John Gordon A'Bear


John A'Bear was an English rugby union player. He played club rugby for Gloucester and was their youngest captain. Although he never won a cap for England, he did tour Argentina with the British Isles team in 1936.

Early life

John Gordon A’Bear was born in Cheltenham on 16 July 1913, the son of James Horace A'Bear, an ironmonger, and his wife, Nellie . He had an older sister, Lottie, and two younger siblings, Charles and Nellie. He was educated at The Crypt School, Gloucester.

Rugby career

John played for Gloucester from 1933 until 1939 and was also selected to represent his county, Gloucestershire, from 1935-39. He was a part of the County Championship winning side of 1936-37. At the age of 24, A'Bear became Gloucester's youngest Captain and continued his captaincy the following season. His record in his first year of captaincy was 29 wins from 36 matches.
As a second row, he formed a solid and famous partnership with Digger Morris and was best man at Digger Morris’s wedding. They were also known for their rendition of "The Pig Song" as after-match entertainment.
John was never capped for England, but was an international due to his selection for the tour Argentina with the British Isles team in 1936. In 1936, he was a reserve for an England trial at Bristol.
During the Second World War, he played a number of matches for Gloucester and for representative sides but, due to business commitments, retired in 1946.

Family and later life

John married his first cousin, May A'Bear in Quebec, Canada. She was the daughter of Alfred A'Bear and Edith Stirling. They had two children, both born in Gloucester, Suzanne and Judith. John died in 1979.