A memorial service for Bryden Bordley Hyde, author of Bermuda's Antique Furniture and Silver, will be held at Christ Church, Warwick, at 4 p.m. on, February 23. Mr. Hyde, who practiced architecture in Baltimore, died, aged 87, at his home on Gibson Island, Maryland, on December 28, 2001, after a long illness.

He was married to the former Diana Caroline Smith, daughter of Sir Allan Smith, and took a deep interest in Bermuda where they had a second home, "The Brae" on Southcote Road, Paget.

Mr. Hyde's funeral took place at St. Christopher-By- the- Sea Church on Gibson Island, and his ashes were placed in a new memorial garden north of the church.

Mr. Hyde made tremendous contributions to Baltimore and Maryland, and in Bermuda, his second home, he was active in building preservation, working with the late Will Onions on renovation of "Verdmont", Smith's, the jewel of the Bermuda National Trust's collection of heritage buildings.

Mrs. Hyde's grandmother, Mrs. Alan Frith Smith, was pioneer researcher into past Bermuda craftsmen in cedar and silver, and her interest touched off a long period of research for Mr. Hyde, which finally saw the light of day in Bermuda's Antique Furniture and Silver, the most comprehensive publication ever done of the work of Bermuda craftsmen of former times.

In it Mr. Hyde pays tribute to Mrs. Smith, whose work provided the foundation for his researches. The book, which was published by the Bermuda National Trust, remains a bible for all who are interested in our heritage. At auctions the word that an item up for sale is "in Bryden Hyde's book" immediately sparks great interest, with the purchaser having a sense that he has obtained a certified piece of Bermuda's more distant past. In the book one can see the immense amount of work involved, which included obtaining permission from owners, visiting homes, taking measurements and setting up the objects in the best way for their portraits. Afterwards came further labour in arranging the pages and the pictures into a comprehensible order so that the book is a delight to use. Mr. John Cox, a kinsman and current President of the Bermuda Historical Society, said: "Bryden had a real knack for bringing appreciation of history and the decorative arts, subjects often perceived as pedantic and elitist, very much alive and to the forefront. He managed this with brilliant wit and charm. His brilliant book on Bermuda furniture and silver, along with his slide lectures on the island's arts, had a huge impact."

Born in 1914, Mr. Hyde obtained a master's degree in architecture from the University of Pennsylvania in 1939. His practice was interrupted by the Second World War, during which he became an infantry captain, serving in France in the 8th Armoured Division, including the Battle of the Bulge. He was decorated for his service, and his family like to say that he returned from the war with a Bronze Star and a silver spoon which he spotted in a ruined house where he was forced to take cover from shelling. The family saying goes: "Enemy fire got the jeep - he got the spoon".

Mrs. Hyde says: "We've still got the spoon. It's a big berry spoon. He could antique in all circumstances."

After the war he rejoined the firm of James R. Edmunds Jr., and was made a partner in 1947. In 1953 he became president of the firm, now renamed Edmunds and Hyde Inc. He made a name for himself in historic preservation, demolishing two old houses brick by brick and reconstructing them. The 22,000 bricks of one houses were rebuilt using mortar made with an historic additive - oyster shells. It was project which led to his being made a Fellow in the American Institute of Architects. In 1968 he designed the mezzanine of the American Wing of the Baltimore Museum of Art, installing a parlour, bedchamber and other historic exhibits using empty space under the skylights. He took part in many civic and community activities, including being a founder and president of Historic Annapolis. Both the Hydes were charter members of the U.S. National Trust for Historic Preservation. Mr. Hyde also belonged to the Maryland Club, the Maryland Historical Society, the Society of Colonial Wars, the Society of Cincinnati, the Gibson Island Club and the Ancient South River Club.

As well as being an architect and a collector of antiques, he was also an artist and painted more than 50 portraits ... some of them helped to pay his way through college. Said Mrs. Hyde: "The drawings he did of houses are just works of art, just beautiful workmanship. In his later years he did a house and the owner turned copies of the drawings into wallpaper for his bathroom. He just thought it was so beautiful."

Her brother, Mr. Peter J. C. Smith, feels that while Mr. Hyde did not appear to be artistic on the outside, he was, very much so, on the inside. "I remember when I met him in Baltimore, where he was the architect for St. John's College, Annapolis, and I discovered his tremendous feel for how to add on to an 18th century building and keep the feeling of the past. He was interested in antiques, and had a tremendous knowledge of them, both American and Bermudian."

He remembers Mr. Hyde's ability to make up his mind. "He met my sister Diana here - and proposed on the first date! She accepted! They really cared for each other. Both of them were strong-willed and had their differences, but it did not effect their relationship. She supported his artistic ability - she was a strong supporter of everything he did." On the personal side Mr. Smith remember him as a person of tremendous energy. ": He did not seem to need much sleep. he would rise early in the morning and go on all day and evening until midnight, and have just as much energy the whole time." Mr. Cox declared: "Bryden will be keenly missed by a large number of Bermudians. We're only now realising what great accomplishments he made in preserving our wonderful heritage. He's really the last of a dying breed of the old school, where manners, honour and kindness were a way of life."

The family ask that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Bermuda National Trust, and added: "All donations marked in memory of Bryden Hyde will be used to benefit the Trust's museums and furniture that he so loved."