John Gordon A'Bear
Encyclopedia
John A'Bear was an English
rugby union
player. He played club rugby for Gloucester and was their youngest captain. Although he never won a cap for England
, he did tour Argentina with the British Isles team in 1936
.
on 16 July 1913, the son of James Horace A'Bear (1879–1945), an ironmonger, and his wife Nellie (née Winstone) (1885–1958). He had an older sister Lottie, born 1912, and two younger siblings, Charles (b.1916) and Nellie (b.1921). He was educated at The Crypt School, Gloucester.
winning side of 1936-37. At the age of 24, A'Bear became Gloucester's youngest Captain and continued his captaincy the following season. His record in his first year of captaincy was 29 wins from 36 matches.
As a second row he formed a solid and famous partnership with Digger Morris and was best man at Digger Morris’s wedding. They were also known for their rendition of “The Pig Song” as after-match entertainment.
John was never capped for England
, but was an international due to his selection for the tour Argentina with the British Isles team in 1936
. In 1936 he was a reserve for an England trial at Bristol.
During the Second World War he played a number of matches for Gloucester and for representative sides but due to business commitments retired in 1946.
, Canada. She was the daughter of Alfred A'Bear and Edith Stirling. They had two children both born in Gloucester, Suzanne (born 1942) and Judith (born 1944). John died in 1979.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
player. He played club rugby for Gloucester and was their youngest captain. Although he never won a cap for England
England national rugby union team
The England national rugby union team represents England in rugby union. They compete in the annual Six Nations Championship with France, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, and Wales. They have won this championship on 26 occasions, 12 times winning the Grand Slam, making them the most successful team in...
, he did tour Argentina with the British Isles team in 1936
1936 British Lions tour to Argentina
The 1936 Great Britain tour of Argentina was a series of rugby union matches arranged between a British invitational team and various Argentine teams. The tourists played ten matches, nine of which were against club and combined teams while one match took in a full Argentina national team...
.
Early life
John Gordon A’Bear was born in CheltenhamCheltenham
Cheltenham , also known as Cheltenham Spa, is a large spa town and borough in Gloucestershire, on the edge of the Cotswolds in the South-West region of England. It is the home of the flagship race of British steeplechase horse racing, the Gold Cup, the main event of the Cheltenham Festival held...
on 16 July 1913, the son of James Horace A'Bear (1879–1945), an ironmonger, and his wife Nellie (née Winstone) (1885–1958). He had an older sister Lottie, born 1912, and two younger siblings, Charles (b.1916) and Nellie (b.1921). He was educated at The Crypt School, Gloucester.
Rugby career
John played for Gloucester from 1933 until 1939 and was also selected to represent his county, Gloucestershire from 1935-39. He was a part of the County ChampionshipCounty Championship (rugby union)
The County Championship is an annual rugby union competition in England between teams representing English counties. After restructuring in 2007 the top tier of the Championship has been known as the Bill Beaumont Cup, after the trophy awarded to the competition winners was named in honour of Bill...
winning side of 1936-37. At the age of 24, A'Bear became Gloucester's youngest Captain and continued his captaincy the following season. His record in his first year of captaincy was 29 wins from 36 matches.
As a second row he formed a solid and famous partnership with Digger Morris and was best man at Digger Morris’s wedding. They were also known for their rendition of “The Pig Song” as after-match entertainment.
John was never capped for England
England national rugby union team
The England national rugby union team represents England in rugby union. They compete in the annual Six Nations Championship with France, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, and Wales. They have won this championship on 26 occasions, 12 times winning the Grand Slam, making them the most successful team in...
, but was an international due to his selection for the tour Argentina with the British Isles team in 1936
1936 British Lions tour to Argentina
The 1936 Great Britain tour of Argentina was a series of rugby union matches arranged between a British invitational team and various Argentine teams. The tourists played ten matches, nine of which were against club and combined teams while one match took in a full Argentina national team...
. In 1936 he was a reserve for an England trial at Bristol.
During the Second World War he played a number of matches for Gloucester and for representative sides but due to business commitments retired in 1946.
Family and later life
John married his first cousin May A'Bear (born 1914, Montreal) in QuebecQuebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, Canada. She was the daughter of Alfred A'Bear and Edith Stirling. They had two children both born in Gloucester, Suzanne (born 1942) and Judith (born 1944). John died in 1979.