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Tommy
Britten |
Nottingham Forest FC
uncapped
1879 |
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Timeline |
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Thomas Johnson Britten |
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Birth |
Saturday, 6 March 1858 at Woodhouse in Byton,
Herefordshire
[registered in Presteigne, June 1858] |
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Baptism |
28 December 1858 in Staunton-on-Arrow,
Herefordshire |
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According to the
1861 census, two year old Thomas J, is the fifth of six children to
Charles and Mary Ann (née Jeffries). They live at Woodhouse in Byton, and
his father is a farmer. |
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According to the 1871 census,
Thomas is a scholar at Doncaster Grammar School boarding with John and Ann Hutchinson at 8 St.
George's Villa in Doncaster. |
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According to the 1881 census,
Frederick, an assistant stationer, has one more younger borther, and is
one of seven children still at home at 3 Market Street in the Sherwood
area of Nottingham., also with his widowed sister's three children and one
servant.
Left for Capetown on 3 June 1887 on board the RMS Trojan. |
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According to the
1891 census, Frederick is one of six children living at home with his
widowed father at Hassock Lodge in Beeston. He is a Lithographer. |
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Marriage |
to Cecilia Johanna Botha, on
6 June 1888 [no registration in UK]. Two children, Alice Winifred
(b.1890) and Constance Marion (b.1891), all in Johannesburg. |
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"BRITTEN—BOTHA.—On
the 6th June, at Greytown, Natal, by the Rev. T. Taylor. Thomas Johnson
Britten, of Johannesburg, Transvaal, third son of the late Charles
Britten, of The Woodhouse, Byton, Herefordshire, to Cecilia, fourth
daughter of Philip Rudolph Botha, of Welverdient, Greytown, Natal."
- The Worcestershire Chronicle, Saturday, 28 July 1888. |
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Death |
Monday, 24 October 1910,
in Johannesburg, South Africa, aged 52 years 232 days [registered in
the Transvaal Estates Death Index]. His wife, Cecilia, returned to
Herefordshire in 1936 and died in 1947. |
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"BRITTEN—At
Johannesburg, on the 24th inst., Thomas Johnson Britten, electrical and
mining engineer, aged 51 years. (By cable)"
- The Grantham Journal, Saturday, 29 October 1910. |
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"BRITTEN—October
24, at Johannesburg, South Africa, Thomas Johnson Britten, 3rd son of the
late Charles Britten of the Woodhouse, Byton, Herefordshire, aged 52
years." - The Hereford Times, Saturday, 29 October 1910. |
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Obituary |
"DEATH OF HEREFORD MAN AT JOHANNESBURG
"The latest mail from South
Africa announces the somewhat sudden demise of Mr. T. J. Britten, the
well-known mining engineer, at his Johannesburg house. There were few
Johannesburgers who were more widely known, who entered so actively into
the life of the town from its foundation, and who were so generally
respected. Mr. Britten was born in Herefordshire in 1858, and was educated
at the Doncaster Grammar School, and subsequently qualified as an
engineer, becoming a member of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers. In
1887 he came to Johannesburg as representative of Messrs. R. Hornsby and
Sons, manufacturing engineers, of Grantham. In this capacity he was
responsible for the erection of a large number of the first reduction
plants erected on the Rand. He severed his connection with Messrs. Hornby
in 1889 and practised as a consulting engineer up to July, 1893, when he
was appointed general manager of the Wolhuter Gold Mines. He remained in
charge for ten years, and his management will long be remembered for the
earnest solicitude for the welfare of the men in charge. He devoted a good
deal of attention to the allaying of dust in the mine, and before
resigning he had installed an invention of his own for spraying the face
of the rock. His success, though partial, in this respect justified his
patenting his atomiser. The Chamber of Mines soon after offered a prize of
£500 for the best means of preventing miners' phthisis. The
competition was open to the world, and Mr. Britten was awarded the prize
and medal. It was a well-merited success, and gave great satisfaction on
the Rand.
"Mr. Britten was then appointed consulting engineer to Mr.
Abe Bailey, and since that time most of his professional work was centred
in Rhodesia. His duties compelled him to travel long distances under
trying circumstances.. About a year ago his friends were shocked to hear
that he had had a paralytic stroke. He recovered sufficiently to enable
him to undertake the journey to Capetown. In the more general surroundings
at sea level his condition improved somewhat. He returned to Johannesburg
and for a time the improvement seemed to continue, but latterly it was
recognised that his weakened constitution could not long stand the
continued strain. The end came very suddenly.
"Mr. Britten took the
keenest interest in his profession, and did not spare himself in
advocating any measures that would tend for its advancement on the Rand.
He was one of the founders of the Mine Managers' Association, a member of
the S.A. Association of Engineers, and a life member of the American
Institute of Mining Engineers.
"The sporting life of the town also
claimed his interest and activities. He was a foundation member of the
Johannesburg Turf Club, and was a familiar figure for years at Turffontein.
He took a prominent part in polo in the early nineties, when the game was
at the height of its popularity on the Rand. e was a devotee of tennis,
and it is worth recalling that Mr. Winslow, the present-day champion,
received his training on the Wolhuter courts, where many a hard-fought
game was played. Mr. Britten also encouraged cricket and every form of
outdoor exercise.
"He was a foundation member of the Rand Club and a
warm supporter of the Rand Pioneers organisation. The motto of the latter
body, 'They did their level best,' has peculiar significance when applied
to 'Tommy' Britten."
-
The
Hereford Times, Saturday, 13 November 1910. |
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Probate |
"BRITTEN
Thomas Johnson
of Johannesburg Transvaal
South Africa died 24 October 1910 Administration (with
Will limited)
London 19 May to
William George Child Britten land agent attorney of Cecilia Johanna
Britten widow.
Effects £
672 7s." |
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Source |
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Playing Career |
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Club(s) |
Also played in Glasgow for Parkgrove FC
1874-78 and Presteigne FC (Wales) from 1877 until at least 1880. He was
then a playing member of Grantham FC in 1878-79. He seems to have taken a
few years out before becoming a leading member at Brentwood FC, playing
and scoring for for them regularly from 1883-86, in fact, Britten was
instrumental in their name change to Crusaders FC in October 1886,
continuing to play for them until his emigration. Throughout 1885 and
1887, he was also playing for Grantham FC.
Appears to have took his
football with him to Transvaal, winning the Association Cup with Wanderers
FC.
"Britten
was greatly popular, particularly amongst footballers, who simply idolised
him as one of the best players of that or any other time. As centre-forward
of the old and at that time very popular Grantham Town F.C."
- Grantham Journal, Saturday, 29 October 1910. |
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Club honours |
None |
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Individual honours |
Glasgow FA (vs. Sheffield,
February 1878, one goal)
Nottinghamshire FC (vs.
Queen's Park, November 1878; vs. Derbyshire FA, December 1878 (floodlit);
vs. Queen's Park & vs. Sheffield (one goal), both February 1879)
London FA (vs. Glasgow, November 1886).
When he wasn't
playing football, he wasn't too bad at cricket either!
In the late
1870's, he was winning races (flat racing & hurdling) wherever he was,
Glasgow, Grantham, Presteign. |
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Height/Weight |
not known |
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England Career |
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Position(s) |
Centre-Forward |
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Distinctions |
Has two appearances for Wales, one before his reserve for England,
and one after. |
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Beyond England |
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A mechanical and mining engineer
who took his trade to South Africa in 1887. |
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The Numbers |
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parties |
due to start |
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1 |
1 |
Match History
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Club: Parkgrove F.C. - no full appearances |
Welsh F.A. Committee
- no
full appearancesx
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Age
20 |
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1 |
3 |
23 March 1878 - Scotland 9 Wales 0
Hampden Park,
Glasgow |
Fr |
AL |
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cf |
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Club: Grantham F.C. - no full appearances |
F.A. Committee
- no
full appearancesx
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pp |
1 March 1879 - England vs. Scotland, Surrey Cricket Ground, Kennington |
Fr |
postponed
- frost |
res |
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Club: Presteigne F.C. - no full appearances |
Welsh F.A. Committee
- no
full appearancesx
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Age 22 |
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2 |
7 |
27 March 1880 - Scotland 5 Wales 1
Hampden Park,
Glasgow |
Fr |
AL |
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cf |
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Club: Brentwood F.C. - no full appearances |
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Club: Crusaders F.C.
& Grantham F.C. - no full appearances |
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Notes
____________________
CG
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England
Football Online