Sports lovers in Whitland, especially those involved in rugby, cricket and darts, and those across the county in general, are today mourning the loss of Rob Benjamin, who passed away at his home town on Friday, writes Bill Carne.
 
Known to all as ‘Benji’ he had played a key role at Whitland RFC for many years, including almost 25 years as Hon Secretary and a considerable time as Fixture Secretary, and was renowned for the meticulous manner in which he approached all his work with The Borderers.
 

Whitland players pay tribute to ‘Benji’

 
He was a great supporter of Whitland Ladies when they restarted almost 20 years ago and excellent announcer at the home matches for the first team - and after such overall meritorious service he was deservedly honoured with Life Membership of the club.
 
Paul Kirk, an outstanding former player who is now the club’s Hon Treasurer, told us:
“We are shattered by Benji’s passing and we immediately called off Saturday’s game at Tondu, who could not have been more understanding, and at two o’clock all our coaches, officials and players met at our clubhouse to raise a glass to an outstanding person.
 
“Our thoughts at this awful time go out to his partner Ann-Marie Jenkins and their sons Gethin, who is our firsts’ team manager, and Sion.”
 

Key role as cricket chairman in Whitland

 
Just across the road at Whitland Cricket Club, Rob was the current chairman and as in everything he did, he was putting his heart and soul into his role there. As Trefor Evans, another stalwart player and committeeman told us,
 
“Rob was an integral part of our club and has spent a lot of time helping out on our ground and as a scorer who could be absolutely relied upon.
 
“He regularly scored for the second team but sometimes stepped in with the firsts when Ann-Marie was unavailable on rare occasions. He also played for the club’s ‘Die Hards ’XI’ when needed and although he was sometimes teased about his lobbed deliveries he took wickets as his answer.
 
“Both have been vital parts of the club and that commitment was continued because Gethin captained the seconds and Sion skippered the thirds – and indeed, one year the Clubman of the Year Award was rightly shared by the whole quartet!
 
“All the players thought the world of him and he is a great loss to our club!”
 

Other sports from an early age

 
He also played darts for The Station House pub in the town and Paul Kirk also added that when they were young and living in St Mary Street, Whitland, they started up a football team called ‘The Farmers’.
 
“We used to play friendlies and when fixtures needed organising and players told the details there was only one person who did that job superbly – and that was Benji!”
 

Personal thoughts of a lovely character

 
On a personal note I am immensely saddened that such a gentleman has passed away because he was also a great character who never missed a chance to pull my leg on a range of matters but I knew that if I needed any bits of information about rugby or cricket in Whitland I could phone him and he would tell me it as it was, no frills attached – and if he didn’t know he would soon be back on the phone to give me the answer.
 
I loved how good he was at dealing with people of all ages and his wicked sense of humour, which came to the fore after he’d helped me out with some information and I’d say that was another pint I owed him; to which he would promptly say it was fast approaching two barrels which he would have to force down when he finally caught me in a pub!
 
Sadly, that occasion will never come about now and my heart goes out to the lovely Ann-Marie, Gethin and Sion – and whenever I go to watch cricket in Whitland I’m going to sit for a short while on the bench to the left of the scorebox where he and Ann-Marie used to sit, and just think nice thoughts about my pal ‘Benji’.