FANCY A CHEEKY PINT OF DOBBSIE’S DELIGHT?
Dai Dobbs holds his pint of Dobbsies Delight, a beer brewed in his honour, and a plaque presented to him by Bridgend council
THE saying goes that if you don’t know who Dai Dobbs is then you’re not from Bridgend.
For the 76-year-old has dedicated his life to his home town and being the most loyal supporter of the local rugby and cricket teams.
Now the man considered a “living legend” has been honoured with his own beer.
Dobbsie’s Delight – the name was decided in a Facebook vote – launched on Saturday in Dai’s favourite town centre haunt, The Wyndham Arms Hotel.
And having supped the first pint, Dai declared the exclusive and unique brew “cracking”.
He was also presented with a special Bridgend Town Council plaque by town mayor Stuart Baldwin in recognition of being “Our Favourite Bridgend Character”.
Pub manager Lisa Driscoll said it was a fitting tribute for their very own “icon”.
“I have been working here 15 years and I’ve seen him every day,” she said.
“He’s our little legend in the pub. If we have anything going on like the World War II day or fundraising for Clic Sargent cancer charity, he always helps us out.
“He’s a truly amazing man and we all love him. He’s so well loved in this town it’s unbelievable.”
As well as charity fundraisers and sport, Dai is also well known in Bridgend for his turn as an extra in the 2001 film Very Annie Mary, which starred Rachel Griffiths and Jonathan Pryce and was filmed in Pontycym-mer in the Garw Valley.
It was one of the Wyndham’s duty managers, Emma Thomas, who came up with the idea of getting Dai his own brew.
Colleague Simon James then contacted Brecon Brewing to see if they could help out.
The brewery’s sales support manager Martin Weale said Emma, who is familiar with Dai’s taste in beer, briefed them on how the brew should taste and look.
“She wanted it dark, but not as dark as Guinness, and not too light,” said Martin. “We prepared something special for him. We haven’t produced this recipe before for anyone else.”
Bridgend’s longestserving town councillor David Unwin, who attended the beer’s launch on Saturday, said: “I’ve known him for 50 years. I see him nearly every day of my life. He is an absolute character, a legend for Bridgend, and the one thing that I must applaud him for is all the work that he’s always done for Bridgend Town Cricket Club. He’s a master of cricket.”
Mayor Mr Baldwin said: “Bridgend Town Council has a great responsibility to give plaques to those people who have played a great role in our town.
“So when I found out that there was going to be a beer, Dobbsies Delight, for Dai the only thing that could go well with that is a Bridgend Town Council plaque.”
Dai told his friends at the Wyndham: “I’d like to thank everybody today who did all the work.”