It is with great sadness that PembrokeshireSport.co.uk has learned of the untimely death on Friday, 29^th November of a popular well-known character from Haverfordwest, Mr David Miller, aged 69.

Surely will be best remembered as true gentleman, who loved his rugby and horse racing as he regularly attended local point-to-point meetings, who would often reminisce, tell a tale, also loved the banter with his friends.

I classed Dai as very good friend, we often bumped into each other whilst walking our dogs in Prendergast, he loved to catch up on all the local gossip and talk about anything topical of that time.

In the ‘60s he attended Haverfordwest County Secondary Modern School where he developed his first love of rugby under the late PE Master Gordon Rayner, before he played for Haverfordwest RFC Youth team alongside lifelong friends Billy Martin and Keith Fleming.

He became the Blues’ youth coach in the early 1970s and his proudest moments during his tenure was three of his most talented players earned international honours by being selected for Welsh Youth, namely scrum-half Anthony Morgan, centre Delwyn Banner, also a few years later outside half – centre Peter Morgan was capped, he went on to successfully play senior rugby for Llanelli, Wales, Baa Baas and British Lions. He always able and willing to go beyond the call of duty as he drove them to international training sessions held on Sundays, usually at Waterton Cross, South Wales Police Ground, in Bridgend.

Hooker John Griffiths and second row Peter Griffiths regularly played for the club’s youth team and he was thrilled the pair went on to play regularly for the senior Pembrokeshire XV who won the Welsh Counties Cup on numerous occasions.

When he finished with the youth, he became chairman of Haverfordwest RFC during the club’s highly successful ‘golden era’ in late ‘70s early ‘80s at their former Fishguard Road ground headquarters - he was instrumental in helping organise a club tour to Romania in 1980 when Trevor James was the Blues’ senior head coach.








Dai became a senior County selector who also alongside Jeff Harry was heavily involved on the Welsh Districts Rugby Union committee, it led to talented players such as Nigel Merrony (Tenby), Geraint Bowen (Narberth), Billy Martin and Andrew Morgan (Haverfordwest) and numerous others from Pembrokeshire who all won Welsh Districts Caps.

He was a good friend of the late Glyn Shaw, who propped for Neath and Wales, then switched codes to Rugby League as he featured for Widnes, Wigan, and Great Britain.

In the summer months he loved to park his car on the Racecourse and watch Haverfordwest play cricket every Saturday afternoon.

His big passion was horse racing and he was immensely proud of his brother Mick who pre-deceased him, he was an excellent stable flat jockey and trainer with the highly acclaimed Geoff Huffer.
 
Sincere condolences to his wife Christine and family, it’s another massive character gone, who will be sorely missed but will never be forgotten.
 
RIP David Miller