Background
Hugh Joseph Riddle, known as "Huseph", was born in London on 24 May 1912 and was educated at Harrow School.
Hugh Joseph Riddle, known as "Huseph", was born in London on 24 May 1912 and was educated at Harrow School.
Harrow School.
Riddle joined Number. 601 Squadron Royal Air Force, part of the Auxiliary Air Force in early 1938 and was called to full-time service in October 1939. F/O Jack Riddle scored one kill before and one kill after joining Number 601 Squadron during the Battle of Britain, while Hugh Riddle scored a single kill on 11 July 1940 flying with Number 601 Squadron. Both Hugh and Jack Riddle were promoted to Squadron Leader on the same date: 1 December 1941.
In 1937 Riddle married Joan, known as "Tinker".
Tinker was the daughter of Claude Johnson, first Managing Director of Rolls-Royce Limited and first Secretary of the Royal Automobile Club. Riddle and Tinker had three children, all born after the war, Hugh ("Ras"), Victoria ("Wicky") and Arabel. When Riddle retired in 1974, the couple moved to France.
Tinker died suddenly in 1994. After the war, Riddle returned to portrait painting.
Riddle painted the Queen in 1965 for the Royal Air Force Regiment.
In 1977 he was commissioned by the Royal Household to paint Prince Edward as a Silver Wedding present for the Queen and Prince Philip. Huseph Riddle died on 16 April 2009, aged 97 in Pierrevert, France.
He became a member of the Royal Society of Portrait Painters and exhibited at the Society"s Summer Exhibitions and at some Royal Academy exhibitions.