News

The terribly sad news emerged yesterday that Stephen Rees had died at the age of 45.

Stephen had been battling cancer for the past two years.

Although most of us knew Stephen was unwell, it was still a shock. Stephen’s friends in the community were still puzzled that an incredibly fit guy could be struck down by such an awful disease – it didn’t seem possible for somebody like him. Indeed, on Easter Saturday this year, he travelled on the supporter’s bus to Ammanford to watch Penallta play in the quarter final of the Swalec Plate. Celebrating the win over a few pints of Guinness, and enjoying the opportunity to catch up with his eldest son Scott and grandson Maxwell, who both live in West Wales, Stephen looked in rude health. The only reason he stood out that day at all was because he was far better dressed than the average rugby boy. Few were as well-groomed and dapper as him.

A Brynmynach boy, his youngest sons Levi and Mason both played mini rugby at Penallta and he and his wife Margaret were hugely supportive parents. Penallta RFC has a happy association with Brynmynach and the British Army, the place where Stephen served as a soldier throughout his entire adult life. Penallta’s current Head Coach, Stevie Richards – a good friend of Stephen – is a Brynmynach boy and also an ex-soldier with the Royal Fusiliers. Stephen set a trend for the Brynmynach boys by becoming a soldier, with a handful of others quickly following in his footsteps by serving their country.

Stephen was nearly a decade older than our generation. But as youngsters we all knew him. He worked a summer-job in Ystrad Mynach Sports Centre and was fabulous with us (slightly wayward, slightly naughty) valley’s kids. Stephen was mature beyond his years, very good with fatherly advice and always so fit, disciplined and sensible. It was clear that he would excel in the British Army, he had all the attributes. He was a leader of men.

Serving in the Army for over twenty years Stephen rose through the ranks to become a Warrant Officer, Class One. There aren’t many valley boys who get to be militarily addressed as ‘Sir’, but Stephen was. He spent many years with Margaret and the family based in Germany enjoying a distinguished career, gaining an enormous amount of respect and friends throughout the world.

He survived tours of duty in Northern Ireland, Kosovo, Bosnia, Iraq and Afghanistan, engaged in the Iraq warzone on no fewer than three tours. A litany of brave, selfless service. He was due to retire in the coming months.

His work overseas denied him a rugby career with Penallta, but being the fine sportsman he was, there’s no doubt he would’ve pulled on the Penallta shirt if based at home. And it’s inevitable that his Penallta career would’ve been less fleeting than that of his younger brother, Jamie. Jamie played once for Penallta in a 7s tournament and lasted a few minutes before leaving the field in what can only be described as a state of semi-consciousness. Jamie was laughing about it only on Saturday.

And it was on Saturday that we saw Stephen for the final time. Saturday was RM Cup day, the annual charity football day organised by Neil ‘Tec’ Teconi in support of ex Penallta captain Rob Moore. Rob suffered a life-changing injured playing for Penallta 21 years ago and Tec does a great job galvanising everybody for the football to raise money for Rob. Rob, just like Stephen, is a bloke who straddled both the rugby and football communities, with lots of friends on both sides of the sporting divide. Stephen played each year in the RM Cup, showing off his skills as a goalkeeper, in what has become a real community event.

This Saturday, in recognition of Stephen’s worsening condition and knowledge that he was too ill to attend, Tec organised for one of the charity sides to play in specially-made shirts with ‘REES 1’ and ‘TRUE GENT’ written on the back. A lovely tribute to the man.

Then just before kick-off and to everybody’s surprise, Stephen turned up. In his singularly determined way, he managed to be there to support Rob and see the boys wearing the shirts they’d dedicated to him. Surrounded by his family, he was able to give what was to be a final goodbye to his friends. He arrived with a wink and a smile, shook hands with everyone and watched the games from the sidelines. I’ve no doubt, being the muscle-honed, fitness fanatic that he was, that he was absolutely dismayed with the levels of flab and heavy breathing on display, but he was always way too much of a gentleman to comment. In the end there was something extraordinarily fitting about Stephen managing to be there. It is tragic that he lost his life so young, but life-affirming that the sun came out, and he managed to leave knowing how loved and respected he was by his family and friends.

The tributes on social media since the news emerged have been equally life-affirming. Messages of condolence from Stephen’s friends in the army, from his friends in the village, from his sporting life and beyond, have flowed in. Stephen touched a lot of lives in his supremely friendly and charismatic way, and given he achieved so much in his life the endearing stories and anecdotes are endless.

Being a bit younger my friends and me remember Stephen as one of the older boys who would really go out of his way for you. He didn’t see us as nuisance kids, he saw us as kids to be looked after; youngsters who could thrive on his worldly advice, and he always set a wonderful example. Aled Clifford – the famous musician from the band Henry’s Funeral Shoe and another of Brynmynach’s luminaries, told a lovely tale on Saturday of growing up in the same estate as Stephen.

When Aled was young he had two dogs. One died and the other was so broken-hearted it went missing, so Aled and his family were desperately trying to find him. One cold, dark night there was a knock at the door and Aled’s Dad found Stephen in the doorway. He was in his running clothes and covered in sweat, and told Aled’s Dad that he had seen the dog up the mountain and had been furiously chasing him around. He said he was going back up there to have another go at bringing the dog to heel, and in the meantime wanted the family to know the dog was in safe hands. And back off he went.

Aled and his family had the dog safely returned courtesy of Stephen’s herculean efforts; the man with the limitless get-up-and-go. There were many stories about Stephen on Saturday and Aled’s summed-up exactly what he was like. Whilst the rest of us were safe indoors, whiling the hours away in front of the TV, Stephen was out there taking on the world, never wasting a minute. Dedicating himself to helping others.

In recognition of somebody so well-regarded in the community everybody at Penallta RFC would like to send their condolences to Stephen’s family at this sad time. It doesn’t seem real that we won’t get to see Stephen among the Penallta supporters again but his legacy will live on in lots of ways. Stephen has three wonderful sons who are as mature, talented and well-behaved as you would expect given their upbringing. They are an enormous credit to their parents and made Stephen very proud. Stephen’s brothers Andrew and Jamie, who have always been so close to one another, have been there for him every step of the way throughout his illness. As have Stephen’s elderly mother and father, who still live in his childhood home in Brynmynach. Stephen was a son they must be immensely proud of.

And of course we extend our huge condolences to Stephen’s wife Margaret. Margaret is a lovely lady and well-known among the rugby boys as the owner of M&R Barbers in the village. Margaret and Stephen would’ve celebrated 20 years of marriage this year and she has been a rock for the family during a difficult two years. She has faced the ordeal with the stoicism and positivity that comes with being the wife of a decorated soldier, and we wish her all the best at this difficult time.

As Tec’s football shirts poignantly pointed out on Saturday, there will be many who will miss Stephen. Husband, Grandfather, Father, Son, Brother, Friend and Soldier indeed. A genuinely lovely man who crammed a few lives in to one cut so tragically short.

Stand at ease Stephen, and be at peace among your fellow fallen soldiers. You will be sadly missed.

Penallta RFC