(Written in 1975)
The Waunarlwydd Rugby Football Clubhouse is a monument to hard work and club spirit. It was the brainchild of our present Honorary Secretary Mr. Les Jones, but even he, when he addressed the general meeting at Welfare Hall in 1957, could not have envisaged wat the building of a clubhouse entailed. His proposal to purchase land and build was seconded by Mr. Ron Williams. This to quote the two gentlemen mentioned “was the easy part of the project”.
Finding a suitable piece of land was difficult due to sewage problems in certain parts of the village. However, when land was acquired Mr. Phil Harries set about drafting the initial plans. A building committee of five was set up and Mr. Horace Morgan, an ex-player, had the task of supervising the whole of the building programme. The players and committee men set about the labouring duties. There are stories authenticated by Ron Williams, that the first footings were dug like land drains. However, he and Terry Saunders spent 48 hours squaring them off. It would seem we were fortunate to have Horace as the Clerk of Works, and to have three tradesmen of the calibre of Dick Symonds, Vic Gardner and Dai Davies to ensure that the finalised building was a credit to the hard and diligent work put in by them and the whole of the labouring crew.
Mention must be made of the sustenance that kept the whole team going. Regularly for three and a half years at about eleven o’clock Mr & Mrs Dai John, two old age pensioners, who lived in the house opposite the club, would bring along cups of tea, for which they would not take a penny piece.
Even though the workers were a happy band with everyone mucking in, the tradesmen were a little on the fussy side. Dick Symonds would only have one person labouring for him that being Eldred Bayliss, Vic Gardners’ labourer was Jack Bayliss. Perhaps it was because they could rely on them being there at 9.00am every Sunday morning.
There was some rivalry between Ted Kite, our present chairman, and Mr. Ron Williams, a life member, regarding who would be first on site each Sunday. Ron maintains he was always first, but Ted suggests that he only says this because he was jealous that Ted had been promoted to use the trowel, while Ron was still mixing cement and sand for floors and lintels.
All the plumbing was done by Sid and Christie Phillips and after 14 years this is still in first class order. No club could have been as fortunate as Waunarlwydd in having tradesmen of their quality.
There was also Dai Beynon who was the strongest among the heavy gang. He, it is said, kept Terry Phillips and Gwynfor Morgan, both playing members at this time, fit for their Saturday game.
Apart from being a tremendous help Ritchie Griffiths, who emigrated to South Africa, also provided the “light relief”. His lorry was always at the disposal of the building crew, and it is said he almost disposed of the partly build club very often.
The reminiscences made in this article are a few of many related by Ron Williams, He points out that the voluntary work done by a band of enthusiastic club members, far too numerous to mention by name provided a club house that each one of them can be proud of.
On 26th September 1961, Mr. Danny Davies, the President of the Welsh Rugby Union, and Mr. Bill Clemenrs, the Secretary opened the clubhouse. After three and a half years of hard work the members and committee had the gratification of knowing that not a penny (the old one) was owed on completion.
The present generation, and those who follow, will do well to remember the debt of gratitude owed to “the band of men”, who provided the facility, so that Rugby Football may prosper in Waunarlwydd