EARLIER this month, Abergavenny Cricket Club held a 'Legends Dinner' to celebrate the careers of four former players who went on to become first class cricketers.

A sell out crowd enjoyed an evening of fine food and nostalgia in the company of living legends, Malcolm Nash, Mike Powell, Geraint Jones MBE, and Mark Wallace.

Malcolm Nash was a left-arm medium-pace bowler and useful lower-order left-handed batsman who played for Glamorgan. He made his debut for the county in 1966 and retired after the 1983 season. He captained the county in 1980 and 1981. He played for the club prior to being signed by Glamorgan and will always be remembered as the first bowler to be hit for six sixes in an over, by Sir Gary Sobers in 1968.

Born and bred in Crickhowell, Mike Powell was a right-handed batsman who made his debut for Glamorgan in 1997, after spending the 1996 off-season in Australia. Powell remained a stalwart of Glamorgan batting until 2012 when he signed a two-year contract with Kent. An ever-present in their Championship side in 2012, he scored two centuries for his new employers. At the end of the 2013 season Powell retired from first class cricket and returned to Wales to work in insurance. His cricketing career was thrust to the back of his mind in the summer of 2007, when surgery to remove a rib became potentially life-threatening through complications. He recovered, however, and had the rib buried in Sophia Gardens.

Geraint Jones MBE had a circuitous route to Abergavenny CC, Kent and England, via Papua New Guinea, Australia, Lydney, and Clevedon. He captained Abergavenny in 2000 and five years later he was fast-tracked into the Test team at the expense of Chris Read. Jones' selection was widely debated. He contributed energy to the cause and vital runs at key moments - none more important than his 85 in a stand of 177 with Andrew Flintoff at Trent Bridge. He clung on to his place and he also clung on to the chance that really mattered, at the very end of England's two-run win at Edgbaston, and emerged from the series more or less in credit - if not with his place secure. In 2015 he will Captain Gloucestershire CCC.

Mark Wallace is he most recent Abergavenny player to make it to first class level and the second one to Captain Glamorgan. Brought up and educated in Crickhowell, Wallace came through the junior and youth ranks of Abergavenny Cricket Club before becoming a professional cricketer. Wallace made his debut for the Glamorgan second team, as wicketkeeper at the age of 15. In 1999, at the age of 17, Wallace became the youngest wicketkeeper to play for Glamorgan First XI. He captained Glamorgan for three Seasons (2012-2014) and has recently been re-elected as Chairman of the PCA. He has also recently completed over 200 consecutive Championship games for the county.

The whole evening was a social and financial success and well coordinated by the doyen of cricket reporters in Wales - Edward Bevan. The club extend thanks to all the companies that supported the event, the patrons and the organisers, Brian Shackleton and Paul Sussex.