In almost 40 years of reporting on sport in Pembrokeshire I have never seen a club member so respected by everyone at his club as I have with Martyn Rees, not only at Neyland Rugby and Cricket Clubs, but around the county in both sports as well.
 
He was a wonderful help to me as the All Blacks press officer for many years and I discovered why he had been nicknamed ‘Ceefax’ because of his photographic recall of events - and then in county cricket as a terrific asset to the Pembroke County Cricket Club for all did there.
 
Where he really rose to the top in my esteem came when I went to watch Neyland play and he was touch judge , dressed even on the coldest days in just a thin tee-shirt, and the All Blacks looked to have scored a vital try in the top corner until his flag was raised aloft.
 
Some of the Neyland players, especially my old pal Mathew Williams, were incensed but he refused to discuss it then or in the bar afterwards because he believed he was right and that was that!
 
Over the years I found him to be the voice of reason at The Athletic Ground, always ready to stand up for his club but knowing that some players did make mistakes in the heat of the moment - and we became good friends who trusted each other.
 
Even when he once phoned Marilyn and I at 2am on a Sunday morning in the mistaken belief he was phoning a taxi to take him back to Rosemarket, we both forgave him because he had clearly enjoyed his Saturday evening and his embarrassment the next day was quite endearing, especially when he spoke to Mrs Carne to apologise!
 
I can still call the day he rang me at home to calmly tell me about his serious illness and throughout the time he was unwell there was still a rare dignity about him, and a calmness that only comes to people of great strength and courage.
 
It was nice to see  Janet Phillips and Linda Picton, two cousins of Martyn’s in attendance, and a privilege to attend the special opening of the smashing new scoreboard in his memory, held before the local derby against Llangwm, that stands above the corner of the Athletic Ground where he waved that flag - and every time that I watch a game I will stand there for a few moments, look up and think of a kind, gentle man who graced our county’s sport for all too short a time!






 
The match programme provided some lovely tributes to ‘Ceefax’ from former All Blacks and we at PembrokeshireSport.co.uk are honoured to reproduce them on our site:
 
 
 
Chris Busby - 1^st team player rep – It’s an honour and privilege to be asked to say a few words reflecting on the greatest clubman to be associated with our beloved club Neyland R.F.C.
Martyn ‘CEEFAX’ Rees was respected by all and the nicest guy you would have had the pleasure to meet. We all miss him dearly and have so many fond memories.
 
Martyn was the heartbeat of this club and dedicated his life to make our club the best it could be; his dedication to committee works covering many roles was exemplary. Not content just being Team Manager he often ran the line and was happy to contribute in any capacity to make life for players easier.
 
For those who had the pleasure of knowing Martyn know why he was referred to as CEEFAX, because he was our stats man. A well-educated guy with a respectable job.
 
Martyn had phenomenal border line photographic memory, his knowledge was vast and on very rare occasions we would try and catch him out on any genre of subjects but most of the time he always knew the answers.
 
Today’s gesture to dedicate the new score board to CEEFAX is so fitting and he would be bursting with pride. This scoreboard will stand the test of time and reflect for generations to come a great club man who is affiliated with it.
 
I leave you with this poem which I think reflects a lot on what the club and game meant to Martyn CEEFAX Rees”
 

 
THE LOVE OF THE GAME

THE TIME

THE EFFORT

THE PAIN

THE PASSION

THE STRENGTH

THE COURAGE

YOU SACRIFICED IT

ALL FOR THE LOVE OF THE GAME

HAPPINESS

SPIRIT

DREAMS

SUCCESS

ENTHUSIASM

RESPECT

YOU GAINED IT




ALL FROM THE LOVE OF THE GAME

THANK YOU, MARTYN, FOR YOUR LOVE OF THE GAME.
 















 
 
Steve Evans - 1^st team coach – ‘Ceefax’ will always live in the club’s memory as a true legend of Neyland RFC. His dedication to the team is something the likes of which we will never see again. I feel proud to say he was my friend and the support he showed me as a player and in my coaching years is something I hold dear, even if I still disagree with some of his lineman calls….!
 
This scoreboard serves as great recognition of this truly unique gentleman and a permanent reminder of his involvement with Neyland.
 
 
 





Mathew Williams - ex-1^st team captain – ‘Ceefax’ was an integral part of Neyland rugby club. He features in many former players memories whether it be running the line, organizing tours; the list is endless.
 
He was a true gent and will always leave a gap in our hearts, on and off the field.
 
For me personally he was like family and on so many occasions doing his upmost to assist me with the WRU reports to try and reduce my ban after one of my many red cards.
 
Without Ceefax’s input and dedication I feel Neyland RFC would not be what it is today, he was an exceptional and wise individual, the backbone of Neyland RFC and always in my heart.
 
 



 Rob Johns - club chairman – As chairman of Neyland RFC it is my privilege and pleasure to welcome Llangwm RFC here today to play the first leg of the Sutton cup in memory of Paul Sutton.
 
It is also fitting to unveil our new electronic scoreboard in memory of Martyn ‘Ceefax’ Rees, who was a longstanding committee member of this club but sadly passed away a few years ago.
 
It is due to his very legacy that we are able to dedicate this scoreboard to his memory, and we also have members of his family present today to whom I extend a very warm welcome and hope they feel this is a worthy tribute to him.
 
 
 



Former 1^st team coach - Graham ‘Gaga’ Richards – While by his own admission Martyn ‘Ceefax’ Rees wasn’t the greatest sportsman, my first encounter with him was in 1980 on the cricket pitch when for my sins I had been banished from playing sport for Neyland and so was plying my skills appropriately in relation to today’s fixture at Pill Parks in Llangwm.
 
Martyn was around 16 or 17 and playing for Rosemarket in Division One of the Pembrokeshire Cricket League. I was opening the batting with Willie Morris and we had just passed 200 for no wicket, Willie had passed his maiden ton and I was 96 not out, thinking my ton was just around the corner.
 
I hit a short-pitched delivery towards the scoreboard and thought it had 6 written all over it only for Martyn to stick his hand up - and the ball struck to it like the proverbial blanket. So, Richards was out for 96 caught by Rees.
 
That started a lifelong friendship that eventually saw him become talisman for both Neyland cricket and Neyland rugby. He was tireless in championing the cause for both sports through the decades and a natural successor to John Preece, which in itself speaks volumes because ‘Ceefax’ was a one-off!
 
Many a Neyland rugby digresser (you know who you are, myself included!) were more than thankful for his litigation skills gained as a prosecutor with Welsh Water, which he used to great effect in WRU hearings, where he mitigated with a high degree of success for either an exoneration or a reduced ban.
 
He worked conscientiously for both clubs to the end; he was often the last to leave the pub on a Saturday night even if he’d had a sneaky snooze in the corner, all while holding his much-loved bottle of bud. Usually after reminding me of the best catch ever by a Rosemarket player that stopped me getting 100!
 
A true gent who loved to chat on almost any subject, of course which he was more than knowledgeable on and why he was and always will be known as “Ceefax”. RIP my old pal it’s testimony to you and your generosity that the scoreboard mounted in your name, and its legacy, will be remember long into the future.” 

 
Peter ‘Swansea Jack’ Davies - 1^st team manager – “I will keep my tribute to Martyn short as many of the things I could say have been written by others before me. I first meet Martyn when I came to Neyland in the mid-eighties as his father Cecil was on the committee then.
 
‘Ceefax’ became a great friend over the years as our team manager/press officer and many other roles within the club. His loss was massive for both rugby and cricket, for whom he worked tirelessly, and also to his friends.
It was always a pleasure to share a beer and chat with him after games, although he used to get me into a bit of trouble at home by staying for one more bottle of Bud……. or six!
 
Martyn was a legend and hopefully the score board is the start of a number of projects planned at our ground which will serve in his memory. 
 
I now undertake some of the roles he used to do with both rugby and cricket and whilst no one will ever fill his shoes I can only aspire to do the roles to the best of my ability and do you proud ‘Ceefax’!