Alfred Cochrane

Alfred Henry John Cochrane, (26 January 1865-14 December 1948) was an accomplished cricketer, and subsequently made his name as a writer on sporting subjects and of light verse

Cochrane was the second son of Rev. David Crawford Cochrane, Master of Etwall Hospital (almshouses) and his wife Jane Tomlinson. He was born Moka, Mauritus where his father was at the time Chaplain to the Bishop. He was educated at Repton School and Hertford College, Oxford. At Oxford he played cricket for the University taking part three times in the Varsity match. He also played cricket for Derbyshire to make a total of 28 first class matches and played football for Derby County in its pre-league days. Later he played minor county cricket for Northumberland.

He moved to Northumberland when he joined Armstrong Whitworth, becoming secretary of the company. In 1910 he unsuccessfully contested Tyneside, and from 1912 to 1927 he served as a member of the River Tyne Commission. Cochrane was a governor of his old school, Repton, from 1921 to 1944. He had a had a skill at writing light verse and his writing had a graceful touch. He wrote of cricket - the "uncertain game" - and of "the man who snicketh the length ball." He was interested in the nineteenth-century writers of light verse, especially in J K S (James Kenneth Stephen) and Winthrop Mackworth Praed with whom his verse was compared. Of football he wrote in the poem "To Anthea".

:"I once admitted—to my shame—:"That football was a brutal game.:"Because She hates it.

Later he recalled with nostalgia the expeditions in the Highlands of his youth, and lamented that "the way, though once it was short, is long." He contributed to The Times for many years on sporting topics, especially on cricket.

Cochrane married in 1895 Ethel Noble youngest daughter of Sir Andrew Noble, 1st Baronet. His brother Sir Arthur Cochrane was a distinguished member of the College of Arms.

Publications

*"The Kestrel's Nest" 1894
*"Leviore Plectro" 1896
*"Told in the Pavilion" 1896
*"Collected Verses" 1903
*"The Sweeper of the Leaves" 1908
*"Later Verses" 1918
*"Records of the Harlequins" 1930
* and verses and articles for Newspapers and Magazines.

References

The Times, Obituary, December 16 1948

External links

* [http://content-www.cricinfo.com/england/content/player/11203.html cricinfo]
* [http://www.youandyesterday.co.uk/articles/Cochrane,_Alfred_-_Rams_Forgotten_Players_(No._1) Derby County Football]