On Monday, 23rd September, ‘The Player from Ponty,’ a book detailing the life of former Glamorgan cricketer Bernard Hedges, is being launched at Pontypridd RFC.
During Bernard Hedges` 18 year career with Glamorgan, he amassed over 17,000 first-class runs and scored the county`s first ever century in one day cricket with 103 against Somerset in their Gillette Cup match at the Arms Park in 1963.
Details of the launch event are as follows:
Monday 23rd September, 7pm, Pontypridd RFC, Sardis Road, PontypriddThe guest speakers are:
Tom David (Pontypridd RFC, Llanelli RFC, Wales and British Lions)
Roger Davis, (Glamorgan CCC 1964 to 1976) and Stephen Hedges, son and author)
It is a free ticketed event, where you can get a ticket by emailing: post@st-davids-press.wales
'Bernard was a true sportsman and played the game with an honesty and sense of fair play that stood out ... He was a good player but more than that, perhaps, he was a good bloke, easy company and willing to do anything for anyone.'
Don 'Shep' Shepherd, from his Foreword
'Bernard Hedges was an inspiration to a generation of cricket-mad Welsh kids. That was partly, of course, because he was such a steady batsman - who could weather any attack and punish every loose ball - and a marvellous fielder ... but our admiration was particularly strong because we knew that he was a 'valley boy' who'd had no special coaching or fancy equipment. That made Bernard really special. Truly, he was a hero who lived up to my expectations on and off the field. Every team in every sport needs a Bernard Hedges to make it whole.'
Neil Kinnock
'As kids, we grew up playing all sorts of sport in the street, including cricket. We had stringent rules with six ball overs with every player in our imaginary teams having to bat, and many times I chose to be Glamorgan's Bernard Hedges. We dreamt of being sportsmen. We wanted to be part of that exciting life and Bernard, along with all the Glamorgan boys, was part of that.'
Sir Gareth Edwards