William Percy Carpmael
Encyclopedia
William Percy Carpmael was the founder and first president of the rugby union
Barbarian Football Club
. Carpmael was born the eldest of eight in Briscobel, Stretham
in England
.
. On completing university he joined his fathers firm of patent agents; 'Carpmael and Ransford' of Chancery Lane
. He would eventually become senior partner of the firm.
While at Cambridge, Carpmael, or 'Tottie' as he was known, was a keen sportsman. He played cricket, rowed for the Lent Boat and was a keen steeplechaser; but it was rugby that he enjoyed playing the most. In 1885 he won his Blue in a varsity match as a forward. Due to Carpmael's close ties with his university the Barbarains, as a club, were also close to Cambridge and Blackheath.
. Carpmael was part of the touring team, and believed it to be a very successful venture.
In 1889 Carpmael himself organised a tour with Clapham Rovers, in which the team faced five or six clubs in the Midlands and Yorkshire areas. The next year saw a tour with the Southern Nomads and later the first Barbarian tour. On 8 April 1890 at Leuchter's Restaurant in Darley Street, Bradford
; Carpmael took his Southern Nomads for a meal to put forward his idea of a touring rugby club. Later that night, at the Alexandra Hotel, the 'high-spirited' team agreed to Carpmael's plan and the Barbarians were formed. His idea was to create a touring team that would play the provinces at holiday times and not only contain Englishmen but players from Scotland
, Wales
and Ireland
.
Carpmael took the Barbarians very seriously and it was his dedication over the early years that created the foundations for a club that would last the coming decades. Not only would he organise and promote, but he also administered the club, writing up the club records on manuscript every season. He was the club's first Honorary Secretary and Treasurer, running the club from his father's business at 24 Southampton Buildings in Chancery Lane. In 1902 he resigned his role as secretary, but in 1913 he took up the role of club President.
Carpmael not only ran the Barbarians but also played for the club. He represented the Ba-Baa's on twenty occasions usually as a forward.
. In 1927 he emigrated to Menton
in the South of France for health reasons. He retained in close touch with his Barbarians, sending a telegram to their headquarters, at the Esplanade in Penarth
, every Easter. On 27 December 1936, Carpmael died at his home in France after a long struggle with cancer. He was laid to rest on the hill above Menton and the Barbarian match played against Leicester on the 28 December saw both teams wearing black armbands in his honor.
On 29 May 2011, during halftime of the Barbarians' match against England
at Twickenham
, Carpmael and the Barbarians were inducted to the IRB Hall of Fame
in recognition of their unique contributions to the sport.
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...
Barbarian Football Club
Barbarian F.C.
The Barbarian Football Club, usually referred to as the Barbarians and nicknamed the "Baa-Baas", is an invitational rugby union team based in Britain...
. Carpmael was born the eldest of eight in Briscobel, Stretham
Stretham
Stretham is a small village and civil parish south-south-west of Ely in Cambridgeshire, England, about by road from London. Its main attraction is Stretham Old Engine, a steam-powered pump used to drain the fens. The pump is still in use today although converted to electric power. It has open...
in England
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...
.
Education and early career
Carpmael was educated at Christ's College, Finchley where he was a border, and later at Jesus College, CambridgeJesus College, Cambridge
Jesus College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England.The College was founded in 1496 on the site of a Benedictine nunnery by John Alcock, then Bishop of Ely...
. On completing university he joined his fathers firm of patent agents; 'Carpmael and Ransford' of Chancery Lane
Chancery Lane
Chancery Lane is the street which has been the western boundary of the City of London since 1994 having previously been divided between Westminster and Camden...
. He would eventually become senior partner of the firm.
While at Cambridge, Carpmael, or 'Tottie' as he was known, was a keen sportsman. He played cricket, rowed for the Lent Boat and was a keen steeplechaser; but it was rugby that he enjoyed playing the most. In 1885 he won his Blue in a varsity match as a forward. Due to Carpmael's close ties with his university the Barbarains, as a club, were also close to Cambridge and Blackheath.
The Barbarians
In the early 1880s there were very few touring teams; clubs would travel to matches, but rarely would they undertake a schedule of matches that stretched over days. In December 1884, Jesus College undertook such a 'tour', playing four northern clubs over five days in YorkshireYorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
. Carpmael was part of the touring team, and believed it to be a very successful venture.
In 1889 Carpmael himself organised a tour with Clapham Rovers, in which the team faced five or six clubs in the Midlands and Yorkshire areas. The next year saw a tour with the Southern Nomads and later the first Barbarian tour. On 8 April 1890 at Leuchter's Restaurant in Darley Street, Bradford
Bradford
Bradford lies at the heart of the City of Bradford, a metropolitan borough of West Yorkshire, in Northern England. It is situated in the foothills of the Pennines, west of Leeds, and northwest of Wakefield. Bradford became a municipal borough in 1847, and received its charter as a city in 1897...
; Carpmael took his Southern Nomads for a meal to put forward his idea of a touring rugby club. Later that night, at the Alexandra Hotel, the 'high-spirited' team agreed to Carpmael's plan and the Barbarians were formed. His idea was to create a touring team that would play the provinces at holiday times and not only contain Englishmen but players from Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
and Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
.
Carpmael took the Barbarians very seriously and it was his dedication over the early years that created the foundations for a club that would last the coming decades. Not only would he organise and promote, but he also administered the club, writing up the club records on manuscript every season. He was the club's first Honorary Secretary and Treasurer, running the club from his father's business at 24 Southampton Buildings in Chancery Lane. In 1902 he resigned his role as secretary, but in 1913 he took up the role of club President.
Carpmael not only ran the Barbarians but also played for the club. He represented the Ba-Baa's on twenty occasions usually as a forward.
Later life and death
Carpmael's later years were plagued by ill health, and in 1925 he retired from work, suffering from chronic arthritisArthritis
Arthritis is a form of joint disorder that involves inflammation of one or more joints....
. In 1927 he emigrated to Menton
Menton
Menton is a commune in the Alpes-Maritimes department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France.Situated on the French Riviera, along the Franco-Italian border, it is nicknamed la perle de la France ....
in the South of France for health reasons. He retained in close touch with his Barbarians, sending a telegram to their headquarters, at the Esplanade in Penarth
Penarth
Penarth is a town and seaside resort in the Vale of Glamorgan , Wales, 5.2 miles south west from the city centre of the Welsh capital city of Cardiff and lying on the north shore of the Severn Estuary at the southern end of Cardiff Bay...
, every Easter. On 27 December 1936, Carpmael died at his home in France after a long struggle with cancer. He was laid to rest on the hill above Menton and the Barbarian match played against Leicester on the 28 December saw both teams wearing black armbands in his honor.
On 29 May 2011, during halftime of the Barbarians' match against 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...
at Twickenham
Twickenham Stadium
Twickenham Stadium is a stadium located in Twickenham, in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. It is the largest rugby union stadium in the United Kingdom and has recently been enlarged to seat 82,000...
, Carpmael and the Barbarians were inducted to the IRB Hall of Fame
IRB Hall of Fame
The IRB Hall of Fame is a hall of fame operated by the International Rugby Board that recognises special achievement and contribution to the sport of rugby union. The IRB Hall of Fame covers players, coaches, administrators, match officials, institutions and other individuals...
in recognition of their unique contributions to the sport.
External links
BBC BBC- BaaBaa fixture must stay: Columnists: Guest Column: News24 at www.news24.com News24.com
- Sports Illustrated - Know It All at www.sportsillustrated.co.za Sports Illustrated