The Ocean Restaurant and Bar in Broad Haven was packed out recently as owner Mostyn Davies held his second ‘Welsh Legends’ evening to raise funds for the Pembrokeshire Friends of Prostate Cymru and a sum of £3,827 was raised.
Like the first event, it was held on the eve of a big Welsh match, on this occasion prior to Wales taking on England in the World Cup, and again as a tribute to the life of former Wales’ coach and World Cup organiser, the late Ray Williams.
Getting the evening off to a flying start was former Welsh prop Graham Price who related great tales of his time in the game, whilst on three consecutive tours with the British Lions, with Wales and especially as part of the ‘Pontypool Front Row’, who were immortalised in song by Welsh folk singer Max Boyce. His colleagues Bobby Windsor and Charlie Faulkner’s ears must certainly have been burning! ‘Pricey’ also answered questions about his career and talked about Wales taking on England the following day.
Gareth Jenkins, the former Scarlets’ player and coach, and Wales’ coach, provided the analytical part of the evening in a superb question and answer session where he talked about the state of the game at international and club level, the current furore over concussion issues, and what he saw as the way forward for the future of rugby – a session to be enjoyed by any rugby fan!
Another highlight of the evening was a hilarious talk from Jeremy Pugh, the former Neath and Builth Wells’ prop, and current chairman of the Builth Wells club. He had his audience gasping and hooting with laughter at almost the same time as he regaled them with outrageous tales of his many tours abroad with the famous Neath team that also had West Walians Kevin Phillips, John Davies and the late Brian Williams joining him in the front row.
After MC Bill Carne had auctioned four framed and signed Welsh Rugby shirts for almost £2,000 there was even more laughter as Pembrokeshire’s own Peter Morgan, a Welsh international and British Lions’ centre, brought the house down with one story in particular and it was appropriate that his sister-in-law Judith Griffiths, who was Ray Williams’ daughter, should thank Mostyn Davies and others like John Daniels who had helped, for making it such a memorable evening and a wonderful boost for the funds of the Pembrokeshire Friends of Prostate Cymru!
Pictured: Judith Griffiths receiving the cheque from Mostyn and Kay Davies.