Retired reporter shares his favourite stories in new book
A RETIRED Rhondda Leader newspaper reporter has published a book of memories while covering stories in the valley spanning almost 30 years.
The paperback book called The Nine Stone Cowboy and more... has been written by Dave Edwards.
In the book, Dave, 73, looks back at a collection of stories through the years while on the newsdesk of our sister paper, the Leader, and also as a reporter in Lancashire and West Wales.
He fulfilled a lifetime dream of becoming a newspaper reporter at the age of 38 after more than 30 jobs including being a collier, grave digger, an insurance agent and a security officer.
Nantymoel-born Dave, who retired as deputy editor of the Leader eight years ago, said: “When I joined the Rhondda Leader in the early 1980s the office was based in the Welsh Harp building in Pontypridd where there was a staff of 10 reporters and two photographers.
“I can also recall the Leader changing from a broadsheet to a tabloid and also black and white pictures moving on to colour.
“It has been a bit of a rollercoaster really. I have reported on the good and bad times in the valley but for me it has been a wonderful reporting life.”
The book contains almost 100 stories including the time that Dave was banned from Tynewydd Labour club, when he was mistaken for a distraction thief and reporting on Superman’s dad visiting Porth.
Although spending most of his reporting life with the Leader, Dave also worked in Lancashire where he did Saturday shifts for the Sunday Sport newspaper.
“That was an incredible experience,” he said. “Writing the book has brought back some brilliant memories which I wanted to share.”
Dave has picked out 11 of his favourite stories for us from his time with the Leader. Here they are...
Rhondda’s Night of Shame Dave said the circulation figures went “through the roof” after this story was published in October 1983.
He explained: “The story was about the final of the popular Rhondda Leader Darts championship held at the Tynewydd Labour Club which ended in a massive punch-up with fights all over the hall and beer bottles flying everywhere.
“In the aftermath the reporter and photographer covering the event were banned from the club and it also signalled the end of the darts championship.”
Drunk in Charge of a Horse This was the story of a “blotto bloke” who was heading home after a Christmas party.
Dave explained: “Forget about a bus, train or taxi or even Shank’s Pony, this guzzled guy helped himself to a horse he spotted in a field.
“Stunned bystanders contacted the police when he was spotted riding bareback down a valley main road clinging to the horse for dear life.”
The Starving Burglar Dave said this was a tale of a pensioner whose house was broken into while he was in bed in the early 1990s.
“The burglar wasn’t satisfied with stealing items so he made the old chap make breakfast for him before getting away,” he said.
Lost on the Titanic The story of Rhondda miners Les Williams and Dai Bowen who were also talented young boxers is another of Dave’s favourites.
Spotted by an American boxing promoter, Dave said the pair decided to seek fame and fortune in America but perished after booking a passage on the ill-fated Titanic which sank in 1912.
When Westernworld Bit The Dust Believe it or not, there was once a cowboy theme park planned on the site of the former Fernhill colliery in Blaenrhondda – the site of the 1867 disaster that saw 178 men and boys killed.
The theme park story happened in 1987, and Dave said: “Supposedly based on Dolly Parton’s Dollywood resort in Tennessee, the £1m venture turned to tumbleweed a short time after opening.”
When the Rhondda Became Little America This was in the 1980s when five black American basketball players lived in the valley.
Dave said: “They were here to play for the Just Rentals team and included slam dunk star Dave Lawrence from North Carolina who became known as Dai Dunker and 6’7”, and 18-stone Bruce Crump from Florida.”
Superman’s dad in Porth This gem happened in the 1990s, when Hollywood star Glenn Ford who played Superman’s “Earth dad” Jonathan Kent in the Superman movie was spotted sitting on a bench in Porth.
Mr Ford, who also starred in movie classics The Blackboard Jungle and 3.10 To Yuma, was in the valley making a TV documentary.
Rhondda’s National Anthem A tale of a song that became known as the valley’s anthem, but was actually written by a Geordie.
Johnny Caesar, from South Shields, wrote the words to the hugely popular If I could See The Rhondda One More Time by singer David Alexander, while sitting in a friend’s house in Quaker’s Yard.
Oh Baby! Dave explained: “The Bonny Babies contest was always popular in the Leader but I discovered some years ago that there was one Bonny Baby winner who went from flannelette to fame.
“Stanleytown-born comedian Paul Whitehouse was a Bonny Babies prizewinner in 1958. The actor, writer and
comedian moved to London at the age of four but still has fond memories of the valley.”
■ When Muhammad Ali destroyed a Rhondda man... at darts Rhondda-born darts player Alan Evans took on the World Heavyweight boxing champion in a darts match in a stadium in the north of England.
After winning the match, Dave said Ali immediately proclaimed himself world darts champion.
■ Friends of the Animals get “Blessed” This story began when Rhondda rescue group Friends of the Animals had an elderly poodle called Titch who needed a lot of dental treatment.
Dave said: “When thunder-voiced actor Brian Blessed heard of the poodle’s plight he decided to give him a home.”
■ The Nine Stone Cowboy and more... is available at Amazon Books UK priced £7.99.