Finlay Calder shall never forget how Clive Rowlands stood four-square behind him after the Lions‘ traumatic start to their victorious series in Australia.
More than 30 years later, the Scot came all the way down to the old steel town of Port Talbot for the charismatic Welshman’s last journey.
The mourning multitude of circa 300 included a phalanx of Welsh internationals spanning five decades, from Delme Thomas to Adam Jones, a trio of stout English oaks (Roger Uttley, Mike Teague, Gareth Chilcott) and Calder’s compatriot, Derek White.
Invited by the family to pay tribute, Calder told the assembly: “Like all good shepherds, Clive always put his flock before himself. He always knew exactly what needed to be said and done.
“At the selection meeting after losing the first Test, I said: ‘If you think the side will be better without me, I will stand down.’
“At that point, Clive, as manager, said: ‘If you stand down, I will also stand down. You are not standing down. The matter is closed’.”
As well as rousing tributes from Sir Gareth Edwards, Derek Quinnell and referee-cum-commentator Alun-Wyn Bevan, the service also featured an unforgettable rendition of Calon Lan by Rowlands’ grand-children Emily, Jacob and Tiaan.
The old wizard’s colleagues from the Gyrlais Choir sang him home as only they could and the service ended with a different piece of music, the signature tune from the 1960s television show, Top Cat.
How he would have loved it. Like the original leader of the Manhattan gang, Clive Rowlands, too, came from a place with an upper and lower – Cwmtwrch, in his case definitely Upper.
