William Buckley Roderick was born in Llanelly in January 1862 and was the eldest son of William Roderick, Bank Manager, Llanelly. He was educated at Marlborough and Bath and at an early age began to take an active interest in athletic sports.

In addition to being a Welsh International Football Player, he won at Cardigan in 1881 the Amateur Cyclist Championship of Wales and Monmouth.

He adopted the profession of solicitor and served his articles in Llanelly and London

His achievements:

1882 Commission in the First Volunteer Battalion Welsh Regiment;

1885 On being admitted to practice he commenced as a solicitor in Llanelly;

1891 Member of the Llanelly Local Board of Health from 1891-1894 (did not seek re-election);

1892 Appointed Coroner for the South Eastern part of the County of Carmarthen;

1895 Appointed Registrar of the Llanelly County Court;

1895 President of the Carmarthenshire Agricultural Society (at Carmarthen);

1897 President of the Carmarthenshire Agricultural Society (at Llanelly);

Vice-Consular for Spain;

Director of the Llanelly & Mynydd Mawr Railway Company;

Director for other companies;

Captain in the First Volunteer Battalion Welsh Regiment (held commission since 1882).

He took a deep interest in agriculture and was promoter of St Clear’s Butter Factory and Carmarthenshire Stud Company.

Information from: Men & Women of South Wales and Monmouthshire, Printed and Published by the Western Mail Limited, 1897