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Clifton Rugby Football Club History |
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Gardiner Family |
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It is just possible that the family dates back to Cabot’s time, for a John Gardiner sailed with him to America. Another John Gardiner was Warden of the Merchant Venturers in 1626. Those that played for Clifton were 3 brothers, Alfred, Ernest and Hubert, their nephew Christopher, their cousin Peter and his son Michael. The family business was called Gardiner & Sons. During WW1 they made trench mortars, bombs and aeroplane parts.
In 1970 the company was taken over by Canton Industries, now part of Hawker Siddeley, and the manufacturing part of the business was discontinued. The builders’ merchants side of the firm continued to expand with branches at Cirencester and Shepton Mallet, and Haskins joined the firm on a franchise basis in 1972. The last Gardiner left the firm in the Fifties. The company is today known as Gardiner Haskins.
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| Back Row (L-R): Ernest, Edith, Hubert, Edward Lucas. Seated: Agnes, Thomas Chapple, Sarah, Florence, Ethel, Alfred |
Above the Gardiner family, Parents and 4 sons (3 who all played for Clifton) and 4 daughters, just before World War 1.
Alfred Gardiner
He was born on the 7th November 1882. He was educated at Clifton College from 1891 to 1900. He joined Clifton RFC in 1900-01. He stayed and helped run the family business during WW1. A local woman believing he should have gone to war sent him a White Feather. He later joined Harlequins. He died in 1959.
Christopher John Gardiner
He was born on the 2nd June 1907. He was the son of Edward John Lucas Gardiner, who was the brother of Alfred, Ernest and Hubert. He was educated at Clifton College from 1919 to 1926. He played for Clifton during the 1920s and 1930s. worked for the family business Gardiner & Sons.
Died in World War 1. He tossed a coin with his brother Edward to see who stay at home and run the family business and who would go to war.
Hubert Gardiner
He was born on the 26th July 1881. He was educated at Clifton College from 1889 to 1900 and then University College, Oxford. He represented Oxford University Middleweight Boxing v Cambridge. He became an Accountant. He joined Clifton RFC in 1903-04. He later joined Harlequins. He died on the 27th of September 1934 in London and is buried at Putney Vale.
Michael Gardiner
The cousin of Alfred, Ernest and Hubert. He was educated at Harrow.
Peter Gardiner
He was born on the 26th December 1927. The son of Michael. He was educated at Clifton College from 1922 to 1925. He ran a letter service for players during World War 1 while he worked at the family engineering firm, Midland Works, in St. Philips.