Obit: Ray Gravell (Wales, Oct 2007)

Subject: RE: Obit: Ray Gravell
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 01 Nov 07 - 04:31 PM

I think I might have met him in the autumn of 1982, when I'd gone for a lunchtime drink in the Cross Keys at Old Sodbury (on the A46) and Llanelli had stopped there on their way back from a match and we sang.....

Kitty

Subject: RE: Obit: Ray Gravell
From: Splott Man
Date: 01 Nov 07 - 01:33 PM

I met him on just one occasion and found him to be a perfect gentleman.

A sad loss.

Splott Man

Subject: RE: Obit: Ray Gravell
From: Rog Peek
Date: 01 Nov 07 - 01:29 PM

23 caps for Wales and British Lion. Fine rugby player and man, credit to his sport and his country. Very sad news.

Rog

Subject: RE: Obit: Ray Gravell
From: Scooby Doo
Date: 01 Nov 07 - 12:05 PM

I to woke upto the news Dr Price.He will be sadly missed here in Wales.

My thoughts go out to his wife and two daughters.



Scooby.

Subject: RE: Obit: Ray Gravell
From: Andy Jackson
Date: 01 Nov 07 - 11:26 AM

Very sad news indeed, a splendid chap and so proud to be Welsh.
A pleasure to work with.
Andy

Subject: RE: Obit: Ray Gravell
From: GUEST,Wayne
Date: 01 Nov 07 - 11:25 AM

The most underrated of the Seventies Welsh rugby players and a real gentleman. Fine broadcaster too.

Subject: RE: Obit: Ray Gravell
From: sian, west wales
Date: 01 Nov 07 - 11:20 AM

I woke up to BBC Radio 4's report on Ray's passing, so a pall was cast which will take time to lift.

Ray was always very supportive of us at trac and phoned me for an on-air chat on many occasions, and he knew the value of having a strong musical tradition. Nothing he liked better than a good sing-along with friends. I think he also strong-armed Dafydd Iwan into doing Welsh versions of a number of Irish songs - "Esgair Llyn" comes to mind but damned if I can remember the original Irish title!

As we say in Wales, "there was no side to him."

So ... I guess we'd better batten down the hatches for one helluva wake in the near future. He deserves a great send off.

sian

Subject: Obit: Ray Gravell
From: Mick Tems
Date: 01 Nov 07 - 10:04 AM

Ray Gravell - Wales and British Lions rugby star, BBC Wales personality and colleague of Frank Hennessy, amateur folk singer, Dafydd Iwan fan and member of the Gorsedd of Bards - died last night of a heart attack while he was on holiday on Spain. He was only 56.

BBC Wales led on Ray's death, and national BBC news programmes too. Ray had been suffering from diabetes, and surgeons amputated his leg - but he amazed everyone by his recovery, and he was seen standing on his artificial limb. To be taken from a heart attack shocked everyone.