Lewis Kempthorne was a member of a well-known family of solicitors from Neath, whose male members were also prominent in the sporting life of the town.
Educated at Neath Grammar School and Llandovery College, Lewis played cricket for Cadoxton and appeared twice for Glamorganshire – both times against Breconshire. His debut came at Brecon on 6 and 7 August at Brecon in a match where he scored 13 and 0, besides claiming a pair of wickets. The following year he also played in the contest at Cardiff Arms Park where he scored 4 and 0 and claimed a solitary wicket with his brisk round-arm bowling.
Lewis was also a member of the South Wales Cricket Club and went on their London tours in 1879 and 1880, besides appearing on 25 and 26 May 1876 in the Swansea and District XXII which met the United South of England XI at the recently opened ground at St. Helen’s in Swansea.
His final major match came on 8 and 9 1881 when he guested for Newport CC in their match against a United England Eleven at Rodney Parade. He scored 0 and 7 and was bowled by WG Grace in each innings. Lewis continued to play for the Neath club besides acting as Chair of the Neath Cricket and Football Club, in addition to being a committee member of Glamorgan CCC.
His legal work included acting as solicitor and agent for many leading families in the area, including the Morre-Gwyn’s, whose sons were also very active cricketers. He was also clerk to the Neath County Justices for over fifty years.
KEMPTHORNE, Lewis John
Born: Neath, 19 May 1854.
Died: Woodside, Neath, 15 August 1928.