In Memoriam

Remembered here

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  Colin Hillman

  Died 2 July 2009

  Colin Hillman, a Brynteg Boy, died on 2 July 2009 after a long illness, at the age of just 46. A hooker of great talent and determination, Colin played for Bridgend, Swansea, South Wales Police, Bridgend Sports, Merthyr and the Barbarians, and represented Wales at Schools, Youth and Sevens level. After his playing days the South Wales Police officer moved into coaching. He coached Nantymoel, was director of rugby at Bridgend Ravens, and played a key role with the Wales Sevens side, which he coached from 2002. Joe Lydon, then the WRU's head of rugby performance and development, said: "Colin Hillman was passionate about Welsh rugby and I had the utmost respect for him as a person and as a coach. Over the years we became good friends and he will be sadly missed by everyone who had the privilege of knowing him. He did a tremendous amount of work on behalf of sevens rugby in Wales and that commitment continued even after his illness was diagnosed." David Rees, director of Bridgend Ravens, said: "I knew Colin throughout his life and will remember him as an extremely loyal friend and a wonderful colleague who will be sadly missed by anyone who met him. He was highly respected across the rugby world and in all the time I have known him I have never heard anyone speak ill of him. He was that popular a man." Colin is survived by his wife Janine and sons Ben and Matthew. (Source: BBC Sport, 2 July 2009)

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  JPR Williams

  Died 8 January 2024

  John Peter Rhys Williams — JPR, three of the most evocative initials in the game — died in January 2024 aged 74, from bacterial meningitis. He is widely acknowledged as one of the greatest full-backs ever to play rugby. Born in Bridgend to Peter and Margaret, both doctors, he was a fine sportsman long before the Arms Park roared his name: as a 17-year-old he won the 1966 British junior tennis title at Wimbledon, beating David Lloyd in the final. He chose rugby and medicine instead, moving from Bridgend grammar school to Millfield, then to St Mary's hospital in London and a spell with London Welsh. Called into the Wales squad as a teenager, he made his debut against Scotland at Murrayfield in February 1969 and was a fixture in the side until 1981, through the golden age of Welsh rugby alongside Gareth Edwards, Barry John, Phil Bennett, JJ Williams and Gerald Davies. Instantly recognisable — sideburns, flowing hair, socks round his ankles — he was as hard as nails and a thrilling attacking runner in the new era of full-back play. He won 55 caps for Wales, five of them as captain in 1978-79, and was appointed MBE in 1977. He played in all four Tests on the victorious British Lions tours of New Zealand in 1971 — settling the series with a long-range drop-goal in Auckland — and South Africa in 1974. He scored the final try in the Barbarians' famous win over the All Blacks at the Arms Park in 1973. Against England he played 11 times and never lost. The shuddering shoulder charge on Jean-François Gourdon that sealed the 1976 grand slam, and the photograph of the Bridgend No 15 with blood pouring from his face after an All Blacks boot, remain indelible images of Welsh rugby. Off the field he was a trauma and orthopaedic surgeon, principally at the Princess of Wales hospital in Bridgend from 1986 to 2004. He carried on playing club rugby for Tondu as a back-rower until 2003, at the age of 54. He married Scilla (Priscilla) Parkin, whom he met at medical school, in 1973, and is survived by her and their children Lauren, Annie, Fran and Peter. (Source: The Guardian obituary, January 2024)

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  Lee Sims

  Brynteg 2005 Tourist · Brynteg Boy

  It is with great sadness that Lee Sims was absent from the 2023 reunion. Lee very sadly passed away at the age of just 31 in 2019. Lee was, without doubt, 'A Brynteg Boy'. He played for the 1st XV on a regular basis during his time in Years 11 - 13. He was a tremendous backrower and excelled in the tackle area. His excellence on the field was recognised, and Lee represented Wales at Under 18 level, an amazing achievement and one that his family were immensely proud of. Simsy was also a bit of a 'boy' and an absolute menace in lessons, during break and lunchtime, on a night out and even during a night in! Lee enjoyed a laugh and loved socialising with his mates. There weren't many incidents, small or big, that Lee wasn't involved in, in some shape or form. Amanda, Lee's mum, whilst talking about Lee recently laughed, and simply described him as 'naughty'. Despite his mischievous edge Lee was a loyal and dedicated father and family man. Simsy toured New Zealand in 2005 and was a great member of the tour party. Lee was fantastic on the field and a live wire off it! Lee's tour didn't get off to the best of starts with his luggage not arriving in Singapore and he spent the first few days in borrowed chinos! Although Simsy had no luggage he left Singapore a 'hero'. During a social swimming session Dai Saunders (27!) attempted to swim to a nearby island. Three quarters of the way there, number 27 decided he couldn't make it and headed back to his starting point. Simsy, a trained lifeguard, after watching Dai basically drown for a few minutes reluctantly jumped in and saved him. Throughout the tour, and for many years after, a high-pitched shout of 'Suzzie!' could be heard if Simsy was present. This call never failed to put smiles on faces. Sadly, for Lee, his tour ended prematurely when during the final match versus Upper Hutt, waiting for a lineout to form, Lee tapped Mathew Hillman on the shoulder and shook his hand whilst introducing himself 'Hi, I'm Lee!' Mr Hiscocks was called, and Lee, seeing stars, was taken off and left in the capable hands of the 2nd XV!

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  Owain Williams

  Died 13 September 2021

  Owain Williams, the former Wales, Cardiff, Bridgend and Glamorgan Wanderers back-row forward, died in September 2021 aged 56 after a long battle with cancer. He had undergone surgery for eye cancer back in 2006. His death came only three years after that of his elder brother Gareth, the Bridgend, Wales and British and Irish Lions forward, who died in 2018. Owain began at Glamorgan Wanderers and spent four seasons with his home-town club Bridgend before a decade at Cardiff, where he made 221 first-team appearances. He won two Welsh Cups and a league title with the Arms Park club and was part of the side that reached the inaugural Heineken Cup final. In an 18-year top-flight career he played more than 500 games. He won a Wales cap against Namibia in 1990, scoring a try, and captained the Wales Sevens side, retiring in 2001. Cardiff life president Peter Thomas said: "His career spanned from the amateur to the professional era and he was always one of the very first names on the team sheet back in 1996, due to his diligence, professionalism and athleticism. To this day, Owain is undoubtedly one of the best back-row forwards Cardiff has ever had. He was a wonderful player and person." Former Wales captain Jonathan Davies called the news "absolutely tragic", adding: "What a player he was, only really appreciated by the guys who played with him. Great reader of the game and brilliant in a squad environment with his quick dry wit." Emyr Lewis remembered "a real character on and off the pitch and a wonderful player... his banter thoroughly enhanced my enjoyment and experience at Cardiff Rugby." A father of four, Owain passed the game on: his sons Teddy, a second-row who has won Wales age-grade honours and joined the Cardiff squad, and Henri both play. (Sources: BBC Sport and Planet Rugby, September 2021)

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  Gareth Williams

  Died 13 May 2018

  Gareth Williams, the former Wales and British & Irish Lions back-row forward, died in May 2018 aged 63 after a long battle with multiple system atrophy, a rare disorder of the nervous system he had lived with since 2012. A powerful back-rower, he won five caps for Wales between 1980 and 1982 and travelled with the British & Irish Lions on their 1980 tour to South Africa. He was a giant of Bridgend rugby, captaining the club and helping them win two Welsh Cups during four successive final appearances between 1979 and 1982. On his death Bridgend Ravens paid tribute to their former captain as a "true club legend". He had been bed-bound since January 2017, facing his illness with the same courage he showed on the field. (Source: BBC News, 13 May 2018)

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  Garnet Edwards

  Died 1 June 2025

  Garnet Edwards, who died in 2025 aged 79, was school captain at Brynteg in the 1963/64 season — and a gifted advertising creative and dedicated rugby man for the rest of his life. Born in Bridgend, he was the son of Violet (nee Walters) and Douglas Edwards, a quarryman. He was educated at Oldcastle primary and Bridgend grammar school, later Brynteg. He thrived academically but was most at home on the rugby pitch, or fishing with his brother Les on the Ogmore river. He studied graphic design at Manchester School of Art, graduating with first-class honours, and built a successful career in London advertising, most notably at Grey, before helping set up Wright & Partners in the 1980s with his close friend Johnny Wright. He led national and global campaigns for Nissan, Crown Paints, Vodafone, the Labour party, Thistle Hotels and Alfa Romeo, and won Clio and Design & Art Direction awards. He mentored a generation of creatives, among them Trevor Beattie, and believed above all that "creative is king". Rugby was his other great passion. He played for Bridgend Sports RFC, Finchley RFC and Middlesex, and later served as coach and president at Finchley, where he transformed the club's fortunes and launched its now thriving youth section. A return to Bridgend in the 90s led him to do the same there; an annual youth award at Bridgend Sports now bears his name. He was devoted to his wife Jennifer (nee Grinnell), whom he met as a teenager and married in 1968; after her death in 2014 he found companionship with family friend Kathryn Lewis. A hands-on grandfather, a lover of French cheeses and port, and a great storyteller, he was also remembered by colleagues for the notorious "9x9 Club" — nine pints by 9am — and for luring pigs into his local pub in Ogmore. He is survived by his children, including Megan and Rhys, and seven grandchildren. (Source: The Guardian obituary, June 2025)

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  Paul Bowen

  Brynteg teacher and coach. Tribute to follow.