The voice of my youth, Saturday afternoon television commentator on Rugby internationals, Bill McLaren has passed away at the age of 86.
And now, sitting here in Oxfordshire, but remembering the sound of his voice as we, in Llanover in those days, watched The Old Enemy (that would be England) getting dismantled by just about every other country on the international Rugby Union stage, memories occur.
In defence of that statement, this was a long time ago. It was a period when the Northern Hemisphere had one team everyone had to beat (Wales, of course), and the Southern Hemisphere also had one team everyone had to beat (New Zealand).
And I’m not too young to remember that epoch-defining, historic match day at Parc y Strade when the final score read Llanelli 9 – 3 Seland Newydd.
There were boys who didn’t come to school the Monday after that match. Intoxicated with pleasure, unlike the adult males of the valleys, who were intoxicated by many different types of liquid – many different types of liquid because some pubs ran dry of beer that weekend.
I remember the smell of haddock, too. For some bizarre reason the family evening meal every Saturday, while we sat and watched and Bill McLaren did his stuff, was haddock. No wonder I’m a vegetarian now.
Haddock!
And all these memories have been woken by the passing of one man? That’s impact for you.
Isn’t it?
Bill made me be proud to be scottish…..his delivery and totally unbiased commentary, recognising skill and effort in his unique style made him a master.
There are a unique list of commentators who, through their individual style will always be be remembered….for example Peter O’sullivan & David Coleman made memorable occasions unforgettable.
It was an absolute privilege to experience Bill commentating any match and my best description to describe him was that “He was an absolute gentleman who made the most mediocre event exciting….an absolute legend…..who surprisingly was never mentioned in the latest tv series “The Greatest Scot”….RIP.