Alex ‘s life began in Redditch, Worcestershire. Sadly, Alex’s Mum died when he was only two years old. Alex moved to Derby when his father who was a helicopter mechanic in the REME met the lady who was to become Alex’s stepmother.

Alex attended Chellaston Junior and Senior Schools and started his rugby with Melbourne M&Js, encouraged by his father who had played in the Army.

Chemistry was the preferred course for Alex at University but he had an offer of an Accountancy Apprenticeship at ADS Accountancy which he took up. He has now been working for Maple Accountants on Friargate in Derby for seven years.

Europe and Mexico have been enjoyably travelled by Alex, but it is a trip to Scotland which brings back amusing memories. Aged four on a trip to Edinburgh Castle he caused a bit of a disruption when he toppled a suit of armour which was rescued just in the nick of time from a clamour of a commotion and returned to dutifully upright position.

His recent serious injury is nothing new to Alex. Aged 12/13 he nearly broke his neck when a scrum collapsed. Some years later an ACL rupture when a drink driver, 4 times over the limit, ran over the pedestrian Alex, which he concedes was a lucky escape.

Many happy memories of M&J Tours to Italy, France, and Ireland override the various injuries and happily Alex is well on the road to recovery.

1. First position you played in rugby: Tighthead Prop
2. Worst injury: Broken spine, fractured vertebra and cracked spinal disc

3. Best player you played with at MRFC or elsewhere: Tony Day/Bison – says it all, never seen a man hit a ruck like him

4. Best person for post-match drinks, fun and frolics: Ben Rosamond, he promises a lot and more than often he delivers

5. What should your nickname be: Nicknames are given, not chosen

6. What bad habit do you have: I can’t say ‘NO’, often when I should have

7. Your sporting hero: Tyson Fury

8. Your non-sporting hero: Elon Musk

9. Favourite food/meal: Domino’s Pizza

10. Favourite TV programme/film: Lord of the Rings Trilogy

11. Favourite book: Harry Potter series

12. Who dead or alive would you like to have a conversation with: JFK, would love to know how/why he pushed through the first moon mission

13. You can take either a book, music or a tool to a desert island. Which, and what would it be: Music, Eminem. I’d die trying my hardest to rap

14. Dream job: Pro Golfer

15. Tell me something about you that no one knows: Passionate hate for Frogs. (Editor’s Note. Not sure whether that’s the Amphibious type!!)

16. A phrase that reflects your life: Tough lives don’t last, tough people do

17. What sport do you wish you’d tried: Golf, I am trying, I just suck

18. Who would you like to see interviewed for this article: Big Kev Holdgate

19. Your wish for the future of MRFC: Become sustainable at punching well above its weight, get promoted and stay there. Only upwards.
20. Your Melbourne Dream Team of players past and present:
J Ballington
Legend
T Day
S Whiteford
W Judge
M Suddaby
D Iliffe
E Saunders
O Page
E Holden
T Watson
S Smith
C Livesey
S Hancock
J Kilgour
R Gosling
A Nightingale
J Pearce