Russian Nobility, Professional Soccer Player. He received recognition as an Anglo-Russian sportsman and pilot. Born His Highness Prince Alexander Obolensky, a member of the Rurik dynasty, he was the son of Prince Serge Obolensky, a member of Tsar Nicholas's Imperial Horse Guard, and his wife, Princess Luba Naryshkina. The year after his birth, the Russian Revolution started, and his family fled as political refugees to England, settling in Muswell Hill in North London. In March of 1936, he became a British subject. After attending private schools, he studied politics and economics at Oxford University, graduating in 1938. While in college, he played Rugby football, gaining two "Blues." He went on to play professionally for Leicester and England. He represented his adopted country four times and is still remembered for scoring two tries in the 1936 game against New Zealand, which England won 13-0, their first-ever victory against the All Blacks. At the dawn of World War II, he joined the 54th Squadron of the Royal Air Force. Before the war, he had gained experience as an Auxiliary Pilot Officer. Unfortunately, the following March, during a training exercise, he was killed after the aircraft left the runway, hitting a ravine. He was piloting a Hurricane Mark One at Martlesham Heath, about five miles East of Ipswich. On March 29, 2009, a very modern memorial with his bust was erected in Ipswich's Cromwell Square in his honor. The glass-fronted restaurant in the East Stand at Twickenham Rugby Ground has been named "Obolensky's" in his honor. He has nine formal photographs at the National Gallery. He was appointed a Knight of St John International in 1938.
Russian Nobility, Professional Soccer Player. He received recognition as an Anglo-Russian sportsman and pilot. Born His Highness Prince Alexander Obolensky, a member of the Rurik dynasty, he was the son of Prince Serge Obolensky, a member of Tsar Nicholas's Imperial Horse Guard, and his wife, Princess Luba Naryshkina. The year after his birth, the Russian Revolution started, and his family fled as political refugees to England, settling in Muswell Hill in North London. In March of 1936, he became a British subject. After attending private schools, he studied politics and economics at Oxford University, graduating in 1938. While in college, he played Rugby football, gaining two "Blues." He went on to play professionally for Leicester and England. He represented his adopted country four times and is still remembered for scoring two tries in the 1936 game against New Zealand, which England won 13-0, their first-ever victory against the All Blacks. At the dawn of World War II, he joined the 54th Squadron of the Royal Air Force. Before the war, he had gained experience as an Auxiliary Pilot Officer. Unfortunately, the following March, during a training exercise, he was killed after the aircraft left the runway, hitting a ravine. He was piloting a Hurricane Mark One at Martlesham Heath, about five miles East of Ipswich. On March 29, 2009, a very modern memorial with his bust was erected in Ipswich's Cromwell Square in his honor. The glass-fronted restaurant in the East Stand at Twickenham Rugby Ground has been named "Obolensky's" in his honor. He has nine formal photographs at the National Gallery. He was appointed a Knight of St John International in 1938.
Bio by: Linda Davis
Family Members
Advertisement
See more Obolensky memorials in:
Records on Ancestry
Advertisement
