AlexanderObolensky

Popularly known as The Flying Prince, Alexander Obolensky was a Rurikid prince of Russian origin who became a naturalised Briton in March 1936.

He was born at Petrograd (now Saint Petersburg), the son of Prince Sergei Alexandrovich Obolensky - an officer in the Tsar's Imperial Horse Guards.

The Obolensky family fled Russia in 1917 and he was educated at The Ashe Boys’ Preparatory School and Trent College in Derbyshire before reading Politics, Philosophy and Economics at Brasenose College in Oxford.

Obolensky turned out for Chesterfield, Leicester and Rosslyn Park and his club form earned him an England call-up. Two debut tries helped the Red Rose claim their first win over New Zealand in January 1936 triumphing 13-0. The first of those efforts, which saw him beat several players while running three-quarters of the length of the field to dot down, was regarded as one of England’s greatest tries.

In March 1936 he was naturalised British and would be selected for the Lions squad later that year, also playing for the Barbarians between 1937 and 1939.

Obolensky was commissioned as an Acting Pilot Officer in 615 Squadron in August 1939 and was stationed at RAF Kenley for the outbreak of World War Two.

However, on March 29, 1940, tragedy struck as Obolensky, aged just 24, was killed during a training exercise. A day after being recalled to the England squad to face Wales his aircraft overshot the runway at Martlesham Heath Airfield and dropped into a ravine.