IN MEMORY OF PETER REES (1925-2020) – WELSH ROTARY AND RUGBY STAR
Peter Rees Awards Presentation Dinner – Pembrey and Burry Port Rotary
Peter Rees came from humble beginnings, born in Penygroes in 1925. He was a clever child and attended Gwendraeth Grammar School. Unfortunately, he had to leave school at the age of 14 to work in the local pit at Cross Hands Colliery.
He was determined to make a career for himself away from the pit but this meant he had to commit himself to higher education. To achieve this he had to take an extra job working as a milkman. He was very purposeful and eventually was able to attend Swansea College to become a mechanical engineer. After qualifying, he worked as an engineer at the Tir John Power Station, near Swansea and as a shift manager at Burry Port’s Carmarthen Bay Power Station.
Peter was also a great sportsman. His passion was playing rugby. His determination was proven here also. He played for both Penygroes and Tumble before transferring to the Scarlets. In September 1945 at the age of 20, he made his rugby debut at Llanelli Rugby Football Club. He ended this season as the club’s leading try scorer with 15 and led again at the end of the 1947-1948 season with 13. He won two caps for Wales playing on the wing – against France in Paris and Ireland at St. Helen’s. He had achieved so much in his career but representing Wales was the epitome of his success. At his passing, he was the oldest surviving Wales International. He was a keen sportsman right to the end. He rarely missed a home game for the Scarlets. He attended the gym and played bowls most weeks.
His other great interest was the Rotary. He liked the idea of what Rotary stands for , wanting to help those in need. His charity work with the Rotary meant a great deal to him. He helped form and was a founder member of the Cefin Sidan Rotary Club in 1971, now known as Pembrey and Burry Port Rotary and was instrumental in setting up the Cefin Sidan Rotaract Club in 1976 with over 50 members. He became Club President in 1978/1979.
Due to all his achievements, the Pembrey and Burry Port Rotary has taken great pleasure in recognising them and by holding an annual awards presentation dinner in his honour. The award certificates are presented to local people who have gone above and beyond with their efforts to support their community. This would have meant a great deal to Peter. This year on Tuesday the 9th of August 2022, we were able to first of all present a cheque of £1000 to the Cancer charity Tenovus. We raised this at a fashion show that we put on this year at the Ashburnham Hotel.
We then presented the certificates to the following prize winners for all the work that they have done in our community. These are local people who have worked so hard to improve the lives of those in our neighbourhoods. They truly deserve these commendations.
First and foremost is a little boy of about 10 years old who has worked so hard for litteraction. His name is Malaki Whitlock. He has put many adults to shame for what he has achieved in keeping his community clean, picking up after the slobs who just throw everything on the ground.
The next person is John Burns who has done so much for Kidwelly. Of course, the John Burns Foundation is very well known.
The Kidwelly and CETMA Foodbank have worked very hard to help people feed themselves. HEAT OR EAT is the choice for people in need at the moment and the Foodbank is a godsend for them. The volunteers work very hard and are very efficient.
Re-connecting Carmarthenshire is another organisation which is run by Sandra Llewelyn, an extraordinary woman who works so hard for the community in bringing people together.
The Llanelli Standard is a local free community newspaper, which covers Welsh speakers and Polish speakers as well as local columnists putting forward their views. It is very popular and it is so important to be free.
Kaz Jefferies is a volunteer for the Llanelli Centre for the Deaf. She was put forward for our award in recognition for her incredibly hard work and devotion to this centre. Deaf people do not get the support they need from the government or the general public. Unfortunately deafness is one of the invisible disabilities. So a centre like this and a volunteer like Kaz are vital to our communities.
Lynn Jones volunteers at Ty Golau (House of Light) working with people who suffer from dementia.This is run by the inspiring Jan Lewis.
The final volunteers are Isabelle and Craig Goodman who run the raft race for Burry Port, their Christmas lunches for people on their own at this time of the year and thirdly they raise funds for a school in Gambia. A well deserved recognition by the Rotary for all their work.
We, the local Rotary, feel intensely proud of these Peter Rees awards, being able to show the shining examples of the volunteers in our communities.
Finally, we would like to invite people to become members and join our group. We are a charitable organisation and we are also an extremely friendly one. Once a week, on a Tuesday evening we have a sociable dinner at the Ashburnham Hotel and then we update our members of the on-going charitable work. As a new member myself, I have found the friendliness and welcoming attitude of this group very uplifting and supportive. At this time, we understand that money is tight and we do charge membership but I can assure you that this Rotary group is worth every penny. Come along on any Tuesday evening to meet us and find out for yourselves.
