Tomorrow (Saturday) a large number of family, friends, former Llangwm players and ex-work colleagues will flock to the clubhouse of Llangwm RFC to celebrate the 90^th birthday of a real club legend in George Thomas.
 
In his long association at Pill Parks, George played at scrum half, and despite often being the smallest man on the field, was renowned for his commitment, tackling and ability to influence matches, at a time when The Wasps were the top team in the county and won a succession of silverware as proof – but George continued to play when the club’s fortunes changed and he played when he was over 40 to help out when needed.
 
Not only that, but George was club captain in a season when they won the league and KO Cup double, was president during Llangwm’s centenary season and later became a very active chairman – so it is small wonder that the name of George Thomas is rightly revered at Pill Parks.
 
A talented rugby player but also a gifted artist
 
But what is not generally known by many is the fact that George was also a very talented artist, using water colours to create wonderful paintings of local scenes.
 
Indeed, this writer can vouch for that fact since my wife and I are proud owners of FOUR of George’s paintings, with a barn owl that looks alive, St David’s Cathedral, Carew Castle – and the two magnificent rocks above our home in Treffgarne, all originating from a chance visit to George and Jean’s home in Milford Haven to interview him before he became ‘Sports Folio No 378’ in the long-running series (over 1,000) which I wrote in the old West Wales Guardian.
 
Jean was an excellent dinner lady at the Milford Central School I taught in and I had met George previously through rugby – but when we had a cup of tea and a Welsh cake after our chat, I spotted a painting of Roch Castle adorning their wall, where the moss on the gate-post outside the grounds looked so real I felt I could touch it.
 
To be honest, I was a bit scornful that he had painted it but he told me he had loved art in school but had to take Latin instead – and it was only when his teenage son Martin brought art homework in that he told him it wasn’t in proportion. So, dad was asked to show him what he meant and Jean was so impressed she bought him water colour paints for his next birthday – and it was perfect relaxation  after work, alongside his rugby, of course!
 
I asked him if he could paint a picture of a barn owl for my wife’s birthday, a month away, and he readily agreed – and it was ready framed within ten days for me to pick up. Mrs C was thrilled and I had a lovely surprise after I had given Martiin some extra English tuition prior to his GCE exams – when along came the painting of St David’s Cathedral!
 
The painting of Carew Castle is also fantastic and his final masterpiece was the ‘Treffgarne Rocks’ to mark a special celebration for us – and I just wish that on tomorrow’s auspicious day for George, I could give him something which would provide him with as much pleasure!
 
Rugby in the Navy – and success starts with The Wasps
 
Back on the rugby front, George played for a Haverfordwest Grammar School first team which didn’t lose a single game in his two years there before he joined Llangwm and was involved from the outset before he joined the Navy for his national service on HMS Appollo - and sailed the oceans, but still had time to play for the ship’s team in Leningrad, Copenhagen, Malta, Italy and Scotland, to name but a few, so he was in good shape when he returned to civilian sport with Llangwm.
 
In the 1956/7 season Llangwm won the League title and a year later reached the KO Cup Final but lost by 11-5 to Tenby, which was disappointing, but these performances marked the start of a Golden Era for The Wasps.
 
In the 1958/9 campaign they won the league and KO Cup double, with an undefeated record in the league under Dilwyn Lewis, where they scored 176 points and only conceded 19, and beating old rivals Tenby in the Cup Final
 
Amazing record of conceding just one try - all season!
 
George then took over the reins for the next season as they again won the league and beat Tenby again by 5-3 in the KO Cup Final. There was no scoring in either half and Tenby scored first in extra time with a penalty - but George and Co kept plugging away before Bert Jones dived over for a last-ditch try and a conversion by hooker Juno John took the silverware back to Pill Parks, and a celebration that went on long into the night!
 
In the league they again showed their dominance as they won every match, conceding only one score in the full programme, when Cardigan winger John Murray grabbed an interception to prevent a full clean sheet, which has been unthinkable ever since!
 
But the next season was disappointing as they not only narrowly lost the league title to Neyland and the KO Cup to Pembroke but, perhaps worst of all, surrendered the annually-held Bishop Cup to oldest rivals Haverfordwest, for the first time in 15 seasons!
 
More excitement – and silverware
 
They grouped for the next season as the Bishop Cup returned to Pill Parks, beat the Quins 11-3 in the KO Cup and went to cardigan in the in all match needing to win by 32 points to take the league title again - and George scored two of the tries which saw them win 48-0!
 
They lost the KO Cup Finals in 1962/3 and 63/4,  to make it SEVEN finals in a row – but George’s best pal Glynmor Howells, who was best man at his wedding to Jean, beat him because he has also played the two previous finals for Neyland!
 
George was again chosen as captain for the 1967/68 season but by then the club’s star was on the wane -  although he played on into his 40s to help the young players coming through - and then in 1977 he was elected as vice-chairman to the great Meurig Hughes and later became chairman - but sandwiched in between was the club’s centenary season, where Llangwm played Llanelli and the Eastern States of the USA, and he was honoured with the presidency.
 
And finally . . .
 
Ask George about players he respected from other clubs and he would list the likes of John Shanklin, Luther Thompson, Ivor, Eddie and Morgan Lewis (Pembroke) plus Jack Harries and Sam Jones (Whitland), plus a host of others from Neyland, Haverfordwest and The Quins, who he always enjoyed meeting on match days.
 
On the home front there were so many fantastic players and top club men too mention in a short tribute like this but it is typical of his modesty that he wouldn’t dream of listing the name of ‘George Thomas’ amongst them.
 
But there is no doubt that he was a wonderful player and was Llangwm through and through – and we wish him and Jean every happiness on his special day because he represents all that is good in rugby, in sport and in life!