There was a very special night at Gelli Fawr in the Gwaun Valley recently when rugby legends paid tribute to the life of the late Ray Williams OBE, who passed away in 2014. Ray was the first ever Welsh Rugby Union Coaching Organiser together with being a former Secretary of the Union and also the Tournament Director of the 1991 World Cup in a varied and impactive career throughout the rugby world.
Organised by the Ray Gravell Trust in association with The Pembrokeshire Friends of Prostate Cymru, in respect of which Ray was its founder chairman, the evening was compered by Eddie Butler the former Welsh captain and BBC rugby commentator. The guest speakers who regaled the audience of family and friends together with supporters of the two charities were rugby legends Phil Bennett and Derek Quinnell. The former British Lions and Welsh internationals, who were in the legendary Scarlets team that beat the All Blacks and also played their part in the “greatest rugby try ever” by Gareth Edwards for the Barbarians against the same All Blacks, captivated those present with their inspirational stories of a special period in the history of Welsh rugby in the 70’s.
The event raised over £9,500, mainly from a well-supported raffle and auction, and the proceeds will be donated to Prostate Cymru, a charity that Ray Williams was an ambassador for and also very dear to him.