People Australia

Alfred O'Brien, caricature, 1911

Sydney Sportsman (Sydney), 15 November 1911, p 3

Alfred Patrick (‘A. E.’, 'Widow' or 'Widdy') O'Brien (1868-1923) cyclist, musician and trade union official

Birth: 19 March 1868 at Parramatta, New South Wales, and registered as Patrick Alfred, the illegimate son of Annie O’Brien (1844-1908), born at Glenmore, Cork, Ireland. His father was reputedly George Augustus Thornton (1810-1901), a native-born merchant and parliamentarian, who, it is claimed, fathered four other children by Annie. [Alfred’s death certificate, however, gives his father’s name as John.] Marriage: 3 June 1891 at St Patrick’s Church, Parramatta, NSW, to Ellen Mary Cranney (1871-1947), born at Parramatta of Irish descent. They had four daughters and five sons. Death: 5 November 1923 in hospital at Melbourne; usual residence Sydney. Religion: Catholic. 

• His reputed maternal grandmother Sarah alias Thorn was a convict who married Samuel Thornton (1782-1842), a publican, who arrived free in NSW in 1814.
• Alfred was educated at Marist Brothers school, Parramatta, and Riverview College, Sydney. He played the cornet and trumpet.
• In public he used the name “E. O’Brien” for reasons unknown.
• Secretary of the Musicians' Union of Australia (NSW) for about 25 years; General Secretary of the Professional Musicians Federation, 1898. Conductor in a band.
• Champion cyclist from 1896-1905 and re-appeared in 1913.
• Executive member of the NSW Australian Labor Party and vice-president in 1919. Delegate to Trades and Labor Council.
• Gained the nickname of 'The Widow' in early 1900s as a well-advertised play 'Widow O'Brien' was playing in Sydney at the same time that Alfred O'Brien was cycling at the Sydney Cricket Ground and the then NSW League of Wheelmen, secretary Percy Hunter, used this coincidence to advertise the Sydney Cricket Ground event.
• O’Brien was sometime commodore of Botany Sailing Club. He was president of the NSW League of Wheelmen at his death.
• Cause of death: arterio sclerosis and cerebral haemorrhage (2 hours).
• One son, George Edward O’Brien (1899-1918), was killed in World War I.

Sources
H. J. Gibbney and Ann G. Smith, A Biographical Register 1788-1939, vol 2 (Canberra, 1987); Electrical Trades Journal, 28 November 1923, p 11; Australian Worker, 7 November 1923, p 1, 14 Nov. 1923 p.1; Labor News, 10 Nov. 1923 p.7; Daily Mail, 6 November 1923 p 10.