Photo: Cemlyn Foulkes’s Great Britain honours cap
presented to his widow Catrin by Austin Savage.
Your author has fond memories of playing festival hockey with Cemlyn Foulkes half a century ago when he was a very talented force for Wales and Great Britain (GB). Sadly, Cemlyn is no longer with us but recently we were able to present his GB honours cap to his family.
In Cemlyn’s era, North Wales produced several outstanding international hockey players for both Wales and GB. As The Hockey Museum’s GB cap project comes closer to completion, we were delighted that fellow North Walean Austin Savage (GB men’s player number 148 from 1966) was recently able to present Cemlyn’s cap to his widow Catrin – Cemlyn is GB men’s player number 188.
Goalkeeper Austin has penned the following tribute to his former club, Wales and GB teammate which reflects on Cemlyn’s hockey career and their friendship.
Remembering Cemlyn Foulkes, by Austin Savage
“Without a doubt Cemlyn was/is regarded as a legend of Welsh hockey. With his inimitable sense of humour he would have used the term ‘leg-end’ to describe a player who had contributed so much to the history of the sport! Cemlyn gained a vast number of caps for his country, especially in the indoor game. It is incredible to think that he became such a clever and skilful player in indoor hockey because the facilities for that aspect of the game were virtually non-existent in North Wales at that time!
“Cemlyn’s involvement with the outdoor game certainly contributed to the successes of the Welsh side under the guidance of the late Roger Self. Of course, we all know of Roger’s leadership with the “GB side, but I’m certain that he developed his coaching skills on the playing fields of Wales, with Cemlyn as an inspiration in the honing of such attributes. On more than one occasion Roger was heard to say to Cem, “Stay in so-and-so’s pocket”, which he did religiously, thus nullifying a potentially dangerous opponent!
“His fitness regime would put most of us in the shade!
“Cemlyn came through the ranks of the Hightown club, and Lancashire, joining Colin Whalley, where they enjoyed much success. I was later invited to join them at Hightown, having spent my early years at Oxton, but remaining with Cheshire where we won the County Championships in 1966 without conceding a goal! – I must get that in!
“Cemlyn, along with others were unfortunate to miss out on Olympic glory because of some stupid political decisions made leading up to the Montreal and Moscow Games!
“Travelling from North Wales each Saturday during the season was no longer a chore with the ‘leg-end’!”
