TRIBUTES Jet had a passion for bowls and music

A BOWLS player who overcame adversity to represent his country has died.

People across the Rhondda are mourning Treherbert resident John Emlyn Thomas, also known as Jet, who has died at the age of 68.

John was a great lawns bowls player who captained his country and won 50 caps for Wales. Representing your country is a great feat but just being able to play the game was an incredible achievement for John.

Born in Fernhill, he was identified as having spina bifida and had to undergo an operation on his spine when he was 13. This left him in hospital for two years as well as in a full body cast.

While most of his peers were playing sport, John had to learn to walk again. Doctors were not optimistic he would ever be able to play any kind of competitive sport.

It is testament to his character and competitive spirit that he not only played sport but excelled.

He got in to lawn bowls when he was about 18 and to say he had talent was an understatement.

Back then it was considered and old man’s game and to have a teenager winning matches against more experienced players caused quite a stir.

He was captain of Wales in 1988, won the Welsh indoor singles title 1971 and 1980 and won a tournament in Porthcawl four times in a row – an unprecedented achievement.

His play even got him a mention in world champion bowler David John Bryant’s autobiography.

He married his wife Sian in 1982 at Bethlehem Chapel in Treherbert and they raised three children – Laura, Katie and Mark.

Mark has followed in his father’s footsteps to become an excellent bowls player in his own right.

John worked for 27 years at RCT council as head of the grants department and was a devoted to his six grandchildren, often taking them for ice cream at Rest Bay in Porthcawl.

After retiring from bowls, he became well known locally for his other great passion – Sixties music. He volunteered once a week for Rhondda Radio and presented the popular show Jet’s Jukebox. His fans were occasionally unable to hear the music clearly as he would be singing along himself.

Tributes paid on social media speak of a local legend and a gentleman with a dry sense of humour who will be incredibly missed.