Unfortunately just as the party of around 40 had assembled at their headquarters (in these days the Waverley Bar) on the Thursday evening news came over the radio that that international match was cancelled as the ground was unplayable and the game would be re-arranged for a date in April at Swansea. With the weather report most unfavourable for most of Wales and little prospects of any rugby there we had to cancel all arranegements there and then, and proceeded to spend the remainder of that evening with a sing song in the Waverley Bar.

The original source of the Glynneath fixture being arranged came through a meeting between pals of the RAF who were in the armed forces together, the late Bert Miller and Rees Thomas - a figurehead of Glynneath RFC. Arrangements were accordingly made for that first trip in early February 1956 and an eventful trip it was in more ways than one. A party of around 40 assembled on the Thursday night at the Waverley Bar and set off at 7 o’clock on a cold frosty night.

A cold journey
The first port of call was Penrith where a meal was arranged for 9.30. We left Penrith at 11 o’clock and the night appeared to be getting colder, and so it proved. The route was by the A7 and A49 through Lancaster, Preston, Wigan, Warrington and on to Shrewsbury which was reached after four in the morning and by this time one side of the coach had frozen up with what heat there was on one side only and the driver Rob Tinlin was feeling unwell.  In those days there was only one driver on such long journeys. The one good thing to come out of this unfortunate occurrence was that two drivers were provided for future trips to Wales.

After a break and having hot drinks at the station Buffet, the driver was somewhat better and agreed to continue. The severe weather continued and affected the power of the coach, struggling to get up some of the hills encountered on the journey into Wales. We should have arrived at Glynneath by 8 o’clock but it was nearer 10 o’clock, when we were met by officials of the Glynneath club. The news was to look at the ground which was definitely unplayable and as were were going on to Neath, 10 miles further, where accommodation was booked they agreed to get in touch later in the forenoon and let us know whether this game was to be on or off.  They had informed us earlier in the week of the game being doubtful also of the international being doubtful as parts of the ground was frozen and braziers had been brought in to thaw out affected parts.

The Dorothy Hotel
After signing in to the Dorothy Hotel in Neath owned by one of the Welsh international team Rees Stephen, and having dined, news from Glynneath was the match was off but the other arrangements made for the dinner would go ahead in the late afternoon. The players were then allowed to do as they wished until lunch time at 1 o’clock. Just after midday a further message from Glynneath informed us the game was on again, so a number of committee had to visit pubs and other hotels in Neath to contact the players and inform them of the game being on and kick-off arranged for 4 o’clock. All of them were located by lunch time although a number of them had taken some refreshment.

The first game
When we arrived at Abernant Park we looked at the ground which was definitely unplayable. However the referee Mr E Williams of Clydach was prepared for the game to be played and suggested to the players of both teams to restrict their tackling and prevent serious injury and he would allow the game to flow wherever possible. What a fine game it turned out to be the home team winning by 3 tries to 1, a very fair result, and in which the referee played a prominent part.  Looking back, many of us have said had that game not been played it is doubtful if the fixture would have continued.

After the game we were entertained to dinner at the headquarters of the Glynneath club at that time Dinahs Rock Hotel owned by Mr and Mrs Stan Davies, a delightful couple. Not a big establishment but most suitable for such an occasion, and a most enjoyable evening was had by all. It was the early hours of morning when we had all to make our way back to Neath. On the Saturday morning we left Neath and journeyed to Cardiff to book into the Central Hotel where accommodation was reserved for the Saturday night.

After the international
Following the international and high tea, members of the party made their own arrangements for the rest of the evening. The chairman of the Glynneath club Mr Idris Rees had joined our company at Cardiff and stayed the night in the same hotel. Another well known figure who had played for Scotland that afternoon, Hugh McLeod, also stayed the night and shared a room with the president. The Scottish team travelled home by train late Saturday night on that occasion, so Hugh was tempted to stay overnight and travel home with us by coach on the Sunday. Fortunately the coach was in much better condition for the journey home as was also our driver.

Stops for meals on the way home were made at Shrewsbury for lunch and at Lancaster for High Tea, arriving home safe and sound and voted by all as an outstanding weekend.

The second trip
Two years later on the second trip Wales 1958 much the same arrangements were made except that accommodation was reserved for both nights in Neath. That year the teams were piped on to the field by Jimmy Arnot. The highlight of that weekend took place on the Sunday morning when we arrived at Glynneath around 10 o’clock to bid farewell to the officials of the Glynneath club and the hosts of the Rock Hotel when a crowd almost half the population of the village had assembled at the front of the hotel and demanded some pipe music from Jimmy Arnot. He entertained then with reels, strathspeys and what have you for twenty minutes, a treat the residents there had never seen before. They were overjoyed at the stop having been made to be entertained.

Around this time after negotiations with Mr Andrew Deans, proprietor of the Victorai Hotel in Hawick he kindly donated a trophy for Annual competition between the clubs and named the “Deans Cup”.  Many exciting games have been played for custody of the trophy over the years, and the present count is nearly all square. On their visits to Hawick, the Glynneath club for many years starting in 1957 have been accommodated at the Victoria Hotel and the Buccleuch Hotel. One hotel could not accommodate the whole party.

Glynneath in Hawick
Arrangements usually made on their visits to Hawick were after arriving on the Thursday a visit to the local mills on the Friday forenoon, some of which visited include Lyle and Scott, Pringles, Wilson & Glenny, also the Police Headquareters on Wilton Hill. The game in the afternoon which has been played on several grounds over the years, Mansfield Park, Volunteer Park, Wilton Lodge and at Denholm in 1965 when the other grounds were unplayable.

Players of both teams played in the fifties and sixties to be capped by their countries. For the Trades there was Derrick Grant and Colin Telfer capped for Scotland. For Glynneath there was Don Devereux, David Weaver and Dai Morris capped for Wales. There were others who came later.

The dinner was held in the Victoria Hotel and attended by as many as 140 on occasions, always an enjoyable evening. Many personalities have attended this dinner both in Hawick and Glynneath. In the early years a dance was laid on following the dinner. Both clubs provided buses travelling to Edinburgh on the Saturday for the international at Murrayfield. They left the Buccleuch Hotel at 10 o’clock straight to the car park at Murrayfield and lunch was arranged for 12.30 at the Murrayfield Ice Rink.

After the game, returned to Galashiels for High Tea at the Douglas Hotel at 6 o’clock. After returning to Hawick members of both clubs were left to make their own arrangements for the remainder of the evening. Several times in the sixties there was usually a musical evening held in the Tower Hotel Hawick where the Glynneath Male Voice Choir were accommodated and provided entertainment. Very often members of both clubs would eventually find their way to the Tower Hotel. I understand the fixture is stronger than ever with new friendship being made year by year and old ones being renewed. Long may it continue, for the next fifty years.