Younger brother might remember some of this...

The current Lion's tour of NZ quite naturally brings to mind some memories of our rugby mad father. Significant family events were typically planned around rugby tours - our year long return to the UK coincided with the All Blacks 1972 tour of Britain, and our first colour TV was delivered days before, I think, the 1977 Lions tour of NZ.

If family holidays coincided with any major games anywhere in the world, a trusty short wave radio was packed & my dad would get up at any hour necessary, to diligently tune into the appropriate static ridden station half way across the world.

In fact, I do recall a holiday either at Himitangi, or Waitere Beach - it was cold & frosty & possibly blowing a gale & raining - anyway, I remember it wasn't very nice outside. I cannot remember who Wales would have been playing at the time, but dad got himself up in the middle of the night, attempted to tune in the ever present shortwave radio, which at this stage I think, was missing its aerial, failed, and was seen by our mother, outside in the cold & possible storm, wrapped up like a mummy, jumping up and down in excitement, with the radio in his hand and a wire running from the broken aerial to the clothesline.

Dedication doesn't come near describing his fervour.

I also recall one particular game, and a process of elimination leads me to suspect it was the 3rd test in Christchurch, in 1977, between the Lions and the All Blacks. The Lions won it 13-9, but it may have been closer at some stage. It must have been the 2nd half & the ABs were awarded a penalty right in front of the posts. Bryan Williams was playing full back instead of wing & stepped up to take the kick. The crowd were silent.

Suddenly my dad stood up & abruptly left the room. We would all have looked on quizzically, but I remember my mum explained for us "Nerves. He can't watch".

As it happened, Williams inexplicably muffed the easy kick completely. From the kitchen came a jubilant yelp "Bryan Williams! MY HERO!"

And mum calmly explained again that while dad couldn't bear to watch the kick, he also couldn't bear not to listen to it on the kitchen radio.