Frederick Leney facts for kids

Frederick Barcham Leney (born 29 November 1876 – died 25 July 1921) was an English businessman who helped run a company that made drinks. He was also a talented amateur cricket player. He played one important cricket match, known as a first-class cricket match, for the Kent County Cricket Club in 1905.

Early Life and Cricket

Frederick Leney was born in 1876 in a village called Wateringbury, which is close to Maidstone in Kent. He went to school at Bradfield College. While he was there, he was part of both the school's cricket team and its association football (soccer) team.

After school, Frederick continued to play cricket. He played for Kent's junior team, known as the Second XI, from 1903 to 1906. He also played for local clubs like Wateringbury Cricket Club, where he was the captain, and The Mote. He even played for the famous MCC. His only time playing for Kent's main team, the First XI, was in 1905. This match was against the cricket team from Oxford University.

Family Business and War Service

Frederick's father, Augustus Leney, had started a company called the Phoenix Brewery in Wateringbury back in 1843. After finishing school, Frederick, who was the oldest son, joined the family business. By 1911, he had become a Director, meaning he helped make important decisions for the company.

When World War I began, Frederick wanted to help. He joined the British Red Cross as a Red Cross Searcher. This role involved helping to find missing soldiers and connect families. He worked with the Red Cross in countries like France and Egypt. He continued this important work until December 1916. At that time, he was released from his duties and went back home to manage the brewery. This was because his father had passed away the year before.

Later Life and Legacy

Frederick Leney sadly died suddenly in July 1921, when he was 44 years old. He passed away at the Railway Hotel in Galway.

Frederick's uncle, Herbert Leney, was also a cricketer who played four first-class matches for Kent. The family business, which had been renamed Frederick Leney & Sons in 1896, continued for many years. Later, in 1927, a larger company called Whitbread took over the brewery. Then, in the 1960s, it was taken over by Fremlin's Brewery. The brewery kept operating until 1981. Today, the original site is used as a storage and distribution center for Whitbread.