Some Captured History of Glanamman and Garnant

William Aubrey Hay

As an active and well known member of the Cwmamman community, William Aubrey Hay was the man who was credited with raising the necessary funds to build St. Margaret's Church in 1933.

William Aubrey Hay was the son of John Hay, who was at one time the manager of Garnant Colliery as well as others. William was one of seven children. His younger brother Thomas Hay, was for a time the landlord of the Plough and Harrow public house at Glanamman Square. Both William and Thomas were members of the Cwmamman Urban Council in the early 1900's. William Aubrey Hay was elected in April 1914; his brother Thomas Jones Hay was already a councillor by that time.

On the 28th of November 1918, the Amman Valley Chronicle printed an open letter from William Aubrey Hay to the Editor, suggesting that the people of Cwmamman should build a Memorial Hall in honour of the Fallen Heroes. He stated that it should be large enough to hold concerts and that it should contain a swimming bath on the ground floor as the local children were at the time, swimming in the polluted waters of local rivers and ponds. William Hay wanted an honours board fixed up to contain the names of all the local people who had joined the Army or Navy, as well as tablets containing the names of those who died in the war. William Hay was the Hon. Sec. of the Soldier's and Sailors' Fund at that time.

William Hay was a very keen follower of rugby and was secretary of Amman United Rugby Football Club. In recognition of his services to the club, a large gathering of players and supporters were present at the Half Moon Hotel (Amman United's headquarters), in September 1913, to present him with a gold watch and chain. When he became secretary the club was in debt, but due to his efforts, the club were by then substantially in the black.

After the presentation, local bard and wit, "Ceidrim" (Edwin Rees), recited a poem that he had written for the occasion:

If you'll all be quiet and listen,
To you some lines I'll give,
For I acted as a linesman
When the Amman started live;
The lines will be of a fellow
That is known to all of you,
For he's a "Sec." without a speck
To the Amman faithful and true.

As a Sec. for the last two years
He's hoisted the Scarlet flag
Of the Amman United Army
And nobody saw him flag;
He is a jolly good sportsman
As true as his name is Hay,
He care not a straw, for a win or a draw
As long as he's having fair play.

It's all right to work in summer
When the weather is fair and mild,
But it's different in the winter,
When storms are raging wild,
We've seen him sweat in December
For the sake of the Amman Boys,
To get things right with his throat too tight
To squeeze through a bit of his voice.

There's a lot to do with the Sec.,
For he must go through the mill,
He must ponder a lot, till he feels very hot
And has many a void to fill,
Committees propose and second, we know,
But the Sec. has to do all the work,
And W. A. Hay worked home and away
For he knows not the meaning of shirk.

He deserves the presents we give him
They'll brighten his life when he's old,
For his help to the Amman United,
Is worth all his weight in gold.
May the gold chain to Amman unite him,
And his watch at home or away
(When the boys pass the leather, help him for ever)
To pass the time of the day.

After ten years of involvement with Rugby football, in June of 1923, William Hay decided it was time to retire. The Amman Valley Chronicle paid tribute to his successes and efforts, not only with regard to the Amman United RFC, but also for the contribution he made to other bodies.

When William Hay became secretary of the Amman United, the club was practically unknown, but by the time he relinquished his position, the Amman was one of the most noted second class clubs in Wales.

William Hay was elected as a member of the Welsh Union in 1921 and held the positon for two seasons. During his time as a member of the Welsh Select Committee, he visited the four countries with the Welsh team. His interests also extended to other sports and William Hay was captain and secretary to the Garnant Cricket Club and secretary to the Carmarthenshire Cricket League.

By 1923, William Hay was secretary to the proposed Cwmamman Memorial Hall and secretary to the Cwmamman Park Committee.

This page was created by Laura and Tabitha Michael.

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