The son of a Yorkshire vicar, Alfred Flaxman’s mother died when he was just 1-year-old, after giving birth to his only sibling Samuel. 
In 1911 Alfred went to London and studied violin at the Royal Academy of Music but, at the same time, was starting to develop as an athlete and was to become a fine all-round competitor.

Although of modest stature, he developed a fine physique through bodybuilding under the guidance of the great German trainer Eugen Sandow. He featured in the AAA hammer throw for 10 years (1905-14) and was the winner in 1910. He won the AAA pole vault in 1909, when he was the only competitor, and he placed in the first six in both the shot and discus at the Championships. 

In 1908, he participated in the discus throw competition, in the Greek discus throw event, in the freestyle javelin throw competition, and in the standing high jump event but in all these competitions his final ranking is unknown.

He was also an above-average boxer and gymnast and, unusually for a specialist in the weight events, he was a talented violinist and artist.

Alfred was killed in action during the First World War, serving as a second lieutenant with the South Staffordshire Regiment on the first day of the Battle of the Somme, aged 26. His remains were not recovered and he is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.