Reverend Robert William Ryde (6 July 1866 – 8 August 1909) was an English clergyman and member of the Church Missionary Society (CMS).
[3] The Ryde Gold Medal, awarded in Trinity College to the best all round boy, and the highest honour that the School can bestow, is named after Rev.
His stint in Jaffna was also marked by the latter feature, so much so that he was invited to assume duty as President of the St John's College Old Boys' Association in 1904, and that of the Trinity OBA (Colombo) in 1908.
Following his period at Trinity, Rev Ryde took charge of the Sinhalese Women Teachers Vernacular Training School, in Cotta, Colombo.
He was preparing to move his family to the mission house in Anuradhapura to assume duties at St. Andrews Church when he was taken ill. Rev Ryde died in Colombo in 1909.