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NAC Memorial Gates Re-dedication Service The Memorial Gates rededication service was held at 11:00 AM on Sunday 10th December. The service was conducted by Rev. Mark Soady of St Woolos Cathedral. Principal Guests were the Deputy Mayor, Councillor Paul Huntley, and the Deputy Mayoress, Mrs Dianne Huntley. The names of the eighty-six members of Newport Athletic Club who gave their lives for their country in The Great War were read out by Dennis Bennett, Keith Wigmore, Phil Stallard and Mike Dams. The bugler was David Jones. The Standards of the following were paraded :
The Royal Welsh Fusiliers.
Wreaths were laid on the memorial by :
Fred Lewis - on behalf of The Royal Regiment of Wales Comrades Association
Representatives of the following organisations attended the service :
The Royal Regiment of Wales Comrades Association.
The following also attended: David Pattison, captain of Newport Rugby Football Club. Kevin Morgan, captain of Newport Gwent Dragons. Newport RFC directors, Will Godfrey, Martyn Hazell and David Watkins. Councillor John Guy and Mrs Joyce Guy. The parade and service were directed by Phil Stallard. There was a splendid turnout for the rededication service and it was nice to see so many familiar faces mixing with the occasional visitors to Rodney Parade. It was wonderful listening to the ‘old soldiers’ as they shared stories with some of the younger people. David Wilson, Gareth Wilson and Carly Hyett are serving in the Royal Air Force and they enjoyed swapping tales with the veterans. It was nice to see Ian Gough, a current Wales International, talking to the visitors to our club and making them feel welcome. It was a humbling experience for me to see several long-time Newport supporters wearing their medals. My old friend, Jack Harris, who had earned his medals before I was born, and Jack Bale, a very modest man who brought his medals in a bag in his pocket because “my hands were a bit shaky this morning and I couldn’t pin them on”. For the service we had assembled at the clubhouse before marching out of the ground via the Godfrey Road gates and around to the memorial gates. The service was short but very emotional as the names of the eighty-six fallen were read out. There was a special moment when ninety-year old Fred Lewis was helped to lay a wreath on the gates and was followed by David Wilson in his RAF uniform who marched to the gates, laid a wreath and gave a crisp salute. We had advertised for any relatives of the eighty-six to come forward and attend the service and we were privileged to welcome two. Edward Curran is the nephew of Bill Curran. Bill Curran played rugby for Pill Harriers and possibly for Newport United. He was wounded in 1918 and brought back home where he died of his wounds. He was 30. It was great to meet Edward and he really appreciated the service and the restoration. Also there was Sheila Curran. Sheila is married to another nephew of Bill Curran but she is also the niece of C C Phillips who was killed in 1917. Sheila brought some memorabilia with her and she is going to let us have a copy. Neither Edward or Sheila knew that the other was going to be there so it was nice for them to meet. Two lovely people. This is not quite the end of the Memorial Gates story as we have a bucket collection at the home game against Bedwas on 30th December 2006 and in a few weeks we intend to put a framed collage of photographs in the bar to record the story and the restoration of the gates. The important thing is that, once again, the Memorial Gates are a fitting tribute to those eighty-six members of Newport Athletic Club who gave their lives for their country. More pictures at the FoNR Photo Gallery - courtesy of Ronnie Sutcliffe. Dennis Bennett, Project Coordinator |