Welsh, indeed international rugby legend Gareth Edwards CBE rolled back the years for his enthralled audience as the guest speaker at the Rotary Club of Tenby's 67th Charter Anniversary Dinner, held at Tenby Golf Club this week.

Gareth, voted by many top rugby commentators as the greatest player of all time, is a long time personal friend of Rotarian Brian Charles OBE, the current president of Tenby Rotary Club, and Brian, his fellow Rotarians and all guests were delighted that Gareth had readily found time in his very busy schedule to address the club on this auspicious occasion.

Following a much-enjoyed dinner, prepared to a very high standard by the new caterers at Tenby Golf Club, president Brian introduced Gareth by listing his achievements in the game, including, the triple 'Triple Crowns', the Grand Slams, the victorious Lions tours, the caps, tries and, of course, possibly the greatest try of all time for the Barbarians against the All Blacks in 1973.

Gareth began his talk by congratulating Tenby Rotary on their 67th anniversary, and fondly recalled that 67 was a very special year for him, as that was the year that, as a 19-year-old, he had begun his top-flight rugby career with Cardiff.

Gareth continued with highly interesting and very amusing anecdotes of his flourishing career and the characters, indeed legends that he had had the great fortune to play with for Cardiff, Wales and the Lions.

The audience was spellbound and roaring with laughter as Gareth spoke of teammates and adversaries, the likes of Willie John McBride, the Pontypool front row, Barry John, Phil Bennett, Ian McLaughlin, Fran Cotton and many, many other legends of the game worldwide. It really was a fascinating insight into the life of the top rugby players of the time.

Legendary tales included the story of Willie John in just his socks and pipe and how the '74 Lions, on embarking on the tour, had been given an engraved lighter each by Ronson and 200 cigarettes! But the lighters were to provide loads of fun for the boys on tour, with pranks including the lighting of newspapers of unsuspecting businessmen at places like Jo'berg airport!

Life was great fun, but Gareth also spoke of the great physical exertion displayed by the players to achieve the success that they did, pushing their bodies to their limits, the sometimes very fierce and bloody battles on tour many miles from home, and how the team spirit, togetherness and leadership of people like Carwyn James, Willie John and Bobby Windsor was to prevail, and spur them on to glory.

It truly was a magical evening that everyone present will remember forever, and in proposing a vote of thanks, Tenby Rotarian Dr John Bowen sincerely thanked Gareth for the unforgettable journey down memory lane given on the evening and the undoubted pleasure that Gareth had brought to everyone during his career.

Following the dinner, Gareth happily chatted with the audience and signed many autographs, including several copies of his book, which were given as raffle prizes and a Welsh shirt for the Pembrokeshire HOPE MS charity, which will be auctioned by them at a later date.

Tenby Rotary Club would like to sincerely thank Gareth for spending the evening with them, and also president Brian and Rotarian Richard Ormond for all the hard work in organising the dinner to such an exemplary standard, who in turn would like to thank Golf Club captain Chris Beecher, the catering team at the Golf Club led by Gareth Phillips and Julie Tudge, and also to Will Crockford, Gareth and Pat and colleagues from Tenby RFC for their support. Richard would also like to thank prospective Rotarian Paul Thomas, of St. Florence, for his tremendous support.