Almond John son of Almond Thomas of Penryn, labourer, and Elizabeth (baptismal record)
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DISORDERLY PENRYNIANS.
At Falmouth Petty Sessions, on Thursday, Almond John Thomas, seaman on H.M.S. Cambridge, and Frank Ralph, Penryn, were charged with being drunk and disorderly on May 23rd. Thomas did not appear, but Ralph pleaded guilty.
P.C. Matthews deposed he saw both defendants at Market Strand, very drunk, and pushing each other about. They were refused drink at the Kimberley Hotel, and then went up towards Green Bank, where they were cautioned by other constables. When asked their right names Thomas said he was called Martin, and Ralph stated he lived in West Street, instead of giving his right address, St. Thomas Street.—Supt. Endean said it was impossible for Thomas to get away from the Cambridge. Nothing previous was known against the defendants.—Both were fined 2s. 6d., with costs, Thomas with 11s. costs and Ralph with 9s.
The Cornish Echo and Falmouth and Penryn Times, Friday, 5 Jun 1903, p. 8
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In the 1939 Register Almond J Thomas (b. 12 Feb 1885), cinema manager, and wife Florence W Thomas (b. 28 Sep 1890), unpaid domestic duties, were living at 3 Harrison Cres., Leeds, Yorkshire (West Riding). At the same address were (daughters) Madge Thomas (b. 2 Jun1919), shorthand typist, and Brenda E Thomas (b. 21 Jul 1921), ladies' hairdresser.
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LAST SURVIVOR OF A FAMOUS TEAM
The last of the 15 Cornish heroes who made Rugby history which has never since been matched, 87-year-old Mr. Almond John (Jack) Thomas, of 27, St. Thomas-street, Penryn, died on Friday. For several years he had been sole survivor of the Cornwall 1908 team which won the county championship—the only occasion the title ever came to Cornwall—when they defeated Durham at Redruth.
Penryn-born Mr. Thomas was an all-round athlete, but he never played Rugby for his native town.
A noted swimmer and runner, he went to the USA for a time, and then joined the Royal Navy where he took up Rugby, playing first for St. Chad's, Plymouth, and joining Devonport Albion in 1904. He played 21 games for Cornwall during 1908-1910, for England against The North and for The South against England, and Naval and other representative matches.
A robust forward with great speed and a tremendous tackler in days when there were no specialised forwards, he had a knee injury when making a tackle—against one of his Cornwall team mates playing against him in a trial game—and this spoiled his England chances.
He turned to Rugby League—Northern Union it was called then—and played for Dewsbury, also becoming club secretary.
Commissioned in the Army in the 1914-18 War he led a machine-gun corps on the Somme, where he was wounded. Later he managed cinemas in Dewsbury and Leeds before taking charge of the Grand Theatre, Falmouth, prior to retirement. A low handicap golfer, he won several competitions in Yorkshire. Mr. Thomas leaves a widow, two daughters and four grandchildren.
Players, officials and spectators stood in silence before the start of the Penryn's game against Wolverhampton on Saturday.
Cremation took place on Tuesday at Penmount.
Cornwall Rugby Union, Penryn and Falmouth Rugby Clubs and Penryn Bowling Club were among those represented at the service.
The West Briton and Royal Cornwall Gazette, Thursday, 13 Apr 1972, p. 20
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