William Kirkpatrick Riland Bedford (1826-1905), antiquary and genealogist, was born on 12 July 1826 at Sutton Coldfield rectory. He attended Sutton Coldfield Grammar School and Westminster School before entering Brasenose College, Oxford (B.A., 1848; M.A., 1852). He became Curate of Southwell, Nottinghamshire, in 1849, and was Rector of Sutton Coldfield, 1850-1892. He was an authority on the antiquities of Sutton Coldfield. Bedford was Chaplain of the Order of St John of Jerusalem, 1878-1902, and as its official genealogist wrote on the history and regulations of the Knights Hospitallers. He also published works on archery, cricket and other subjects. He died on 23 January 1905 at Cricklewood.