Alfred Ormond Edwards
1850 - 1923
Alfred Ormond(e) Edwards was the 7th child of Charles and Theadosia Edwards (nee Piper) he was born on 12th October 1850 at Skyborry. His father was a farmer at Skyborry Farm, Skyborry, Shropshire.
Charles Edwards married Theadosia Piper on 7th March 1837 in Dowles, Shropshire.
1871 census RG10; Piece: 135; Folio: 4; Page: 1.
Alfred was recorded as cousin to the head of the household. Eleanor Bale, and living in Pall Mall, Westminster. His profession is Engineers Apprentice. (at the time of this publication I have not been able to find a connection between the Bale and Edwards family)
One other, not in the household at the time, was James Melvin Bale, son of William Pritchatt and Eleanor Bale. James was born in 1846 in Ashford Carbonell, Shropshire.
James Melvin Bale and Alfred Ormond Edwards, business partners, went to Milan to practice the profession of engineers and commission agents. They created a partnership on 23rd October 1876 with capital of £1500. The partnership manufactured agricultural machinery and were agents for locomobiles (steam driven engines).
Alfred returned to England in 1879 to marry Eliza Fanny Oriel in Hammersmith on 7th August 1879. Eliza was the daughter of Dr. Frederick Henry Carpenter and Charlotte Fanny Oriel (nee Outhwaite)
Belfast Newsletter 14th August 1879
"August 7, by the Rev. J. H. Snowden, Vicar of Hammersmith, Alfred Ormond Edwards. of Milan, Italy, youngest son of the late Charles Edwards, Esq., Lurkenhope, Salop, to Eliza Fanny, second surviving daughter of the late Dr. Oriel, Alfred Place, Bedford Square, London"
Frederick Henry Carpenter Oriel married Charlotte Fanny Outhwaite on 26th October 1846 in Saint John The Baptist, Hoxton, Middlesex.
Alfred Ormond Edwards became Vice-Consul in Milan on the 15th May 1893.
London Standard - 17th March 1896
THE RIOTS IN MILAN!.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE STANDARD. SIR, Since the street riots in this city last week, I have received several telegrams and letters from English travellers asking if it is perfectly safe to visit Milan. Would you kindly, through the medium of The Standard, inform those of your readers who may still be uncertain, and wishful to visit this city and vicinity, that the excitement has entirely subsided, and that business, as also the usual entertainments, are proceeding as quietly and orderly as in the past. I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
ALFRED O. EDWARDS, Vice Consul.
British Vice Consulate, Milan
Alfred retired from the post of Vice-Consul on 11th August, 1896.
At this time in Milan, the two most popular sports were horse racing and cricket, but more and more people were turning to the game of Football that was imported from England.
So it was, that on 16th December 1899, in the bar of the Hotel du Nord et des Anglais, 12 enthusiastic sports fans (six English and six Italian) founded the Milan Cricket and Football Club. Later to become AC Milan (Associazione Calcio Milan) - (Association Football Milan)
Hotel du Nord et des Anglais
"I, the undersigned member state to set up a sports club which bears the name Milan Cricket and Football Club, which aims to disseminate the widest possible exercise of football and cricket."
The Founding Fathers were Daniele Angeloni, David Allison, Charles Barnett, Giovanni Camperio, Samuel Richard Davies, Antonio Dubina, Alfred Ormond Edwards, Herbert Kilpin, Edward Nathan Bern, Alberto Pirelli, Pirelli Piero and Guido Valerio. Together they drafted a club proposal.
The Founding Fathers
Alfred Ormond Edwards was elected President and Herbert Kilpin was elected Manager of the newly formed club.
Alfred Ormond Edwards Herbert Kilpin
Herbert Kilpin proposed that the clubs colours should be red and black, with red representing the devil and black for the fear in their opponents.
The first time Milan’s name appeared publicly was on Monday, 18th December in an article by the Gazzetta dello Sport newspaper. The original headquarters were in the Fiaschetteria Toscana in Via Berchet in Milan.
Fiaschetteria Toscana
President Alfred Ormonde Edwards enrolled the team in the Italian Football Federation the following January.
The team played just one game during their first season, against Torino. Immediately the team gained relevant notability under Herbert Kilpin's guide. The first trophy to be won was the Medaglia del Re (King's Medal) in January 1900, and the team later won three national leagues, in 1901, 1906 and 1907.
The Bale and Edwards company dissolved and went into liquidation on 25th October 1902.
Alfred retired from the post of President in 1909. Newspaper reports say that Alfred returned to his homeland.
Herbert Kilpin died on 22nd October 1916 in Provincia di Milano (Milan), Lombardia, Italy aged just 46. (more on Herbert can be found here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herbert_Kilpin)
Alfred died on 4th April 1923 in Bridgnorth, Shropshire, aged 72.
Bridgnorth Journal - 7th April 1923
EDWARDS.- Alfred Ormond, on April 4th, after a long illness patiently borne with resignation. Funeral on Monday next at 11.34
Death of Mr. A. 0. EDWARDS
Mr. Alfred Ormond Edwards, who died at Bela Vista, Bridgnorth on Wednesday last, after a long illness, interested himself in the Belgian refuges who were accommodated at Bridgnorth. When the local Tribunal under the Military Forces Acts was enlarged from 5 to 9 members at the Town Council meeting in June, 1916. Mr. Edwards was one of the four members added, and he was most attentive to those duties. He was a particularly active member of the War Savings Committee during aeroplane week. March 4-9, 1918, making several calls in the outlying districts.
Alfred was buried on 9th April 1923, Grave No.2994D in the consecrated ground section of Bridgnorth Municipal Cemetery
Bridgnorth Journal - 14th April 1923
Funeral of Mr. A. O. Edwards - The funeral of Mr. Alfred Ormond Edwards, Severn Cliff, whose death on the 4th inst. was reported by us last week took place on Monday. The funeral cortege was met at the West door at St. Leonard's Church by the Rev. Prebendary Clark-Maxwell and the Rev. W. Peppercorn. Hymns Nos. 281 and 499 were sung. Several ladies and gentlemen attended to show a last tribute of respect to the deceased.
Hymn 281 - I know that my Redeemer lives - glory, hallelujah
Hymn 499 - Rock of Ages, Cleft for Me
Probate
Alfred Ormond EDWARDS of Bella Vista, Bridgenorth, Shropshire died 4th April 1923. Probate London on 6th June to Eliza Fanny Edwards, widow and Frederick Theodore Edwards, farmer.
Effects £44442 17s 3d.
This would have the same spending worth of £942,633.11 in today's money. (http://apps.nationalarchives.gov.uk/currency/)
Frederick Theodore Edwards was Alfred's nephew.
Within the year, James Bale, Alfred's old business partner died.
Probate
James Melvin Bale of 10 Via Alfirie, Florence, Italy died 18th December 1923 at 89 Via Scipior, Florence. Probate London 23rd September 1924 to the reverend David Morgan, clerk, Ellen Pritchett Morgan (wife of the said reverend David Morgan) and Thomas Walter Donald, writer.
Effects £4063 14s 2d
Ellen Pritchett Morgan was James' sister.
Alfred's wife, Eliza, outlived him by 14 years.
Bridgnorth Journal - 25th December 1937
LOCAL OBITUARY - MRS. E. F. ORMOND-EDWARDS
Mrs. Eliza Fanny Ormond-Edwards died on Saturday last at her home. "Bela Vista." at the age of 85. after an illness of only two days' duration. A daughter of the late Dr. Frederick Oriel, of Landon,. she was the widow of Mr. Alfred Ormond-Edwards a prominent member for many years of the British Colony in Milan, where he was Vice-Consul, who pre-deceased her in 1923. There were no children of the marriage. By her death St. Leonard's Parish Church loses a generous benefactress of many years standing. Interested in all branches of Church work. particularly the Mothers' Union, whom she often entertained at Christmas time, she will be remembered by her donation, about five years ago, in memory of her husband, of St. Leonard's Church House. which she handed over to the Church. She often" threw her house and grounds open for functions in connection with the Church.
The Funeral.
The funeral took place at St. Leonard's Church on Tuesday afternoon, the service being conducted by the Rector (Rev. L. G. Bark) and the Rev. Glyn Thomas, a great-nephew (Vicar of St. Alkmunds, Shrewsbury). The family mourners were: Mr. J. D. Barclay (nephew): Mr. J. 0. Barclay (nephew): Miss Ivy Barclay (niece); Mr. Anthony Bale (nephew); Mrs. H. R. Evans (niece); Mr. Leslie Evans (great nephew); Dr. C. D. and Mrs. Edwards,. Kington (nephew and niece): Dr. J. A. K. Griffiths; Mr. Robert Griffiths (great nephew): Miss Partridge (cook) and Mr. G. Morris (gardener). Among the general body of mourners were Mrs. H. Baker. Mrs. Dorrington. Mrs. Higgins. Mr. E. A. Haynes and Miss Haynes. Miss Hearn. Mrs. Corser, Miss Deeley. Miss Peppercorn. Mrs. Thursfield (Hon Secretary, representing the Ludlow Women's Conservative Association, of which deceased was a Vice-President). Major and Mrs. Allsebrook, Mrs. H. Pearce. J.P.. Mrs. Bark, Mrs. Langford. Miss Maynard. Mrs. Alec Davies. Mrs. Breakwell, Mr. A. T. Baker (Hon. Secretary Parochial Church Council), Mrs. Morris. Mrs. Holden. etc.
Floral Tributes.
Wreaths were received from the following: Mrs. Augustus Barclay; Jesse. Jack and Roberto; Ivy Barclay; Barbara and Jack Barclay; Decima and Oriel; Miss Jane Edwards, Mrs. Wingravc-Leach and Richmond Edwards; Dr. and Mrs. C. D. Edwards (Huntingdon Court); Theodore and Sybil; Edie and Fay; Mary and Marjorie; Cecil and Sybil; Rev: and Mrs. Glyn Thomas; Cissie and Cecily; Leslie and Mary; Morris and Family; Mr. and Mrs. Wallace Craig; F. G. Corser; St. Leonard's Mother's Union; Mary: Miss Eva Deeley; Miss D. Peppercorn. The funeral arrangements were carried out by Messrs. Perry and Phillips, Ltd.
Eliza was buried on 21st December 1937, Grave No.2994C in the consecrated ground section of Bridgnorth Municipal Cemetery.
Probate
Eliza Fanny Edwards of Bella Vista, Bridgenorth, Shropshire, widow died 18th December 1937. Probate Shrewsbury 19th February 1938 to James Oriel Barclay, member of Lloyds and John Alban Kendall Griffiths, medical practitioner.
Effects £79874 9s 6d.
Resworn £9351 8s
James Oriel Barclay was Eliza's nephew.