Robert Knight was the son of the Reverend Charles Rumsey Knight, who lived at Tythegston Court and was one of the leading barristers in South Wales during the late 19th century.
Born at St. Brides Major during April 1858, Robert was educated at Clifton College, before reading Law at Corpus Christi, Oxford. Whilst in residence, he made his first-class debut against the Gentlemen of England at The Parks in 1878 with the right-handed batter and left-arm round-arm bowler playing regularly for the Dark Blues before continuing his legal studies and being called to the Bar in 1887.
Whilst at school at Clifton, Robert had been chosen by the selectors of the Glamorganshire club – the forerunners of Glamorgan CCC – to play for the West of Glamorgan against the East of Glamorgan at Merthyr Mawr in their one-day contest on 14 September 1875.
His legal studies at Oxford, and his later work as a barrister, meant that the county’s selectors did not call him up again for any of their friendly contests, although he continued to play for the South Wales Cricket Club from 1880 until 1886, besides appearing for the MCC and being a regular in the 1st XI at Bridgend CC.
During the 1900s the Glamorgan selectors chose an all-amateur team for various friendlies as they ran their eye over emerging talent. Some of the long-standing amateurs were also chosen in these games, including Robert who re-appeared in August 1908, alongside Club captain Jack Brain, for the Gentlemen of Glamorgan against Usk Valley CC in a two-day contest at Christ College, Brecon. Batting at number ten, the 50-year old made 1 in the first innings before rolling back the years by top-scoring with 45 second time around as the Usk Valley club enforced the follow-on against the county amateurs before recording a victory by ten wickets.
In June 1933 his daughter Mary Eleanor married ‘Tip’ Williams who played for Glamorgan between 1928 and 1930, and was one of the founding fathers of the South Wales Hunts CC.
KNIGHT, Robert Lougher
Born – St.Brides Major, 21 April 1858.
Died – Tythegston Court, 22 May 1938.
