Remembering 'Bert' Jones, the Landkey Lock Forward

In the latest from our Heroes of the Past series, we received this wonderful message from Colin Darch, a retired sea captain in Appledore:

“I grew up in Landkey beside fields belonging to farmer “Bert” Jones. Bert played rugby for Barnstaple, Devon, and in 1949 played three games for England.

“I was 11 years-old and Bert was my hero. Apparently, after three games, he was dropped for having a ‘punch-up’ with French forwards.

“About thirty years later, some ladies in Landkey proposed writing a booklet about the village. I became involved as our family ran the village bakery. When they suggested a piece on Bert Jones I volunteered to interview him.

“He confirmed why he was dropped after three games, but when I asked what was his proudest moment he replied: 'None of those games. When I was captain of a combined Devon & Cornwall side we played the touring Springboks, and we would have beaten them buggers if (so and so) the centre from Paignton hadn’t dropped the bloody ball!'"

Send your historical pictures and stories to tim.herbert@clearskypublishing.co.uk