One half of a pair of American rugby loving brothers was presented with a memento by the Mayor of Tenby this week on a return visit to the town. Brothers Joe and Tom Hendrix first visited the resort back in 1977 as players in a touring party from Los Angeles Rugby Club. Striking up a friendship with local sports shop owner, Barry Llewelyn, who presented 'Bigfoot' Joe with a pair of size 14 boots after reading an article on the difficulity the player had in obtaining footwear to fit, the brothers invited the Tenby United side over to tour California in 1980. "It was a wonderful occasion when the Tenby team came over to play in the States, and the place has remained dear to our hearts ever since, with many good friendships made," said Tom, who along with Joe last visited the town in 1991 during the Rugby World Cup, where they fielded an Old Boys team known as the 'Lunchtime Legends'. Tom and his partner Patty, who have been staying at Mayor, Mrs. Tish Rossiter's guesthouse in St. Mary's Street, were next travelling to Dublin at the weekend, before flying home, while Tom's brother Joe has already headed back to Los Angeles.
