Award-winning PE teacher a ‘driving force in Welsh sport’
AN AWARD-WINNING PE teacher who inspired his pupils to national success has been remembered as a driving force in Welsh sport.
Tributes have been paid to respected Fitzalan High school teacher Wally Carter following his death on December 13.
Brought up in Cardiff, Wally attended Gladstone Primary and Cathays High school as a child.
Even at a young age his sporting ability shone through and he represented his schools in football, cricket and rugby.
As a young man, Wally soon became a professional cricket player for Dafen Cricket Club in Llanelli before taking on the role of captain of Penarth Cricket Club.
Since his death, he has been remembered as the “finest and most successful captain” of the Penarth club’s modern era.
For the young teacher, weekends would be spent playing matches at home while his summer holidays would be spent with the Glamorgan County Cricket Club second team.
Wally also played for the Welsh Cricket over 50s and helped secure the ECB Championship against Lancashire in 1999
Away from cricket, Wally also made his mark on the rugby pitch playing number eight for Glamorgan Wanderers and Penarth
In 1971, the sportsman kicked a last minute penalty for Penarth RFC to defeat the Barbarians, scoring nine out of the team’s 15 points to win the game, also becoming record points scorer during that season.
As a PE teacher at Fitzalan High School, Wally took the school to unprecedented success when his team took home the British Schools Cup.
The class side in 1982 remains the only Welsh side to win the prestigious accolade after securing victory against Beaumont High School at Ninian Park
During a 43-year teaching career at the school, including time as head of department, Wally supported thousands of pupils to pursue their love of sport. For many, he became a father figure encouraging them to achieve their very best.
In 2002 the father-of-three was recognised for his years of dedication when he was awarded the Wales Lifetime Achievement Award for secondary teaching.
At the time, judges praised Wally for combining the enthusiasm of a newly qualified teacher with the experience of a master with years under his belt.
In a letter of congratulations sent by Cardiff Council, it was noted that the PE teacher had only taken 10 days of sickness leave over a period of 34 years.
In 1978, Wally met wife-to-be Heather during a cricket match in Penarth.
The pair married nine months later and became proud parents to Rebecca, Ian and Huw.
An ever-supportive parent, one of Wally’s proudest moments came when he played alongside his sons as captain of Cardiff Cricket Club’s second XI.
He will be sorely missed by all the family, including grandchildren Dafydd, Efan and Harri.
After retiring from Fitzalan, Wally continued to be a supportive force within the sporting community.
In his retirement he took on roles as a parent liaison officer at Cardiff City FC, sports programme leader at Albany Primary School and coach for the boys sixth form football team at Howell’s school in Llandaff.
For him, every win at Howells was as significant as the biggest victories during his career.
A keen dog walker, Wally also became a familiar face at Roath Park and would walk at least 10 miles a day.
In 2018, Wally was diagnosed with motor neurone disease. His family are now raising money for the Motor Neurone Disease Association in his memory, and any donations can be made to: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/heather-carter8