William Henry Westby (died 1933, aged 67)

William Henry Westby (died 1933, aged 67)

William Henry Westby (died 1933, aged 67) was the second chief gardener at the Butchart Gardens

The first chief gardener at the Butchart Gardens was Hugh Lindsay, whom Jennie Butchart hired in 1910. William Westby replaced Hugh Lindsay in 1914 and remained as head gardener of Butchart Gardens until 1919, when he left to start his own gardening business..

William Westby played an important role in designing and developing the Sunken Garden and the Japanese Garden at Butchart Gardens.

Here is the report of William Henry Westby’s death and funeral from the Daily Colonist:

“W.H. WESTBY IS TAKEN BY DEATH

Resident of Victoria for Past Twenty-Two Years, Dies In Jubilee Hospital

There passed away Sunday, in the Royal Jubilee Hospital, William Henry Westby, of Kingsley Street, Saanich, aged sixty seven years. He was born in Sheffield, Yorkshire, England and had lived in Victoria for the past twenty two years, coming here from Winnipeg.

He was a member of Henderson Lodge No. 84, A.F. & A.M. Mr. Westby is survived by his widow and one son, William James Westby, at the family residence, and three sisters and two brothers in England.

Funeral services will be held under his Lodge’s auspices this afternoon at two o’clock, at St. Luke’s Church, Cedar Hill Crossroad, Rev. S. Ryall officiating. Interment will be made in the church cemetery. S.J. Curry & Son Funeral Home is handling the arrangements”

(Source: Daily Colonist, 12 September 1933, page 3)

William Henry Westby is buried in St. Luke’s Anglican Cemetery, Victoria, B.C.

William Henry Westby grave, St. Luke's Anglican Cemetery, Saanich, B.C. (photo by author)
William Henry Westby grave, St. Luke’s Anglican Cemetery, Saanich, B.C. (photo by author)
William Henry Westby grave stone, St. Luke's Anglican Cemetery, Saanich, B.C. (photo by author)
William Henry Westby grave stone, St. Luke’s Anglican Cemetery, Saanich, B.C. (photo by author)

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