his retirement in 1934. A great lover of the countryside, he went to live at Kynaston, Woburn Sands, Buckinghamshire, but right up to the time of his death he remained attached to Bruges Nursery in an advisory capacity. For his service to the Belgian horticultural industry, Mr. Fearnley Sander was made
a Chevalier of the Order of the Crown of Belgium. He had an engaging personality and was greatly loved by his employees. His remains were laid to rest in the family vault at St. Albans, following a very quiet funeral service attended by members of the family.

 

Peter, his grandson, would like to add a few words:

At the outset of the first world war, in 1914, Belgium was soon occupied by the German army. As an English citizen, Fearnley had to leave with his family and went to live in Chiswick in London, working locally for intelligence as a translator.

Just as the Royal family changed their name from Saxe-Coburg-Gothe to Windsor, Fearnley dropped his Germanic "Conrad Friederich" and used his mothers maiden name. This change was done by deed pole in 1917, the same year as the Royal family adopted their new name. The irony that the firm's founder had left Germany because of the ''threat of war that Bismark posed" was not lost on members of the family.

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