Tribute to Jeff Rhapps

Jeff will be remembered as a devoted husband to Anne, he will be remembered as a a dedicated hospital administrator and he will be remembered as an all round sportsman.

He was born in Newbridge, Gwent but brought up in Bargoed and when you spoke to him about his youth it was always Bargoed that he spoke about.

I’m told that he inherited his love of sport from his father who was a keen sportsman unfortunately however he did not inherit his father‘s musical talent. This was evident on the regular trips by Cardigan members to play golf in Ireland with friends from the Glamorganshire Golf Club Penarth. It can’t be said that Jeff contributed a great deal to the singing afterwards but he looked the part thanks to a fine physique and that thick crop of wavy hair. The Irish thought he was a principal baritone at Covent Garden and the Cardigan boys were not going to give the game away to disappoint them.

For a man with such a physical presence and who towered over most of us I find it difficult to believe that he was a bit reluctant as a child to go to his local primary school. I understand his sister Mavis had to start school at the tender age of three because that was the only way they could get Jeff to school - in the company of his little sister.

His career in the National Health Service began as a young lad straight from Bargoed Grammar School. His first post was with the Welsh Hospital Board at the Temple of Peace in Cardiff. There was a two year interruption to his career when he did his National Service in the army in Singapore and Malaya where he saw service in the guerrilla war in the jungles of Malaya. On his return to civvy street he rejoined the NHS and took up the post of Hospital Secretary at Mynydd Mawr Hospital, Tumble.

In the early 1960’s he was appointed Hospital Secretary at Cardigan Hospital where Anne who was to become his wife was already working as a nurse. Jeff was to remain in charge at Cardigan together with added responsibilities for health centres in Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire until his retirement on the grounds of ill health following a heart attack in 1990. He will be remembered by countless people as a dedicated administrator in the NHS.

I mentioned earlier that he was a keen sportsman. As a young man he played rugby, table tennis and cricket but his great love was golf. He was a member of Cardigan Golf Club for many years. He was Captain of the club in 1986 and in the following year he put his admin skills to good use by becoming Secretary of the Club a post he held until 1996.

During this time he was honoured with the Captaincy of the Mid Wales Golf Association. More recently as you know he had moved on to higher things. He was first of all chairman of the Dyfed Golfing Union and then two years ago he was honoured with the Presidency of the Union a post he held till his death and of which he was justly proud.

When failing health put a stop to his golf he switched to indoor bowls and would travel to Carmarthen regularly to play in the indoor rink there. But he kept his close links with us at the golf club and he would always return from his bowling to dine with his old fourballer friends every Wednesday evening at the club.

He will be remembered by golfers as a very competitive and skilful player and one who had the knack of putting a lot of top spin on the ball. This made it go a very long way or, as someone once said, further than I go for my holidays.

I close this tribute with a word about Jeff the husband and family man. He and Anne had an idyllic marriage that lasted 34 years. They were very happy years indeed with many highlights including 20 years or so of annual holidays spent with Anne’s two nephews in Vancouver, Canada.

Yes, Jeff and Anne were inseparable and Anne has every justification for saying to me "We had a very happy marriage – he was a wonderful husband." Well, its no secret , she too was a wonderful wife to Jeff. Ever since his health started failing Anne has been constantly there for him – caring for him, cajoling him, encouraging him, reminding him of his tablets - he was taking 23 at the last count, together with insulin injections. Her support has been unfailing and for the last two months of his life whilst he was in hospital she was always by his side.

At the last AGM he arrived early at my home and I found him sitting in his car with an Oxygen mask covering his mouth, he was breathing with great difficulty and was obviously unwell but he felt it was his duty to attend the AGM, as he always found the steps at Carmarthen difficult, I suggested that his health was more important and should return home and that I would present his apologies to the meeting.

Jeff was very determined to carry out his duties and I will remember Jeff for that reason, during his term as President he attended as many of the fixtures and competitions that he could manage. He was a dear friend and was an inspiration to us all.

Bill

DB was born in Pembrey in 1932, although, as a schoolboy, it was rugby not golf that was his first passion. He was a talented schoolboy rugby player for the Llanelly Boys Grammar School, and later as a student with St Lukes College, Exeter. Upon completion of his National Service with the RAF, he returned to Wales to commence his career as a teacher, and play rugby for both Llanelli, and Neath who he captained in 1961 & 1962.

He had begun playing golf, along with many youngsters from Pembrey in his early teens, but joining a golf club was not an option in those days. Instead, along with many other young men at that time, he initially joined the Ashburnham Artisans - this allowed play on the golf course, but not entry into the clubhouse! The Artisans used to play an annual match against the Ashburnham Golf Club, and during the early 1950’s, the Artisans could field a team which included players of the calibre of Deryl Rees, Brian Rolfe, DB himself and his brother Noel – their regular victories over their parent club soon resulted in these talented golfers being "invited" to join the parent club.

DB became a full member if Ashburnham in 1954, and upon retirement from rugby in 1962, began a successful period of golf as a player. He was a regular member of the Ashburnham team, representing them in the Welsh Team Championships on many occasions, and was a regular supporter of the various team matches that were played for the next three decades. He was also a regular pick for the County Team throughout the Sixties and Seventies, as well as, playing in many Welsh Amateur Championships.

It is fair to say that DB did not have a classical swing, but was renowned for being a straight hitter, and a very capable fairway wood player. His short game was good, but it was on the putting green that he came into his own. He had a wide stance, yet was still slightly hunched over the ball, and he seemed to stab the ball towards the hole – this was a style all of his own, and one that was instantly recognisable and although unorthodox, it was highly effective as many opponents will testify!

He was a determined golfer with a strong desire to win, as his four victories in the Ashburnham Cup spanning the 60’s 70’s and 80’s show. He was also the Club Champion in 1973. More important than these victories, however, was DBs’ lifelong belief that golf was played in a good, competitive spirit, with due regard for the rules, etiquette and history of the game he very much enjoyed playing.

During the Eighties he began to take an interest in the administrative side of the game, firstly by serving on the committee of the Ashburnham Golf Club, and becoming Captain in 1983. In 1988, following the death of Brian Rolfe, he was elected to represent Dyfed on the Executive of the Welsh Golfing Union, initially with Danny Carew of Tenby Golf Club and latterly with Lindsay Austin of Carmarthen. He served initially on the Boys’ Team sub-committee, being Manager of the Welsh Boys Team in 1996 and 1997, and ultimately on the Team and Performance Committee. He also served as Chairman of the Dyfed Golfing Union in 1998 and 1999.

During the 19 years that he served in the Welsh Golfing Union, he was proud to represent Dyfed, and was instrumental in ensuring that various Welsh Championships were played at numerous clubs throughout the County.

DB was proud to represent both his County and his Country, but perhaps his greatest honour was to be appointed Captain of Ashburnham for a second time in 1994 – the club’s centenary year- showing how highly regarded he was by the members of the Ashburnham Golf Club.

His untimely death has saddened many golfing colleagues at club, county and national level and he’s greatly missed by everyone, especially his wife, Mim, and children, Nigel, Huw and Heidi.