Frank Stacey acted the private tutor to the teenage Third Marquess of Bute, besides enjoying a highly successful cricketing career with Cambridge University as well as appearing as a batter / wicket-keeper for Glamorganshire from 1869 to 1875 and playing a key role in persuading the Marquess to agree to allocating a section of Cardiff Arms Park solely for the town’s cricket club.
With the Marquess set to attend Harrow, Frank Stacey was appointed during the autumn of 1859 as the young boy’s tutor. Frank was the son of the Rev. Thomas Stacey of Gelligaer, who served as vicar of Roath before becoming Precentor of Llandaff Cathedral and living at St. John’s Vicarage in Cardiff. Frank’s uncle was Edwin Richards, who was the land agent and solicitor to the Bute Estate. With Frank having himself attended Eton College before reading Law at King’s College Cambridge, he was therefore regarded by the Marquesses family as a most suitable person to accompany and tutor the teenager.
Born in Llandaff in 1830, Frank was one of the finest young cricketers in South Wales in the middle of the 19th century. He played for Cambridge University between 1850 and 1853, as well as for the Gentlemen of England in Festival matches against teams representing Kent and Sussex. Frank also played for the MCC and I Zingari, besides appearing as a wicket-keeper in exhibition games in South Wales against the wandering English elevens during the 1850s, including the Neath and District side against the All England Eleven at Neath in 1855, as well as the Llanelli and District team against the United England Eleven in 1856. The following year, he was in the Cardiff side which met the United All England Eleven in 1857, before guesting for the XXII of Monmouthshire in their match against the All-England Eleven on the Newport Marshes in 1858.
The summer of 1858 also saw Frank score 81 for the MCC against Westminster School, whilst in 1859 he scored 89 for the Gentlemen of England against the Gentlemen of Kent. By this time, Frank had completed his legal studies and during the Autumn of 1859, he commenced his duties as tutor to the Marquess. The pair subsequently spent several quite eventful months in both South Wales and Scotland, besides being embroiled in a row over the teenager’s custody following the death on 28 December 1859 of Lady Sophia Bute from Bright’s disease – a form of kidney failure. Early in 1860 three rather haughty dowagers were appointed as trustees to look after the Marquess. For Frank, life with the Marquess and his entourage on various estates in Scotland swiftly became very different to what he had experienced as an undergraduate at Cambridge and a well-to-do young cricketer in South Wales and further afield.
In between lessons, Stacey filled his time with shooting and fishing on the Scottish estates, whilst in the evenings he enjoyed a drink, sometimes with his thirteen year-old charge. As their friendship grew, Frank told the Marquess more and more tales about cricket, Cambridge and the good life of Cardiff. The pictures that Frank painted were a million miles away from the sheltered existence the Marquess had hitherto known and it was not long before an argument took place with one of the more puritanical spinsters who thoroughly disapproved of Frank’s actions. She suggested that the teenager should prepare for a place at Harrow by attending the Scottish Episcopal boarding school at Glenalmond rather than having a tutor. The Marquess disagreed vehemently but shortly afterwards, he was taken to the George Hotel in Glasgow, with Frank being relieved of his duties as the Marquess’ tutor.
A custody battle duly followed with the Marquess, much to his relief, being placed under the charge of the Earl of Galloway. Frank had remained in contact with his tutee, and through his encouragement, and that of the Earl, the Marquess learnt the rudiments of cricket whilst at Harrow from 1862 and before attending Christ College Oxford. It was through this through this friendship with Frank that the Marquess became more actively involved with the affairs of Cardiff Cricket Club, and agreed in 1865 to become the patron of the town club, before two years later, agreeing to the suggestion that the north-western part of Cardiff Arms Park should be converted into a base for the town club, with the Marquess helping to finance the creation of a small wooden pavilion.
It was here on 15 and 15 June 1869 that Frank duly made his Glamorganshire debut in the match against Monmouthshire. His best years were behind him, but he scored 3 and 23 in the drawn match. That summer he also appeared twice more for Glamorganshire, against Breconshire at Brecon plus Radnorshire at Llandrindod Wells. Frank made further county appearances at the Arms Park – in 1871 against Monmouthshire and in 1873 in the game with Breconshire. The latter were also the team against whom he made his final Glamorganshire appearance, in July 1875 at Brecon. However, given his pivotal role in the establishment of the Cardiff CC ground on the Arms Park it was fitting that Frank’s final match of note should come at the venue, during August 1880 for the MCC against the South Wales Cricket Club.
Frank’s elder brother John also played for Glamorganshire from 1863 until 1870. Frank also served on the committee of Glamorganshire 1874-1876, besides being involved in the running of the South Wales Cricket Club. Away from cricket, he was also a Director of the Taff Vale Railway as well as Master of Hounds to the Glamorganshire Hunt. When at Eton, he also played the organ for Evensong in St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle when services were held worshipping royalty. As an adult, he also oversaw the finances for the creation of the Great West Window at King’s College, Chapel.
In addition, Frank also played cricket under the alias of “F de Bracey” and “F de Bracy” in case his family imagined he was neglecting his Bar studies.
STACEY, Francis Edmund
Born: Llandaff, 18 August 1830.
Died: Llandough Castle, 3 October 1885.
