Bob Bacon
03-06-2008, 13:11
Jun 3 2008 South Wales Echo
A RUGBY fanatic who only retired from the sport aged 65 has died after breaking his neck in a mountain bike accident.
Dad-of-two David Evans, 71, or ‘Dai Bargoed’ as he was known around the Rhymney Valley, suffered the fatal injury on Sunday as he and 37-year-old son Geraint cycled in Senghenydd.
Eldest son David, aged 46, described his father as “the best dad you could have” and said he died doing something he loved.
“He used to go up the mountains in Bargoed and down Cwmcarn, wherever my brother went to cycle he’d want to go even when he shouldn’t have,” said David.
“He was always active and didn’t like to be sat around doing nothing and was always out and about.
“It has come as a big shock to everyone but the response has been unbelievable. I went to the bank yesterday (Monday) and I was getting stopped by people I didn’t even know.”
Having served in the Royal Welch Fusiliers in Cyprus, Mr Evans returned to Wales and worked at power stations in Aberthaw, Port Talbot and Llanwern as a steel erector. He lived in Bargoed with wife Sonia.
Mr Evans was due to take part in a parade for the Fusiliers in Cardiff but his sons will instead walk proudly in his place in honour of their dad.
A RUGBY fanatic who only retired from the sport aged 65 has died after breaking his neck in a mountain bike accident.
Dad-of-two David Evans, 71, or ‘Dai Bargoed’ as he was known around the Rhymney Valley, suffered the fatal injury on Sunday as he and 37-year-old son Geraint cycled in Senghenydd.
Eldest son David, aged 46, described his father as “the best dad you could have” and said he died doing something he loved.
“He used to go up the mountains in Bargoed and down Cwmcarn, wherever my brother went to cycle he’d want to go even when he shouldn’t have,” said David.
“He was always active and didn’t like to be sat around doing nothing and was always out and about.
“It has come as a big shock to everyone but the response has been unbelievable. I went to the bank yesterday (Monday) and I was getting stopped by people I didn’t even know.”
Having served in the Royal Welch Fusiliers in Cyprus, Mr Evans returned to Wales and worked at power stations in Aberthaw, Port Talbot and Llanwern as a steel erector. He lived in Bargoed with wife Sonia.
Mr Evans was due to take part in a parade for the Fusiliers in Cardiff but his sons will instead walk proudly in his place in honour of their dad.