Granville Coghlan
Encyclopedia
Granville Boyle Coghlan was an educationalist and an early twentieth century rugby union international who is known as one of the “lost lions” due to his participation on the 1927 British Lions tour to Argentina
which, although retrospectively recognised as a Lions tour, did not confer test status on any of the four encounters with the Argentina national rugby union team
.
. He was the elder son of Henry Granville Coghlan and Amy Fiennes Coghlan (née Twisleton) and had a younger brother Henry Patrick. His father was a teacher who hailed from Lancashire, himself the son of a clergyman. Henry, on moving to the Hastings area where he was married, founded a school, known as Seafield School, of which he became the headmaster. Granville’s mother, Amy, was raised in Giggleswick
near Settle
in Yorkshire
. She carried the middle name Fiennes, in common with a number of her relations. Combined with her maiden surname Twisleton, this carried the heavy implication that she was related to the Twiselton-Fiennes-Wycham family, the holders of the Baronetcy of Banbury
, the current incumbent being Sir Ranulph Fiennes
. The link is not fully established, although the Twiselton from whom the Baronet has inherited the name was himself from Yorkshire. What is certain is that Amy’s forefather, Francis Twiselton was known as a giant of a man, standing 7’3’’. His stature was recorded to have passed down the generations, and may have contributed to Granville’s height and weight making him ideal for the rugby union position of lock.
Granville attended Rugby School
where he played both rugby and cricket.
and was awarded a rugby blue
. It was from Cambridge that he was selected for the 1927 tour to Argentina. On this tour he was one of a number of uncapped players who was selected to play against the Argentina national side. He played in two of the four tests. Despite being selected for the Great Britain side, he never went on to play for his national side, England.
Seafield School was a school for boys aged between 8 and 13. It was located on Collington Lane West, one of three schools on the lane the others being Falconbury, also a boys' school and Effingham, for girls. These three schools were visited by Queen Elizabeth II in the 1960s. Seafield itself was used as quarters for a Canadian Anti Aircraft Battery that was serving in defence of Bexhill and Cooden Beach during the Second World War. Seafield and its two counterparts were closed in the early 1970s to open up land to be used for building new homes. However, their crests were preserved in a specially dedicated stained-glass window in the nearby St Mark's church of the parish of Bexhill
. The installation and dedication of the Seafield School memorial window happened in June 1963 and was dedicated to Henry Granville Coghlan, the founder of the school, and his wife Amy and son Patrick.
1927 British Lions tour to Argentina
-Touring party:*Manager: James "Bim" Baxter-Results:-References:...
which, although retrospectively recognised as a Lions tour, did not confer test status on any of the four encounters with the Argentina national rugby union team
Argentina national rugby union team
The Argentina national rugby team, nicknamed Los Pumas, represents Argentina in international rugby union matches. The team, which plays in sky blue and white jerseys, is organised by the Argentine Rugby Union .Argentina played its first international rugby match in 1910 against a touring British...
.
Early life
Granville B Coghlan was born on 6 January 1907 in BattleBattle
Generally, a battle is a conceptual component in the hierarchy of combat in warfare between two or more armed forces, or combatants. In a battle, each combatant will seek to defeat the others, with defeat determined by the conditions of a military campaign...
. He was the elder son of Henry Granville Coghlan and Amy Fiennes Coghlan (née Twisleton) and had a younger brother Henry Patrick. His father was a teacher who hailed from Lancashire, himself the son of a clergyman. Henry, on moving to the Hastings area where he was married, founded a school, known as Seafield School, of which he became the headmaster. Granville’s mother, Amy, was raised in Giggleswick
Giggleswick
Giggleswick is a village and civil parish in the Craven district of North Yorkshire, England near the town of Settle. It is the site of Giggleswick School.-Origin of name:A Dictionary of British Place Names contains the entry:...
near Settle
Settle
Settle is a small market town and civil parish within the Craven district of North Yorkshire, England. It is served by the Settle railway station, which is located near the town centre, and Giggleswick railway station which is a mile away. It is from Leeds Bradford Airport...
in Yorkshire
Yorkshire
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...
. She carried the middle name Fiennes, in common with a number of her relations. Combined with her maiden surname Twisleton, this carried the heavy implication that she was related to the Twiselton-Fiennes-Wycham family, the holders of the Baronetcy of Banbury
Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes Baronets
The Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes Baronetcy, of Banbury in the County of Oxford, is a title in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1916 for the Liberal politician the Honourable Eustace Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes, who had previously represented Banbury in Parliament. He was the...
, the current incumbent being Sir Ranulph Fiennes
Ranulph Fiennes
Sir Ranulph Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes, 3rd Baronet, OBE , better known as Ranulph Fiennes, is a British adventurer and holder of several endurance records. He is also a prolific writer. Fiennes served in the British Army for eight years including a period on counter-insurgency service while...
. The link is not fully established, although the Twiselton from whom the Baronet has inherited the name was himself from Yorkshire. What is certain is that Amy’s forefather, Francis Twiselton was known as a giant of a man, standing 7’3’’. His stature was recorded to have passed down the generations, and may have contributed to Granville’s height and weight making him ideal for the rugby union position of lock.
Granville attended Rugby School
Rugby School
Rugby School is a co-educational day and boarding school located in the town of Rugby, Warwickshire, England. It is one of the oldest independent schools in Britain.-History:...
where he played both rugby and cricket.
Rugby career
He went on to Clare College, CambridgeClare College, Cambridge
Clare College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge in Cambridge, England.The college was founded in 1326, making it the second-oldest surviving college of the University after Peterhouse. Clare is famous for its chapel choir and for its gardens on "the Backs"...
and was awarded a rugby blue
Cambridge University R.U.F.C.
The Cambridge University Rugby Union Football Club, or CURUFC, is the rugby union club of Cambridge University, and plays Oxford University in the annual Varsity Match at Twickenham stadium every December. CURUFC players wear light blue and white hooped jerseys with a red lion crest...
. It was from Cambridge that he was selected for the 1927 tour to Argentina. On this tour he was one of a number of uncapped players who was selected to play against the Argentina national side. He played in two of the four tests. Despite being selected for the Great Britain side, he never went on to play for his national side, England.
Education
After finishing his education, Granville followed his father’s footsteps, becoming a teacher and went on to become the headmaster of the Seafield School. In turn, his son Terence became the headmaster until the school’s closure.Seafield School was a school for boys aged between 8 and 13. It was located on Collington Lane West, one of three schools on the lane the others being Falconbury, also a boys' school and Effingham, for girls. These three schools were visited by Queen Elizabeth II in the 1960s. Seafield itself was used as quarters for a Canadian Anti Aircraft Battery that was serving in defence of Bexhill and Cooden Beach during the Second World War. Seafield and its two counterparts were closed in the early 1970s to open up land to be used for building new homes. However, their crests were preserved in a specially dedicated stained-glass window in the nearby St Mark's church of the parish of Bexhill
Bexhill-on-Sea
Bexhill-on-Sea is a town and seaside resort in the county of East Sussex, in the south of England, within the District of Rother. It has a population of approximately 40,000...
. The installation and dedication of the Seafield School memorial window happened in June 1963 and was dedicated to Henry Granville Coghlan, the founder of the school, and his wife Amy and son Patrick.