The official opening
of the Sir Stanley Baker Lounge Friday 24th November
2006
The official opening of the Sir Stanley Baker
lounge by Lady Ellen Baker, her three sons Martin, Glyn, Adam
and Stanley’s sister Muriel, at Ferndale Rugby Club on Friday 24th
November, proved to be an outstanding success for the
communities of Blaenllechau and Ferndale.
The Baker
family were totally overwhelmed by the exhibits depicting the
film actor and producers career in this stylish lounge, with
many photographs unseen by them before.
The
prestigious opening commenced with master of ceremonies John
Asquith calling upon Alwyn Davies to welcome the family, friends
and many other guests. Part of his speech included the immortal
words “Blaenllechau” when referring to a line of script, which
Stanley used in the film “Hell Drivers” when asked where he came
from.
This was
followed by a short emotional speech from Lady Baker who
reminded everyone how her husband never forgot Ferndale or the
Rhondda valleys and called him her “Prince of Wales”, before
unveiling the plaque in his memory. This was then immediately
followed by a song from Ferndale’s rising star Gareth Nash who
sang “Bring him home”, which was richly appreciated by the Baker
family.
Next to be
called forward to speak was Alun Clement, co founder member of
the club in 1989 and whose idea it was of commemorating
Ferndale’s most famous son with a fitting lounge for all enjoy.
He thanked the
whole family and friends, which included former Cardiff, Wales
and British Lion, Bleddyn Williams, who was at Sir Stanley’s
side when he passed away in the summer of 1978, before
presenting Lady Baker with a painting of her husband in one of
the scene’s from his most epic film “Zulu”, which had been given
over by local artist Lee Williams of Taff Street, who was
unavailable for the opening ceremony.
Further
speeches were made by Rhondda Assembly Member, Leighton Andrews
and Deputy Mayor of Rhondda Cynon Taf, Councillor Jane Ward from
Penrhiwceiber.
Before John
Asquith concluded the ceremony, club chairman John Evans
presented a club ties, lapel badges, tie pins and club playing
jersey to Sir Stanley’s three sons and grandson with club
stewardess Kay Roberts presenting a bouquet flowers to Lady
Baker and Stanley’s sister, Muriel Lewis who also made a moving
tribute to her brother.
The whole
ceremony had been filmed by BBC Wales, with the sound also
recorded by BBC Radio Wales for later programmes and news
reports.
Family,
friends and all members were then treated to an excellent buffet
before Owen Money’s, BBC Radio Wales afternoon stint was
recorded for his Monday afternoon show on November 27th,
after the extremely heavy rain conditions prevented the show
going out live.
Nevertheless
the afternoon turned out to be a superb one, with Owen jokingly
ribbing all his interviewed guests, which included Bleddyn
Williams, all the Baker family, Norman Pom Evans, Mel Gabriel,
Alwyn Davies, Robert Peachy - who drew the caricatures of Sir
Stanley Baker and Owen Money – John Asquith and some of the
members of Cor Meibion Morlais and anyone that cared to move.
The two hour
show ended with another outstanding song – This is the moment -
from Ferndale’s Gareth Nash, before the Ferndale - Cor Meibion
Morlais concluded with Gwahoddiad. Later on in the evening a
portion of the day’s events was broadcast on BBC Wales news to
everyone’s thrill.
The
committee and members wishes to thank everyone involved for
making this such a special day included all the crew from the
BBC; Cheryl, Angela, Vera, Beverley and Hailey for the buffet;
all the bar staff and Grant for filming the day for local
interest.
The
SSBL
The lounge
contains many photographs, posters, programmes and artefacts of
the Ferndale born actor’s illustrious acting and directing
career, and the corridor leading to the lounge also displays a
large caricature (compliments of Robert Peachy – Adva
- Sign, Gelli, Rhondda) of Stanley in his home town rugby
jersey, with the club badge above his folded arms. On each side
of the colourful sketch are a history of his life and a cross
section of 80 pupils who attended Ferndale Junior School at the
same time as Sir Stanley in 1937.
Alun Clement
who came up with the original idea and plan of the former games
room, did much of the collective work in orchestrating this
lounge along with Graham Seal and picture framer Trevor Morgan;
they can feel well pleased with their efforts, with other
contributions by John Evans, Gerwyn Clement, Tristan Mills,
Kevin Wheeler, Jeff Roberts, Ian McCandlish, Paddy Brennan along
with Kay Roberts and her bar Staff.
A ceremony for
the completion of the initial work in lounge and bar was
performed in February 2006 by Sir Stanley Baker’s former friend
and school actor, Mr Bertie Hooper of Mountain Row, Blaenllechau.
Extract
from “Passages of life in Ferndale & District” by Alun Arwel
Clement
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