Lives in Cricket No 42 - Frank and George Mann

14 Chapter Three Education and Progress of Four Brothers Edward Mann decided that his four sons should benefit from a public- school education, and perhaps go even further at university, before deciding whether to follow him into the family brewing business. So in 1897 the eldest son, fourteen-year-old Edward John, began boarding at Marlborough College. In addition to his scholastic successes he played for the school’s cricket first eleven from 1899 to 1901, including three matches against Rugby School at Lord’s, and was captain in his final year. 6 He was selected for the Middlesex second eleven against Cambridge University at Fenner’s in 1901. Edward John passed the entrance examinations for Pembroke College at Cambridge University in 1901 and began attendance in 1902, specialising in chemistry in 1903 and 1904. He did not get a place in the University cricket team before obtaining a bachelor’s degree in 1905 but played another match for the Middlesex second eleven that year. He then started working full-time at the Albion Brewery, playing club cricket occasionally for Southgate for several summers. William Edgar Mann, the next eldest brother, started at Marlborough College two years after Edward John, but his sporting talents were confined to rugby union and he earned a place in the College first fifteen in 1901. He decided not to continue his education by seeking a place at university and left school in the summer of 1902. Eventually he made the decision to pursue a military career and attended the Royal Military Academy at Woolwich, joining the Royal Regiment of Artillery as a second lieutenant in December 1904. As far as can be seen, his name never troubled the typesetters at Wisden . Francis Thomas Mann, almost invariably known as Frank, started at Malvern College in Worcestershire in 1904 and was soon in the cricket first eleven in which he played for the next four summers and was chosen as captain in his final year. Hoping that Frank would follow in the footsteps of his eldest son, Sir Edward Mann submitted an application in October 1906 for admission to Pembroke College at Cambridge University, including the ‘proud-father’ information: He is top on the Roll of School Prefects and has been head of his house since September 1905. He is captain of School cricket and one of the best football players playing at the School. He will also almost certainly represent the School at Racquets next term. On all grounds he will be an acquisition to any College. Frank formally matriculated as a member of Cambridge University on 6 Wisden reported that Edward scored 682 runs at 18.94 for Malvern in the seasons 1899 to 1901.