Raymond Piper

Raymond Piper HRUA HRHA MUniv (1923–2007)[1] was a botanist and artist[2] born in London and at the age of six moved to Belfast. For a time he was a teacher at the Royal School Dungannon. His main income was as a portrait painter and he included among his subjects certain Lord Mayors of London and Belfast. He became interested in wild flowers, archaeology and geology,[3] however his interest in orchids (Orchidaceae) developed and his exhibits were displayed in the British Museum and the Ulster Museum. He also illustrated in number of books. In 1974 he was awarded the John Lindley Medal of the Royal Horticultural Society.

He joined the Belfast Naturalists' Field Club in 1946 in which he was twice president (1971–1972 and 1983–1984) he became an Honorary Member in 1990. He took great interest in the flowers of Ireland especially orchids.[4]