Hubert Alexander was a member of the well-known Cardiff family of auctioneers. Their roots lay in Newmarket, the racing town in Suffolk, with Hubert’s great-grandfather having moved to South Wales to become stable manager at Fonmon Castle, the castellated home of the Jones family to the south of Cowbridge whose later owner, Oliver Henry Jones had played cricket for the Glamorganshire club.
The Alexanders, through marriage, subsequently ran the grocery business in the village of Penmark, and with the business thriving, Hubert’s father was able to be educated at Cowbridge Grammar School. Born in 1841, David Alexander had trained as a surveyor before setting up business in Pontypridd in conjunction with William Prichard Stephenson, a Yorkshire-born auctioneer. In 1877 the pair moved to Cardiff as Stephenson and Alexander of 5/6 High Street came into being.
Their business went from strength to strength, with David’s staunch support of the Liberal cause helping to secure for the practice a role as advisors to the Town Council. The 1875 Cardiff Improvement Act had also given the town’s Corporation the power to provide public pleasure grounds, so David was able to help the council on their negotiations with local landowners including the Marquess of Bute and Lord Tredegar.
Hubert joined the family business during the 1890s, Educated at Tavistock Grammar School and Sherborne, he was a talented all-round sportsman, playing rugby for Newport, Penarth and the Barbarians, besides playing cricket for, amongst others, Cardiff, Penarth, Dinas Powys and Glamorgan. Hubert made four appearances for Glamorgan during 1898, starting with the match against Surrey 2nd XI at The Oval during early June. He played against Worcestershire at New Road, and twice at the Arms Park, against Monmouthshire and Wiltshire, but made little impact as a batsman, and despite some useful scores in club cricket, Hubert did not re-appear for Glamorgan in subsequent years.
Like his father and grandfather, Hubert was very well-connected and held an interest in many country sports, besides acting as a senior steward for the Bath and West Agricultural Society. His wife, Edith, was the daughter of newspaper magnate John Duncan, with the pair subsequently living at Gileston Manor in the Vale of Glamorgan, with Hubert adding golf to his recreational interests.
Later in life, he also served on the governing body of the Church in Wales, and was Chairman of the Prince of Wales’ Orthopaedic Hospital. Hubert had become a partner in the family’s business shortly before the Great War and during the late 1920s, he helped Glamorgan secure office space at 6 High Street, adjacent to the auctioneer’s main office. It was here that Maurice Turnbull and Johnnie Clay planned their fund-raising campaign which kept the Club afloat during the 1930s, whilst in 1948, it was to the High Street office that telegrams of congratulations were sent to Wilf Wooller and his Championship-winning squad.
Hubert continued as a partner in his family’s business until his sudden death shortly before Christmas 1954.
ALEXANDER, Hubert Griffiths
Born – Pontypridd, 9th September 1873.
Died – Gileston Manor, St. Athan, 20th December 1954.
Batting and Fielding Record
| M | I | NO | RUNS | AV | 100 | 50 | CT | ST | |
| MC Championship | 6 | 10 | 2 | 182 | 22.80 | – | 1 | – | – |
| MC Friendlies | 2 | 4 | 0 | 24 | 6.00 | – | – | 1 | – |
Career-bests
Minor County Championship 80 v Monmouthshire at Rodney Parade, Newport, 1898.
Minor County Friendlies– 12 v Surrey 2nd XI at Cardiff Arms Park, 1898.