Jack Carver was the son of Richard Richards Carver of Wenallt, Bancyfelin – a large country house midway between Carmarthen and St. Clears – and a leading figure in the farming and hunting world of Carmarthenshire in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century.
Born as John Carver at Llanfinhangel in October 1861, he attended Llandovery College and as a result of his sporting prowess at the school, and his social standing in West Wales, he took part in the South Wales Cricket Club’s tour to the London area in 1882, appearing in the matches against the MCC at Lord’s as well as the game with Surrey Club and Ground at The Oval.
Following the tour, Jack also took part in the three matches in August at Cardiff Arms Park which the Club had arranged as a cricket week, against Clifton CC, the MCC and Wiltshire. However, Jack met with modest success as a batter, scoring just 20 runs in the matches at Cardiff, besides bagging a pair against the MCC and was never called up again by the Club.
Jack played for Llandovery CC and it is likely that he also hunted with his father and brothers with the Maesgwyn, Tivyside and Carmarthenshire Hunts. Richard Carver was also friendly with JTD Llewelyn and, as a result, father and son may have also ridden with the Penllergaer Hounds.
Jack followed his father into the world of farming, initially at Tregadwgan Farm, near Llanfihangel Abercywyn, before moving to Monmouthshire and farming at Fair Oak, near Chapel Hill, some four miles north of Chepstow.
CARVER, John (‘Jack’)
Born – Llanfihangel, Carmarthenshire, October 1861.