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W.H. 'BILL' CLEMENT O.B.E., M.C., T.D., J.P
Llanelli, Wales & the British Lions, Welsh Rugby Union secretary 1956 - 1981


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BILL CLEMENT 1915-2007 A tribute by Alan Hughes L. K. OBRIEN, Chief Cashier at the bank of It was that of W. H Clement, whose written name was printed on every international ticket for over a quarter of a century, in his capacity as Secretary of the Welsh Rugby Union. more.............
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MEMORABILIA, TIES & PRESENTATION ITEMS
FROM THE BILL CLEMENT COLLECTION
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Please find below items of personal memorabilia that belonged to Bill Clement. Each item is accompanied by a specially published postcard which doubles as an individual "Certificate of Authenticity. |
QUICK LINKS - BADGES - BOOKS & PUBLICATIONS - CUFFLINKS - KEYRINGS - MEMORABILIA - PERSONAL PRESENTATION ITEMS - PROGRAMMES - TIES - MISC OTHER ITEMS
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Rugby Football Union Centenary 1871-1971 limited edition (one of 50) Spode bowl
in presentation case. The bowl is 10" (25cm) in diameter, in excellent
condition, as new.
Ref: CL4-bowl-en71 - £245.00 |
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Lesotho bottle opener in the shape of a rugby ball, unusual item,
in excellent condition.
Ref: CL4-bottle-opener - £15.00 |
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Waunarlwydd RFC Jubliee 1900 - 1975 ornamental dragon 5" (12cm) across
in excellent condition.
Ref: CC75-mi-waunarlwydd - £19.00 |
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Blaengarw RFC 50th Anniversay of membership to the WRU Ewenny pottery
tankard in excellent condition.
Ref: CC75-cu-blaengarw50 - £60.00 |
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CFC one pint tankard - possibly Crusaders FC - made in South Africa in excellent condition.
Ref: CC75-cu-cfc - £25.00 |
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Burry Port RFC hand painted decorative slate with small hook to reverse in excellent condition.
Ref: CC75-mi-burry.port.slate - £35.00 |
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Transvaal Rugby Union spoon & fork - stamped to reverse 'arden plate,
England - Arthur Price, in excellent condition.
Ref: CC75-tvl.spoon.gp2 - £25.00 |
Autographed programmes
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Wales v President's XV
WHC - last match as secretary |
25 Apr 1981 | Cardiff
signed just underneath 'President's XV' |
good
Ref: PC02-auprwapd81 - £12.00 |
CLICK HERE FOR UNSIGNED PROGRAMMES
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Each item sold from this collection is accompanied by a Bill Clement postcard. ( illustrated below). The postcard will act as a certificate of authenticity for the item, confirm it's origin and guarantee that the item is genuine.
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But what of the man?
Bill Clement was born in Llanelli in 1915 during the years of the
first World War, and was educated at the local
county
The outbreak of the second World War saw him Commissioned into the
4th Battalion of the WELCH regiment, with whom he took part
in the D-Day landings in June 1944.
One month later, Clement (Now major) was involved in hand to hand
fighting near
Caen
in
Northern France
, in which all but two of the men in his leading platoon
were either killed or wounded. The action became known as the
‘’battle of the bulge’’. Though wounded himself Clement, with
his men, continued to their objective before inflicting considerable
damage to the enemy positions. For his outstanding qualities of
leadership Clement was awarded the military cross.
Bill Clement was demobilised in 1946 and settled into post war
life as an accountant with Brecon County Council.
It ‘’ Twas Autumn and
Sunshine arose on the way to the home of my fathers that welcomed me
back’’
The year 1956 saw him take up the post in
which he became almost without parallel one of rugby's great
administrators.
Under his stewardship Wales were to win nine Championships, three
grand slams, and seven triple crowns, and he played a prominent part in
the re-building of
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INTERNATIONAL TIES AS WORN BY PLAYERS & OFFICIALS
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England v Scotland - 7.5 cm - excellent condition Ref: BC6-158-tiensc - £22.00 |
Rugby FC -
7 cm - excellent condition Ref: BC6-219-tiencbrr - £22.00 |
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WELSH ACADEMICALS
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The Welsh Academicals Rugby Club was established in 1927 in the mining community of Mountain Ash, deep in the Cynon Valley of South Wales. Despite the severe economic depression of the time, great sacrifices were made to allow students to reach their full potential, both academically and also on the rugby field. Aware of the difficulties often faced by university students in playing a high standard of rugby, a school caretaker by the name of Jimmy Austin formed a team of his former pupils and other students, which was christened the 'Welsh Academicals'. At the time, the local Mountain Ash team was a major force in rugby, with Welsh internationals in its line up and a five year unbeaten ground record. But Austin's belief in the ability of the students gave him the courage to challenge the local team to a match that attracted tremendous interest in the area, and to the amazement of all and sundry the students emerged victorious and began a famous tradition in student rugby. For the subsequent 80 seasons the 'Accies', as they have become known, have continued this ethos of providing experiences to Wales' top student rugby players which has assisted their development towards greater honours. information courtesy of Welsh Academicals website www.welshacademicalsrugby.net |
UNKNOWN OR UNSURE
KEYRINGS & MISC MEMORABILIA
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Bill Clement (handling paper, neat as rugby balls) |
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Came he whence from Bennettstown, some call it Felinfoel A very fine player long left the field, behind a desk to toil Llanelli, Wales South African Lion, then came an injured knee Fortunately perhaps, for the Welsh RU, the path of Secret'ry A winger most unusual with his manual dexterity Playing on left or right, a splendid sight to see A soldier of distinction, this Major with MC Twice wounded in the conflict, the untold gallantry Now handling all the paperwork, as neat as Rugby balls Always polite and courteous, despite the many calls Thank you Mr Clement, for your application to the task And as for my OWN application - one Ticket all I ask! |
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The above poem appeared in the book 'And The Tanker Spent A Comfortable Night' by Tom Bellion. A book of poems relating to Welsh rugby in the 1970s, illustrated by the legendary Gren. BUY THIS BOOK (not part of the Bill Clement collection) - Ref: bkhuwa79-tb-xc - £15.00
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PERSONAL PRESENTATION ITEMS
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One English pewter pint tankard inscribed "Phoenix Hotels - Runner Up
1988". small dent to the front but generally the condition is very
good.
Ref: CL4-cu-phoenix - £10.00 |
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8" (20cm) diameter 'hard soldered' salver with 3 feet presented 'To Bill
from his friends at Cardiff HSOB 1.5.81. the salver is in very good condition.
Ref: CC75-mi-cshob.salver - £25.00 |
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A 12" (30cm) presentation salver in good condition incribed
"To Bill Clement - To commemorate 25 years secretary W.R.U
presented by Alex Stuart, Gower Sports.
Ref: CC75-mi-gower.salver - £30.00 |
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Glamorgan Wanderers presentation salver to Mr WH Clement O.B.E May 1981. A very
nice salver of unknown metal in excellent condition, 12" (30cm) in
diameter.
Ref: CC75-mi-glam.wands.salver - £75.00 |
| "Rugby Football" by DR Gent | ||||
| The second book by Gloucester & England scrum half Dai Gent, although also called "Rugby Football" as is his 1922 book this is a not an updated version or a reprint, it is a completely different book. It's still mostly coaching, but it also draws on the reminiscences of Gent's playing career in more detail, a second-hand hardback without dust wrapper, minor faults but generally the book is in good condition | ||||
| This edition: 1933 | Pages: 224 | Ref: PC01-bkhi33-drg - £ 25.00 | ||
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"Best Rugby Stories" by Wallace Reyburn | |||
| a second-hand hardback with dust wrapper in good condition | ||||
| 1st Edition: 1968 | Pages: 173 | Ref: PC01-bkhiah68-wr - £8.00 | ||
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"Lions At
Bay" by JBG Thomas - very rare post tour book of the 1966 Lions tour. some
light wear to the dust
wrapper.
SIGNED COPY - "To WHC - best wishes - sincerely - JBG - Cardiff Dec 1966" CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO ON JBG THOMAS Ref: PC01-bkbr66-jbgt - £49.00 |
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"Lions Down Under" published
immediately after the tour, this is the account of the tour by John
Reason, the rugby correspondent of the Daily Telegraph.
Ref: PC01-bkbr80-jr - £25.00 |
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1977 BOOK "The Long Lost Tour" by Barry John & Graham Thorne, 1977, 135pp, paperback in excellent condition. Ref: PC01-pbbr77-bj - £15.00 |
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Gerald DAVIES Wales & British Lions |
"An Autobiography" Wales & Lions winger |
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| Legendary Welsh wing who scored a
record number of tries. A second-hand hardback with dust wrapper in good
condition -
WH Clement signature and address on inside page |
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| 1st Edition 1979 | Pages 160 | Ref: PC01-bkbiwa-tgrd - £20.00 | |||
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Willie John McBRIDE Ireland & British Lions |
"Willie John" by Edmund Van Esbek |
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| Ireland and British Lions (1974)
captain. One of the greatest players of all time, a second-hand hardback without
a dust wrapper.
SIGNED COPY "To Welsh RFU - Best Wishes Willie John McBride" |
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| 1st Edition 1976 | Pages 160 | Ref: PC01-bkbiir-wjm1 - £35.00 | |||
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"Heard in the Scrum" edited by Robert Anderson |
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second-hand hardback with light damage to edges of the dust wrapper |
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| 1st edition 1964 | pages 120 | Ref: PC01-bkhu64-ra - £12.00 | ||
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"The Wit of Rugby" by LHW Paine |
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| Humorous quotes and stories from rugby history, a second-hand hardback with dust wrapper in good condition, includes 5 small cards containing handwritten notes for speeches. | ||||
| 1st Edition: 1972 | Pages: 95 | Ref: PC01-bkhu72-lhwp - £15.00 |
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Western Mail / WOS & SW Echo - 1999 rugby World Cup pre tournament guide, a large format 80 page publication, Ref: CC74-blwc99gu-wme - £9.00 |
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Wales 2000 - a Western Mail publication looking into the new millennium, an interesting look at the state of the nation, 34 pages. Ref: CC74-ocblwa00-wme - £5.00 |
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England - Rugby Football Union Centenary tea towel featuring badges of
counties and the fouding clubs in excellent condition, as new, unused.
Ref: CC74-encn-tt - £19.00 |
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Welsh Rugby Union centenary scarf 1981 designed and made for the Welsh
Rugby Union by isla Gladstone prints, as new, in original packaging.
Ref: wacn-scf - £20.00 |
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Bridgend RFC centenary mirror, size 9cm x 7cm, in plastic pocket, in excellent condition.
Ref: CC74-miwacb-bd-cn-mirror - £10.00 |
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WRU Centenary stamp, first issued in 1980 enclosed in a resin
paperweight, in excellent condition.
Ref: CC74-sgwacn-pw - £25.00 |
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Size 3 leather football, hand sewn, made in Pakistan, origin unknown,
it is not known if the ball inflates.
Ref: CC74-soba - £25.00 |
INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMMES