This week sees Bill Carne stepping down from his role as a sports journalist after almost 35 years with the old West Wales Guardian and the Western Telegraph and so we decided to recognise his contribution with his own ‘Spotlight’ article - where he looks back on some of the people he has met and we highlight some of his own involvement in sports such as cricket rugby, football and table tennis.

Bill first set out in sports journalism after being asked to help Colin Kaijaks when his fellow Pembroke batsman took on the role of Sports Editor at The West Wales Guardian and got Bill involved as a means of relaxation from his role as an English teacher at Milford Haven Central School – and his first feature article told of colleague Steve Holmes’ rugby exploits.

“That was in 1984,” said Bill, “and it was when I first met Gordon Thomas - and since then I have rarely missed a week, eventually doubling up with a junior version because I was amazed at the number of talented youngsters coming through and felt they should be recognized.

“I have met some of the rugby greats like Sir Gareth Edwards, JJ Williams, Delme Thomas and many other rugby internationals visiting the county, as well as locals like Jonathan Thomas, Dominic Day, Rob Evans, Mike Phillips, Jonathan and James ‘Cub’ Davies – plus our football stars like Simon ‘Digger’ Davies, Mark Delaney and Joe Allen.

“But what has always given me my greatest joy in being privileged to interview so many locals, with Jacob Thomas as a favourite from the Paralympics alongside Libi Phillips, Lili Rice and so many people who have put an enormous amount into their sport.”

There is no doubt that another part of his work has been helping a range of clubs and charities with fund-raising quizzes, and he has spoken at most rugby, football and cricket dinners in the county, some on a number of occasions, from as far afield as Aberaeron to Llanelli, where he was guest speaker at Wayne Proctor’s benefit dinner.

“I have loved working with journalistic greats like Dave Morgan and the late Vernon Scott in sports reporting and then Gordon Thomas and more recently Fraser Watson, both superb in their work at the Western Telegraph and as sports players in their own right.

“But arguably the greatest impact on me in sport has been to be involved with the Sport Pembrokeshire Awards since their inception, with people of the calibre of manager Ben Field, Alan Jones, Russell Jones, Matt Freeman, Lois Hilling and the rest, especially with Angela Miles and her outstanding work with Disability Sport.”

On his own sporting front, Bill was brought up in Treforest, near Pontypridd, and with a football field called the White Tips at the top of his home in Oxford Street he played football from an early age.

“We formed a team in the local boys club and in 1958 I was captain of the under 11 team which went for almost four years unbeaten, as well as winning top age-group tournaments at RAF St Athan and a huge five a side event held at Cardiff Central Boys Club.

“I managed to score 58 goals in one campaign from 18 games (I was a big lump who just ambled around the box) and at under 15 level I was selected for East Glamorgan as we beat West Glamorgan and Monmouthshire at Ynys Park, Ton Pentre.

“From there I played senior football with Park Rovers and Park Guild, who formed to play as Treforest Football Club and now play in the South Wales League - and I still check their scores every week.

“Then my grandmother’s death brought me to Pembroke and I was playing for Pennar Robins Youth and first team at sixteen, where Marwood Marchant was my mentor and Affie Dooley my hero because he always bought me a shandy after matches.

“My first three senior games were played on the Barrack Hill, where the golf club now stands, Pill Lane and St Mary’s Field – and as well as playing with nets for the first time ever (none in Ponty!) I thought every field in this county must be on a serious slope!

“When I played against The School of Artillery at Manorbier Camp I tackled one of their players and as we got up he punched me in the kidney and when Marwood saw me in tears and found out what had happened he made sure it wouldn’t happen again by tackling my assailant around the hip and escaped with a booking after telling the ref what had previously happened. After that he was always my hero there!

“I also played rugby, firstly for Pontypridd Grammar School and Pontypridd Town team (there were eight schools there) before arriving at Pembroke Grammar School and meeting up with another hero of mine in Mr Dennis Lloyd; a great player with The Quins in his younger days and someone whom I still call ‘Sir’ or ‘Mr Lloyd’ but never by his first name because I look up to him so much.

I started as a flanker in Pembroke before Mr Lloyd converted me to full back as one of only three fifth pupils in a side that comprised mainly second and third year sixth players skippered by Guy Thomas, still going strong as a supporter at Pembroke RFC.

“We played against some very strong teams that included the legendary Llanelli Grammar School side that included Terry Price and Gwendraeth Valley Grammar School, where Barry John was the star. I had the misfortune to play full back against the former and flanker against the latter – and never touched either during the games!”

Bill sustained a nasty cartilage injury before he was due to go to teacher training college in Barry which stopped him playing either sport afterwards but he still played cricket in our county until he was 56, for Pembroke Dock, Pembroke and Stackpole, where he had started out as a schoolboy alongside eight of his teachers and finished off there playing as wicket-keeper of the second team which was captained by Lyn Smith.

“I played with and against too many characters to do justice to but Kevin Jenkins was easily the best captain I played under in the first division with Pembroke and in my time I had a top score of 96 with Pembroke Dock, 88 not out with Pembroke and 70-plus at Stackpole as well as a five-wicket haul behind the stumps.

“ I was also a member of the executive committee of Pembroke County Cricket Club for over a decade after being vice chairman to the great Cyril Venables and was very proud to be chairman for three years where my wife Marilyn and I managed to visit every club at least once every season, bedecked in my county blazer.

“I went on to umpire afterwards and was chairman of PACUS for three seasons and joined Les Hastings as umpires when Lamphey won their first-ever Harrison-Allen Bowl Final.

“Biggest disappointment? Playing in three bowl semi-finals but never reaching the big day with Pembroke.”

At 71 years of age Bill still plays table tennis to a good standard against Bernie Armstrong and in his younger days was county champion in singles, doubles and mixed doubles, as well as winning medals galore with Ray Evans and Steve Jones at Pembroke Dock Cricket Club in South Pembs and with Peter James and Phil Armstrong in the Mid Pembs Leagues.

“I also played in the Aberdare, Newport and Barry Leagues, where I represented the town against their twin towns of Fecamp (France) and Rheinfelden (Germany) - and carried the Barry Flag in the street parade which featured all the sports involved.

“When I came to Pembroke to live after we were married I was a paid coach at Pembroke Youth Club and enjoyed helping youngsters gain as much fun as I did from the sport.”

As well as his writing for the Western Telegraph, Bill also joins James Southon as the presenters on the Friday Night Sports Show for Radio Pembrokeshire, where they have had so many top sports stars like Sir Gareth Edwards, JJ Williams, Delme Thomas, Sam Warburton, Warren Gatland – and local internationals like Jonathan Thomas, Dominic day, Rob Evans and James ‘Cub’ Davies.  And with Ben Stone won an Arqiva Award for the best specialist weekly programme in 2010 – not bad going out of 651 commercial radio stations across the UK!

“Ken Livingston presented the cut-glass award and he gave me a kiss on both cheeks,” says Bill with a chuckle!

“I was also honoured to be the first Pembrokeshire teacher to win a BT Lifetime Achievement in 2010 in my role as an English teacher for 32 years in Milford Haven, having met so many great characters setting out in life.

“I also intend continuing with Pembrokeshire Sport.co.uk as my web-site magazine, news and results media site and watch as much sport as possible, because it is a joyous thing to be involved.

“I have met amazing characters and can look back on some wonderful events, matches, individuals of immense worth and those who have defied the odds to take part.

“It has been wonderfully uplifting, revealing, often funny and occasionally sad or disappointing – but I wouldn’t have missed a second of those 35 years!"