Early Years
This is probably the first photo of a rugby team in Pwllheli. Pwllheli Grammar School from 1955-56. Everyone who attended the School from the middle of the 1950s right through the sixties will have fond memories about 'Jac Wood', Mr J G Williams the woodwork teacher. He was very keen on the game of rugby and his enthusiasm obviously became infectious.
REAR : Leslie Faul : Huw Wyn Elias : Dewi W Thomas : Keith Geoffrey Lindsell : John Eric Williams
W Michael Williams : John P Grant : Hywel Rhys Davies : Mr J G Williams(Athro)
SEATED : Selwyn Parry : Robert Elfed Byrne : Melvin Ian Roberts : Dai Davies : Tegid Davies : John B Hughes : Eric Thompson
Mr Williams had started teaching at the School two or three years earlier and it was his enthusiam for the game that influenced the pupils to start playing the game. This was the first time the game was played in the Town. One or two of this team can be seen today at Bodegroes supporting the current team in their endeavours.
Many thanks to Mr Dewi Thomas of Rhuddlan, for allowing the use of the photo and for his reminiscences about his playing days at Pwllheli Grammar School. His contribution has been translated.
Reminiscences of the early years by Dewi Thomas
Very little was known about the game in the Grammar School in those early days. Rugby was a game mainly played around the coal mines and villages of South Wales. This soon changed when Mr J. G. Williams became Metal and Woodwork teacher at the School and a rugby side was established. (Jac was well known in his own right but also as the brother of the Rev. R.O.G.Williams the author and member of Triawd y Coleg in his student days.)
There were trying times ahead. One problem was where and when to train. The only answer was during the lunch break. It would have been impossible any other time as pupils disappeared home on the bus in the afternoon. The second was the lack of a suitable field to practise. “Cae Top” was unsuitable because it was stony and dangerous and the “hallowed turf” of the girls’ hockey field across the road was out of bounds, apart from the fact that it was too small. There was no option then but to play on the only piece of flat open ground, between the School and the road.
Jac was the one who took charge most of the time but I can also remember Alwyn Griffith (Swift) the English teacher taking one or two sessions. I seem to recall Alf Newman, the Music teacher refereeing more than once as well.
If you think getting a suitable place to practice was hard it was even more of a headache finding a home ground. The answer was to get permission to play in a field belonging to Butlins Holiday Camp opposite the main entrance. We would all assemble at School to get changed into our green and yellow hoops and then travel by bus to Penychain. I can remember once arriving for a game. It was obvious there had been some misunderstanding as there was a football match in progress at the ground. We saw a different side to Jac that day. Normally a patient, courteous and quiet individual he made a bee line for someone who looked to be in authority and stated that it was rugby that would be played there that day and not some “PROSTITUTED GAME” like football. Now then, that is some statement!
We had regular opponents in Ysgol Syr Hugh Owen, Caernarfon, Friars, Bangor and Dolgellau, but the enemies undoubtedly were the team from H.M.S. Conway, Anglesey – playing not on the Menai where the ship of the same name was located but at Llanfair Country House. This is where we saw showers in the changing rooms for the first time – how the other half lives indeed. There were occasions when we beat them as well, and not only that but more importantly maybe, managed to confuse them by talking in Welsh to each other on the field.
We travelled everywhere by bus, using Ifan Jones Parry (Llithfaen) or Moto Coch (Clynnog and Trefor) usually, but once for some unknown reason went by Crosville double decker. Home or away we always had sandwiches or bara brith and a cup of tea after the game, with the usual distribution of oranges at half time.
Playing in all weathers of course – travelling away and not playing was not an option, so wind rain or snow the game would go on. I can remember once playing at Friars in Bangor in a field above the Menai Straits with hail the size of marbles pelting down . One member of the Friars team then was the late Dewi Bebb, who want on to make a name for himself representing Wales.
I scored the one and only try of my career at Caernarfon – picking the ball up from the base of the scrum and diving over the line – an exhilirating feeling for a member of the second row.
I left school at sixteen to begin a career in the electricity industry so my time in the team was short. However, I enjoyed every second amongst a great bunch of boys.
I am extremely glad to find the game prospering in Pwllheli and in the excellent surroundings at Bodegroes – best wishes and success for the future.
Dewi Thomas 2007.