Joseph Gibbs was another Old Etonian who briefly played for the South Wales Cricket Club in 1864 before undertaking a hugely successful business career, overseeing the finances of many railway companies, both in the UK and overseas, as well as becoming a Director of the Bank of England.
He was the son of the Rev. Joseph Gibbs of Clifton Hampden in Berkshire and was a King’s Scholar at Eton before going up to Queen’s College in Oxford. The right-handed batter was in the Eton XI in 1858, before making his debut for Oxfordshire shortly after leaving school. In 1860 Joseph also guested for Monmouthshire in their contest against the All-England Eleven at Newport.
During 1861 Joseph was also on the fringe of the Dark Blues team but he did not win a Blue, Nevertheless, he continued to play for Oxfordshire as well as going on the South Wales Cricket Club’s tour of London and the Home Counties. His debut came at The Oval where he scored 13 and 12* against Surrey Club and Ground, before making 0 and 32 against the Gentlemen of Kent at Gravesend plus 0 and 17 in the game with I Zingari at Lord’s.
Later in the summer, Joseph played for Richmond CC against the United England Eleven before moving from South London to the West Country to commence his work as an accountant with the Devon and Somerset Railway. Whilst based in Barnstaple during 1867, he also married Mary Budd, the daughter of a local doctor. The couple subsequently spent time in France and Spain, with Jospeh working for a railway company based in Paris, before becoming a Director of the Mexican Railway Company.
Joseph plus his wife and children later returned to the UK with Joseph securing a post in the City of London, besides being a Director of both Prince’s Hotel and the Bank of England.
GIBBS, Joseph Hucks
Born – Tyntesfield, Wraxall, 14 October 1840.
Died – Kensington, 23 March 1886.