Clifton Rugby Football Club History
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Wills Family

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In Memoriam
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List of Club Members 1872-1945
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Club Statistics 1872-2011

7 members of the Wills Tobacco Family played for Clifton, 2 sons of Henry Overton Wills III, Frank and Stephen, 3 sons of Frank, and 2 nephews of Frank and Stephen.

 

Frank William Wills

He was born on the 17th August 1852 . The son of Henry Overton Wills III and his second wife Mary Seccombe. An Architect. He married Sara Rebecca Dobell (died 1930). Lord Mayor of Bristol in 1910-11. Knighted. He played for the 1869 Clifton side and the club founded in 1872. He died 1932. 3 sons also played for Clifton.

 

Frank Oliver Wills

He was born on the 3rd April 1882. The son of Frank William Wills. He joined Clifton RFC in 1900-01. He died in 1972.

Above left, Clifton player, Frank Oliver Wills who was made Sherrif of Bristol in 1924. Above right in the 1960s

 

Hugh Cecil Wills

He was born on the 5th July 1884. The son of Frank William Wills. He joined Clifton RFC in 1903-04

 

Henry Herbert Wills

He was born on the 20th March 1857. The son of Henry Overton Wills III and Alice Hopkinson. He was educated at Clifton College from 1872 to 1874. He joined Clifton RFC in 1879-80. Brother of Maitland Wills. Director Imperial Tobacco. High Sherrif 1910.

Above Henry Herbert Wills.

Above Blenheim Lodge, 23 Blenheim Road, Westbury Park, Bristol, Henry Herbert Wills home from 1874-1885.

During the 1901 census he was living at 21 Royal Crescent, Bath with his brother and his family.

He died on the 11th May 1922, Age 66, at his home at St. Vincent's, Clifton Park, Bristol. A requiem was held at All Saints Church, Clifton and the funeral service at Bristol Cathedral. He was buried at Canford Cemetery, Bristol.

Above the grave of Henry Herbert Wills at Canford Cemetery.

 

Henry William Seccombe Wills

Born abt 1876. The son of Frank William Wills. He joined Clifton RFC in 1900-01

 

Maitland Wills

He was born on the 7th December 1857. The son of Henry Overton Wills III. Educated at Clifton College from 1871 to 1877 and Trinity College, Cambridge. He joined Clifton RFC in 1883-84. Brother of Henry Herbert Wills. Killed in an accident 1885.

 

Stephen Prust Wills

He was born abt. 1847. The eldest brother of Frank William Wills and son of Henry Overton Wills II and his second wife Mary Seccombe. He played for the 1869 Clifton side. He died in 1922.