Arthur's team-mates

Given my recent digging around in Conan Doyle's rugby life, and my scouring of newspapers for traces of Doyle in Southsea, I was pleased to find a reference to Doyle in a 1942 Portsmouth obituary, then another in an obituary in 1931.

As I find Southsea obituaries that reference Doyle and his time there, I'll endevaour to add them to this post.

Hampshire Telegraph - Friday 27 November 1931

Mr. S. Tidd Matson's Death
Son of a Minister

Played Football with Conan Doyle

We regret to record the death of Mr. Stanley Tidd Matson, who had served for 47 years in the public libraries of the City. He had been ill for about five weeks, and he passed away on Friday morning at his residence, Stanton, Havant Road, Drayton, at the age of 64. He was the son of the Rev. Tidd Matson, who was for some time Minister at the Highbury Street Congregational Church, and later a minister at Sarisbury. In his early days he was an athlete, and among recollections were games of football with the late Conan Doyle. 

His father was a prominent hymnologist and was the writer of many popular hymns for congregational services. Mr. Matson was appointed to the staff of Portsmouth libraries in 1884, when he was 17 years of age. For many years he was in charge of the Victoria Road branch and when Mr. J. Hutt was appointed as City Librarian in 1918 Mr. Matson was appointed as Deputy Librarian. He was shortly to have been superannuated. He leaves a widow. 

The funeral took place at Kingston Cemetery on Tuesday, the Rev. Guthrie Alison, Vicar of St. Paul's, Southsea, officiating. The private mourners were Messrs. B. Hapgood and D. Taylor (nephews). Mr. J. Hutt, M.A. (City Librarian), and Mr. H. Stubbs (friend). City officials and municipal colleagues were also present at the graveside. Beside the floral emblems from the widow, relatives, and friends were those from the City Librarian, staff, and Gosport Library, City Treasurer and staff, Drayton Institute, and Drayton Associates. Mr. H. W. Cunningham. of St. Paul's Road. Southsea, was the undertaker.

Mr. W.R. Pead was said to have played football and rugby with Doyle - the latter is interesting because Doyle played some rugby in Edinburgh but I'm not sure about rugby. 

Portsmouth Evening News - Thursday 26 February 1942

Funeral of Mr. W.R. Pead

Mr. William Rance Pead (74), 21 Avondale Road, waterlooville, formerly living at Kingston Crescent, North End for 30 years, was buried yesterday at Waterlooville. The funeral service took place at St. George’s Church and the interment at Hulbert Road cemetery, the Rev. T. W. Kirkbride officiating. 

Private mourners were: Mrs. Pead (widow), Pilot Otlicer B. Pead and Mr. R. Pead (sons), Mrs. P. Restall (daughter), Mr. H. J. and H. Pead (sisters-in-law), Messrs. B. and C. Sprigings, S. E. Borrow, J. Walmesley. J. Harvey, and S. Gray (friends). For nearly 50 years Mr. Pead was a builders’ foreman and clerk of works. He was employed by Messrs. E. and A. Sprigings for 30 years, Portsmouth Corporation eight years, and with Mr. J. Walmesley (architect) nine years. 

Mr. Pead was strongly opposed to the demolition the Guildhall, considering the building fit for reconstruction, was also well-known as a botanist and was Secretary to Portsmouth Natural Science Society, which preceded Portsmouth Literary and Philosophical Society, of which he was a founder and a past vice-president. As a youth Mr. Pead was a team mate of the late Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, when both played for Portsmouth North End Football and Cricket Club and the Albion Rugby Club. For a brief period Mr. Pead was manager of the Empire Cinema, Slamshaw. Two sons and a daughter are school teachers in the City. His eldest eon. also a schoolmaster, died two years ago. 

Commentary: Certainly newspaper reports suggest Paed played cricket with Doyle, and Doyle refereed football matches also - so they likely did interact. The Albion Rugby Club may be mis-remembering - it was based in Plymouth. In fact, Paed played with Albion Football Club in Portsmouth... as much as I'd like to have discovered that Doyle's rugby career kicked on.

Were there other obituaries from the 1930s and 1940s of old Southsea connections?