Here’s one for the egg-chasing brigade. It’s an old Abergavenny RFC pic from way back when. Exactly when, we’re not too sure. It was given to us by Mrs Angela Davies, whose late husband Malcolm Davies was a key mover and shaker in the club.

In fact, this year marks the 50th anniversary of Abergavenny RFC’s Youth section, which Malcolm, alongside Peter Lewis, John Mills, and ‘Jock’ Tolland were instrumental in setting up.

Anyhow, back to the task at hand. Mardy lady Mrs Davies came across this old photo when she was having a clear-out and believes it was taken sometime in the 1940s.

Angela explains, “I believe Bill Shackleton and the old math’s master from King Henry, Percy Porter, are in the photo, but I’m not sure who else. Perhaps your readers will know. I think it was also taken just outside of the London Hotel which used to be situated on the corner of Lower Monk Street.”

Prior to establishing their club headquarters at Bailey Park in 1960, Aber relied on the kindness of strangers and the generosity of local landlords when it came to changing room facilities. The Herefordshire House, the Black Lion, and the London House were all used by the club to get kitted up and hosed down before and after every game.

Interestingly enough, between 1924 and 1928 the Claret and Ambers often used to use the Mortuary in Slaughterhouse Lane to change in. Apparently it’s proximity to Bailey Park made it a perfect venue. Local legend also has it that the club’s masseur at that time, Hughie Steel, used to rub down the players on the mortuary slabs and remind them that there was no place for deadweights in the Abergavenny outfit. A motivational massage if ever there was one!

Recognize anyone in the photo or have an amusing anecdote to share. Then please get in touch.

And if you’ve got any engaging and striking pictures from the past (they don’t just have to be sport related!) that could do with an airing and benefit from the oxygen of publicity, then why let them linger and gather dust in the drawer a day longer? Send them to [email protected]. Alternatively you can do things the old fashioned way and pick up the telephone and ring Tim Butters on 01873 852187 (30).