In July 1864 a player listed as JL Davies appeared against the Knickerbockers at Islington. However, he did not bat or bowl in what proved to be his only appearance.
It is believed that this was the Rev. John Llewelyn Davies, a well-known preacher and theologian who lived in Marylebone, and was a friend of Rev. William Price, the vicar of Lilleshall and Crickhowell who also played for the South Wales Cricket Club and Breconshire from 1864 until 1879. Indeed, he may well have persuaded his friend to also play for Breconshire as a Rev JL Davies was in their team in 1874.
Photo Credit – Glamorgan Cricket Archives.
Born in Sussex in 1826, John Llewelyn Davies was the son of Rev. John Davies, a Welsh priest born in Llanddewi-Brefi and educated in Lampeter. John (junior) was educated at Repton School and Trinity College, Cambridge, and after graduating, he became Rector of Christ Church, Marylebone from 1856 until 1889. During this time, he also acted as Chaplain to Queen Victoria from 1876 until 1881. Between 1889 and 1908 Rev. Davies was Vicar of Kirkby Lonsdale and from 1901 until his death, he was also Chaplain to the King.
John was a keen walker and mountaineer, and was one of the 31 founders of the Alpine Club and the first to climb the highest peaks in the Swiss frontier. His grandson Jack Llewelyn Davies was one of the inspirations for JM Barrie’s Peter Pan.
DAVIES, Rev. John Llewelyn
Born – Chichester, 26 February 1826.
Died – Hampstead, 16 May 1916.