Born to a farming family near Llantwit Major during August 1863, Edward Alexander was educated at Llandovery College where his sporting talents – initially at rugby and cricket – and athletic prowess saw him win a place in the South Wales CC’s match against Wiltshire at Marlborough during August 1882. He did not bat or bowl in the contest with his agile fielding helping to make up for the limitations of some of his older colleagues.
Edward went up to Jesus College, Cambridge the following Autumn where he shone in College cricket and appeared again on five occasions for the South Wales club – in the home and away matches with the Bryn-y-Neuadd club at Llanfairfechan and Cardiff Arms Park, as well as the matches with Shropshire at Shrewsbury, the MCC at the Arms Park and against a North Wales XI, again at Llanfairfechan. He met with little success as a batter with his top score being 19 openeing the batting against the Bryn-y-Neaudd club at Cardiff.
A talented forward, he duly won a place in the Cambridge XV 1883/84 – the first of three Blues. The following year, and whilst still an undergraduate, Edward made his debut for Wales in their international with Scotland. The game ended in a dour 0-0 draw with Edward retaining his place for the games against England and Scotland, both of which ended in defeat. He subsequently appeared in two further internationals, against England and Ireland in 1886/87.
Despite these international honours, Edward had briefly given up playing rugby to focus on rowing and in 1885 he won the Grand Annual Challenge Cup at Henley with the Jesus crew besides being ninth man in the Cambridge boat for the Varsity Race against Oxford. After coming down he worked for a while in London and Liverpool, where he also played rugby for Wasps, Richmond, Blackheath and London Welsh before moving to Wiltshire where his father had purchased a dairy farm.
After getting married in 1893, he ran the farm which he renamed Glan-yr-Afon, and for a few years had his own pack of hounds. Edward continued playing cricket, appearing in village cricket for Leighton CC as well as for Lionel Palairet’s XI at Laverton Park, in addition to being a member of the Beaufort Hunt and taking part in some of their social games.
His oar from the Jesus boat at Henley also became one of the banisters in his farmhouse. Edward became well-known as a breeder of cattle, sheep and poultry with his Welsh Black Sheep winning prizes at agricultural shows at Bristol, Devizes, Exeter, Warminster, Hungerford and Marlborough.
In later life, Edward became a local councillor and served on the Bradford-on-Avon District Council. He was a cousin of George Alexander as well as Hubert Alexander, a member of the well-known family of auctioneers and land agents in Cardiff who played eight times for Glamorgan in 1898 besides playing rugby for Penarth, Newport, Glamorgan and the Barbarians. Hubert was also a senior steward for the Bath and West Agricultural Society and lived at Gileston Manor in the Vale of Glamorgan.
Born – Monknash, 7 August 1863.
Died – Holt, Wiltshire, 26 October 1931.