Rugby Clubs in Forest of Dean 1890 to 1908

I am trying to trace my Father Fred Blewitt who we believe played Rugby Union in either the Forest of Dean or Wales in the late 1800 early 1900's. He emigrated to New Zealand in 1909 so it would have been before then. We had in the family (sadly now missing) a Rugby Cap which was either Black or Dark Blue with silver cord which was bought out on high days and holidays for inspection, but Dad was not the most informative person and the surviving siblings cannot remember what he said it was for besides Rugby. We have checked with the Welsh Rugby Union and Swansea and Cardiff as he had family ties there but to no avail, so we wondered if he may have played for one of the Forest Teams. Any help would be appreciated to help solve this family mystery.

Thanks
Tony in New Zealand.

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Hi Tony,

I have a Fred Blewett in my tree, born 1880 in Cinderford, second son of William Blewett and Eliza J Probert. Do you have any more detail, birth date/place, siblings etc to cross check?

Not sure how much I can find out about the local Rugby clubs at that time but I'm willing to give it a go...

Regards,

Andrew Bluett.

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Hi Andrew

Thanks that is my father, Fred - if you would like to contact me off board we can swop information etc, we do have a family tree on Ancestry but it is by invitation only so once we have your email address we can "invite" you to join.

Fred did have a brother Frank (not Francis) who also came to NZ as well, and there are still family here from both sides. Interested to hear if there is any info on the Rugby Clubs, we have drawn a blank with Welsh RU, Cardiff and Swansea RFC and are waiting for information from Glos RFU.

Regards
Tony

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I am chairman of Cinderford RFC I will see what I can find out

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Good evening Gary

Thank you for doing that we have been in touch with Glos RFC and they are also looking, ift would be so interesting to know where the cap came from.

Thank you once again for your trouble.

Tony in NZ

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My grandfather William Frank Essex certainly used to take the money for the old grandstand seats at Lydney (Regentsholme) around 1950-55, as I was there with him, but I think he also said he had played for Lydney and/or run the touchline there. If so, it must have been between 1903 and 1912, but I've never seen any proof. So if anyone researching Forest clubs 1890-1908 comes across his name I'd be interested. Emailing Lydney about 3 years ago didn't produce anything. I can remember that, of other Forest clubs, Lydney used to play Cinderford and Berry Hill regularly in the more recent years I've just referred to, so conceivably he was involved in such local derbies in those earlier years.

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Thanks to this great forum I've tonight discovered the "Forest Review" newspapers are readable online including older copies, great news for an Exile such as me.
Reading recent issues this evening I see they regularly have "old photograph" features, I would suggest contacting the named contributors of those photos might be worthwhile.

Perhaps even more relevant, the 4th November 2011 issue included an 1895 photo of Yorkley RFC.
Sadly no Blewitts in the lineup, although Yorkley did play in a dark strip, maybe blue ?. They are also all wearings their caps, which I think was quite normal in those days for formal occasions ?. Anyhow, the article says this photo is "part of a collection of old sports team photos recently presented to the Gage Library at the Dean Heritage Centre".

This link should take you to the relevant issue, then click thro to page 17.
http://edition.pagesuite-professional.co.uk/launch.aspx?referral=other&pnum=&re...

Following the Centre's terrible fire and loss of archives it's great to hear such news.
Just in case you've not already tried this route I suggest contacting the centre will hopefully be worthwhile.
http://deanheritagecentre.com/gage_library.html

Hope this helps and good luck.

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Name: Fred Blewett
Date of Registration: Jan-Feb-Mar 1880
Registration district: Westbury On Severn
Inferred County: Gloucestershire
Volume: 6a
Page: 263

1881 Bilson Green
William Blewitt abt 1852 Littledean, Gloucestershire, England Head Westbury On Severn - East Dean, Gloucestershire
Eliza J. Blewitt abt 1855 Redbrook, Gloucestershire, England Wife Westbury On Severn - East Dean, Gloucestershire
William T. Blewitt abt 1874 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Son Westbury On Severn - East Dean, Gloucestershire
Fanny Blewitt abt 1878 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Daughter Westbury On Severn - East Dean, Gloucestershire
Fred Blewitt abt 1880 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Son Westbury On Severn - East Dean,

1901 Bilson Green nr Barley Corn Inn
William Bluett abt 1852 Littledean, Gloucestershire, England Head East Dean, Gloucestershire
Eliza Bluett abt 1855 Redbrook, Gloucestershire, England Wife East Dean, Gloucestershire
Fredk Bluett abt 1880 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Son East Dean, Gloucestershire
Frank Bluett abt 1883 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Son East Dean, Gloucestershire
Margaret F Bluett abt 1888 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Daughter East Dean, Gloucestershire
Harry Bluett abt 1891 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Son East Dean, Gloucestershire
Ernest J Bluett abt 1893 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Son East Dean, Gloucestershire

Lydney or Cinderford Rugby Club perhaps ???

--
Ἀριστοτέλης A Gloster Boy in the Forest of Dean ><((((*>

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On behalf of Tony - thanks for the info "slowhands" you can also see some of the problems we have in tracing the family in UK with the spelling of the surname and the instance of some enumerators in calling him Frederick - he was pure and simple "FRED" as was his brother FRANK not Francis.
We know that both of them were, as my grandma from the Potteries would say, "down Pit" Fred was we believe from the census something to do with the Pit Ponies and was above ground but Frank was below ground.
Both came out here on the same ship a year apart Frank ended up on the Wharves in Wellington and them became a "Civil Servant" Fred was at first a Tramways inspector then he became the Health Inspector for New Brighton in Christchurch, this covered a mutlitude of things from Drivers Licence testing to Farm Inspections. According to Tony and his sister Fred said very little about his life in Cinderford, and Franks son Frank says that his father was very vague about things too.
We believe from reports that Fred gave evidence against the mine owners just prior to his leaving Cinderford perhaps that has something to do with his leaving but we do not know which mine they worked for.
Even when he was able to come "home" he flatly refused. Fred married Eva Preston and had two sons and two daughters. Frank married twice his first wife died shortly after they were married he re married and had a son Frank who is a Real Estate Agent (amongst other things he was also at one time the local funeral director) in Levin not far from Wellington. Frank Jnr is still alive and Freds daughter Muriel and Tony are the only survivors from Fred - all are now in their 80's. They all have families.

Thanks once again for your help, we are all (Frank,Alison,Tony and I (Tonys other half)) enjoying trying to unravel the life of Fred and Frank. If anyone knows anything we would love to hear from you

Dyan

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There is still I believe a Blewitt family living in the Cinderford area. For many years a Nurse Blewitt worked from the Doctors Surgery in Cinderford and the family lived along Flaxley Street.
Nurse Blewitt had a daughter Alison who would be around 45 now.

Maybe they are related.

Tanya

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Thank you Tanya for that - Nurse Blewitt must have married one of the males in the line I wonder which?
However there was another Blewitt family (with all its variety of spelling) in the area and I have to be careful when I am doing the family tree that I dont get confused with them.
Just as an aside there was here in NZ a family of some "disrepute" who took the name Blewett and one was a murderer who took off to America and was eventually caught and brought back in irons. Tried to tell Tony that it was one of his family but he won't have it!!!!

Dyan

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Nurse Blewitt is married to Derek, and both still living in Flaxley st, Cinderford

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Thanks Forest - dont suppose you know the "lineage" of Derek do you? Cant seem to track that one.

Regards
Tony (and Dyan)

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Sorry no idea. Suggest that you might give him a phone call, I'm sure he would be very happy to help you with your research.
If you are unable to find phone no. email me and I will send info.

Regards
Forest

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Strong Suspect :- ( I'll not continue this line forward on this forum)

Groom Surname Groom Forename Bride Surname Bride Forename District Parish Building Year Register Entry
BLUETT Derek Bryce NELSON Margaret Elizabeth Forest of Dean Drybrook Holy Trinity 1951 8 218

Name: Derrick B Bluett
Mother's Maiden Surname: Bevan
Date of Registration: Apr-May-Jun 1930
Registration district: Westbury S
Inferred County: Shropshire
Volume Number: 6a
Page Number: 417

Name: Stanley Bluett
Spouse : Lucy Bevan
Date of Registration: Jul-Aug-Sep 1925
Registration district: Westbury On Severn
Inferred County: Gloucestershire
Volume Number: 6a
Page Number: 740

1901 Church Rd, Cinderford
Christopher Bluett abt 1861 Westbury On Severn, Gloucestershire, England Head East Dean, Gloucestershire
Adelaide Bluett abt 1861 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Wife East Dean, Gloucestershire
William Bluett abt 1884 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Son East Dean, Gloucestershire
Thomas Bluett abt 1896 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Son East Dean, Gloucestershire
Fred Bluett abt 1888 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Son East Dean, Gloucestershire
Lily Bluett abt 1892 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Daughter East Dean, Gloucestershire
James Bluett abt 1894 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Son East Dean, Gloucestershire
Minnie Bluett abt 1896 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Daughter East Dean, Gloucestershire
Ernest Bluett abt 1898 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Son East Dean, Gloucestershire
Stanley Bluett abt 1900 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Son East Dean, Gloucestershire

Year: 1900
Month: Nov
Day: 29
Parents_Surname: BLUETT
Child_Forenames: Stanley
Fathers_Forenames: Christopher Samson
Mothers_Forenames: Adelaide
Mothers_Surname:
Residence: Cinderford
Occupation: Collier
Officiating_Minister: Tho Longstaff
Event: Baptism
Memoranda:
Notes: Born 23 Sep 1900
Register_Reference: P85/2 IN 1/2
Page_Number: 3
Parish_Chapel: Cinderford St Stephen

1891
Christopher Bluett abt 1864 Elton, Gloucestershire, England Head East Dean, Gloucestershire
Adaline Bluett abt 1861 Cinderford, Gloucestershire, England Wife East Dean, Gloucestershire
Wm Bluett abt 1884 Cinderford, Gloucestershire, England Son East Dean, Gloucestershire
Thomas Bluett abt 1886 Cinderford, Gloucestershire, England Son East Dean, Gloucestershire
Frederick Bluett abt 1887 Cinderford, Gloucestershire, England Son East Dean, Gloucestershire
Sarah Hughes abt 1876 Portskewet, Monmouthshire, Wales Relative (Other Relative) East Dean, Gloucestershire

Year: 1882
Month: Nov
Day: 12
Grooms_Surname: BLEWITT
Grooms_Forenames: Christopher Samson
Grooms_Age: 22
Groom_Condition: Bachelor
Grooms_Occupation: Collier
Grooms_Residence: Flaxley Meend
Grooms_Fathers_Surname: Blewitt
Grooms_Fathers_Forenames: John
Grooms_Fathers_Occupation: Labourer
Brides_Surname: MORGAN
Brides_Forenames: Adelaide
Brides_Age: 22
Brides_Condition: Spinster
Brides_Occupation:
Brides_Residence: Flaxley Meend
Brides_Fathers_Surname: Morgan
Brides_Fathers_Forenames: James
Brides_Fathers_Occupation: Labourer
Licence_or_Banns: Banns
Date_of_Banns:
Signature_or_Mark: Both mark
Witness_1: Ed Morgan
Witness_2: Mark of Laura Morgan
Other_Witnesses:
Officiating_Minister: R Hall
Event: Marriage
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register_Reference: P145 IN 1/11
Page_Number: 158
Parish_Chapel: Flaxley

1881
Christopher Blewitt abt 1861 Elton, Gloucestershire, England Lodger Ledbury, Herefordshire

1871
Hannah Blewett 42
Edward J Blewett 16
Christopher S Blewett 12
Anslem Blewett 6
Maria Blewett 8
Robert Berry 43

1861
John Blewet abt 1819 Newnham, Gloucestershire, England Head Westbury On Severn, Gloucestershire
Hannah Blewet abt 1827 Westbury, Gloucestershire, England Wife Westbury On Severn, Gloucestershire
Laura C Blewet abt 1852 Westbury, Gloucestershire, England Daughter Westbury On Severn, Gloucestershire
Elizabeth Blewet abt 1854 Westbury, Gloucestershire, England Daughter Westbury On Severn, Gloucestershire
Edward J Blewet abt 1856 Westbury, Gloucestershire, England Son Westbury On Severn, Gloucestershire
Sampson C Blewet abt 1859 Westbury, Gloucestershire, England Son Westbury On Severn, Gloucestershire

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Ἀριστοτέλης A Gloster Boy in the Forest of Dean ><((((*>

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We have a number of Forest of Dean Rugby Clubs Photos in out Photo Gallery.

Photo Gallery - Forest of Dean Old Photos
http://www.forest-of-dean.net/joomla/photo-gallery

Enter "Rugby" in the search box to locate the team photos.

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Hi Dylan

My grandfather, Albert Robbins, played Rugby for Cinderford in the years before and after 1900 and I have been trying to trace a record of this.

My mother told me that as a young girl it was her job to wash the team's kit, by hand, no machines in those days, and it was extremely hard work as you can imagine.

My grandfather died in Coventry in 1938 and there was an obituary in a Forest newspaper which I remember reading as a child but this has been long lost. I have tried tracing it in Cinderford Library but the newpaper records for 1938 were missing and they Dean Forest Heritage Centre had no record of his playing days.

I would live to find out more and would appreciate any help.

Meryl

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Have a look at
www.sungreen.co.uk
lots of photos

regards Forest

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My grandfather THOMAS DAVID SMITH had a cap like that but the braid is more gold than silver. He played for Lydney, I contacted Lydney but no-one is certain as to what it was for. I previously posted about a book I had about Lydney club which mentions many players (including Thomas' brother Arthur who played for England)unfortunately it is not indexed.

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10 generations in the Forest

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That is quite interesting as we believe Fred might have been in the Lyndley area, memory is an awful thing when you get older, there is a "discussion" between the remaining family members as to whether or not the braid was silver or gold, who knows the thread might have tarnished. Thank you for your reply and the information perhaps one day when you have time you might skim through the book and see if Freds name is there.

Dyan (for Tony)

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Rugby Clubs in Forest of Dean 1890 to 1908 (General)