IThis week, life has seen examples of sadly copied art. Disaster struck this morning/ when a fellow benchworker named Ron/ broke the solid gold mold/ that once made Barry John. The number of Welsh rugby legends is dwindling and driving to the Rhondda Valley to meet the country’s much-loved bard, Max Boyce, feels like a pilgrimage on behalf of the entire country.
No one can describe the feeling of being a Wales fan better than Greenis’ favorite son. A statue was erected in memory of two living Welshmen who were even known to Sir Gareth Edwards – “He was indoors and I was outside in the rain” – s position. When BBC Wales celebrated Boyce’s 80th birthday last year with a special tribute programme, actor Michael Sheen said Boyce “was an intrinsic understanding of ‘Welshness'”.
For example, before the 9-3 defeat to New Zealand in October 1972, the atmosphere at Llanelli was still perfect. Shops are closed like Sunday/The streets are still silent/Those who choose to stay away/are either dead or sick. Or Wales’ classic line after beating England in London in 1999. We say goodbye to Wembley and exotic locations. We’ll be back in Cardiff next year – if they can get it done on time. They said it had a sliding roof and they could remove it.When Wells attacks they slide it back so God can watch us PLAy.
If Max said that, it must be gospel. In November 1975, at the height of his fame, he reached number one on the UK Album Charts, surpassing Elton John and Roxy Music. Cardiff may also host a series of sell-out concerts this year. This made it all the more incongruous that he was waiting in his wife’s car at Glynneath RFC for a ride – “I’ve written about it in the Neath Guardian before…” – to a friendly local restaurant.
Lunching with Boyce in these places was like walking into a Liverpool café with Sir Paul McCartney. As soon as the menu arrived, his stories began to circulate. Like the late one, the great JPR Williams, aged in his 50s and playing for Tondu, suffered a severe cut which had to be stitched up by Glynneath emergency services. “Legend has it that he went home and framed the sponge.”
Then on Saturday, he entered the hospital for life-saving quadruple heart surgery. “That same day, Wells was undergoing testing in South Africa. When I woke up after eight hours of surgery, my South African surgeon said, ‘I have some good news and some bad news. ” I said: “Tell me the bad news first. “He said: “Wales lost 14-6. “Well, what’s the good news?” “They played much better in the second half. “”
Ah, a golden song. Even for those of us who grew up in the UK, his lyrics are etched into our consciousness.Somewhere over the mountain is his famous outer half Flags were flown at half-mast at the factory. But with England’s match at Twickenham on Saturday looming, its foreman is not about to discuss the modern productivity of the assembly line. “It’s confidential. We can’t say much yet.”
Now that his wings have arrived, we’ve been transported back to another era. Boyce’s father was killed in a mine explosion a month before Max was born, and his son also spent a formative period in the mines. However, one night an EMI producer saw him smashing up the song – “Auggie” – as a support act for Ken Dodd and others. Augie. Augie. – is history.
Today, Max is a huge fan of Peter Kay – “He’s a very good storyteller” – but back in the 1970s, his comedic style was just as popular. “At one point we had 20 million viewers… more than Coronation Street. There were only two TV channels there, and if there weren’t many TV channels on the other side, you could see me.”
To his surprise, he became popular during the COVID-19 pandemic for a poem titled “When the Tide Goes Out.” When the Stars Start Falling I’ll Remember a Dream Banksy Painted Alun Wyn on My Neighbor’s Garage Wall. No wonder Wales Rugby League is keen for him to add some nostalgic joy to the Principality Stadium. All together now: We sing hymns and arias to the land of our ancestors, Arhyd ynos.
There has never been an unofficial sports anthem There were louder cheers than there were 25 years ago at the opening ceremony of the 1999 World Cup or on that unforgettable Wembley afternoon. “I remember England warming up and the ball was bouncing right next to me. Matt Dawson came over and caught it, looked up and said: ‘My mum loves you. “
Marks also recalled the epic attempt to replay Scott Gibbs on the big screen in Cardiff six years later. “The whole stadium was silent, waiting for Neil Jenkins to convert. The ladies next to me said: ‘Oh, I can’t watch it. “Don’t worry,” I said, “He won’t miss.” “You never know,” she replied. “
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When it comes to new material, you suspect Louis Rees-Zammit’s move to American football could be fertile ground. Max already owns this (shoulder pads) T-shirt, having trained with the Dallas Cowboys for the Channel 4 show in the 1980s. “I was 42 years old. They couldn’t hold it back, and I got beat up. They asked me to tag a guy named Ed “Too Tall” Jones, who was nearly 7 feet tall. He picked me up like a child. “
So what are LRZ’s chances of winning? “I think he’ll make it. He’s got good speed, he’s a brave kid and has good hands. He’s lost to rugby, not just Wells. But if he wants any advice on American football , please tell him to call me.”
Max, for his part, remains fiercely loyal to the Dragons. “I absolutely loved the Six Nations. I had withdrawal symptoms when it was over. I’ve been to five Wales Grands and I’m happy with that.” He remains chairman of Glynneath RFC and can’t wait for the club to play Mountain Ash of the WRU Division 1 Cup semi-finals. “The brotherhood in rugby is very special. It’s hard to keep going but we have five youth teams and there’s some huge talent there.”
OK, but does he think rugby still has the same appeal in his home country? “It’s going to come back. It’s in our DNA. And the Six Nations needs a strong Wales team. It’s a reflection of the country… maybe it means more to us than we’d like to admit. It’s It’s part of what makes us unique.
“Our rugby club is the heart and soul of the village. It’s the same in all the valley towns. The pubs are closed, the banks are closed, but what’s left is the rugby club. It’s part of the social fabric of the village.”
After lunch, on our way to visit his statue, we drove past the local former cricket ground. His career highlight came in a charity match when he found himself bowling to the incomparable Vivian Richards (“I didn’t give it my all at first…”). His first delivery went into orbit – “They later found pieces of the ball… apparently it broke on the re-entry” – but he got through another much-missed Wales fly-half Phil Bene Phil Bennett’s wonderful catch had the last laugh. IVA Richards C. Bennett B. Boyce. Feed me until I want no more.
There’s time for one last tongue-in-cheek question before heading down the gray damp valley to Pontypridd and beyond. Surely he could call the WRU now and ask for as many tickets as possible? “I tried it once. They said six Max Beuys had called.”
Diorchi, Max, may the timeless greats of Welsh rugby never be forgotten.
