Ray Gravell Remembered
November 1st, 2007A day of great memories, but a day of sadness. News reaches me that Ray Gravell is dead. Latterly remembered as the talkative media personality of Welsh TV and radio, Ray Gravell’s contribution to Welsh rugby was immense. As a fiery and committed Centre, he played for Wales and the British Lions with great distinction. The anecdotes about his pre-match nerves are legion. His greatest love was Llanelli RFC. He was the current President, and I am told that he was enjoying his role very greatly, despite his diabetes that cost him a leg earlier in the year.
His death is particularly poignant, bearing in mind that yesterday was the thirty-fifth anniversary of the greatest day in Llanelli’s history, namely their 9-3 defeat of the All Blacks at Stradey. Ray hailed from Mynyddygarreg, a village to the north-east of Kidwelly, which is where my maternal grandfather’s family are all from.
A great Welshman and a great personality.
