your comments
Mary Webber (nee Summerton) Kenfig Hill
I was born and brought up in Nantymoel and attended Ogmore Grammar School where Lynn's 'Welsh Cap' photograph was hung with pride in the school hall. I remember Lynn bringing the gold medal home to Nantymoel. It was a day I will always remember. Lynn rode in a big black car waving the medal through an open window, all the children from Nantymoel ran behind cheering, myself included. I was only six but followed the car all the way to Ogmore Vale, (about 2 miles down the valley) until I realised I'd strayed a bit far from home! I watched the car disappear with the medal still dangling from the window. I often mention this story to my husband from Kenfig Hill who, being quite a good athlete in his youth, is I think secretly jealous that an Olympic gold medallist came from my little village.
Martin Hill-Jones
I was 11 when I went to Bridgend Boys' Grammar School in 1964, and was stunned to see Lynn in his Olympic blazer, on the stage with the rest of the teachers. He was to be my History & Geography teacher. I seem to remember he drove a turquoise Mini Cooper, with miniture Adidas spikes hanging from the rear view mirror. He was an inspirational teacher, and would often demonstrate his athletic prowess on the sports field. Over the years, as I worked occasionally for the BBC in Cardiff, I would bump into Lynn, and spend a few minutes chatting. I haven't seen him for some time. I'm grieved that he always looks several years younger than me, in spite of being more than ten years older. Great guy.
Gary Evans, Tokyo
I went to the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo today for no other reason than to recognise the achievment of Lynn the Leap Davies. A small price to pay for the day off from school that we were all given to recognise his achievement. Still the only Welshman in Track & Field to win Gold 45 years on - says it all really. Magic! I hope Duffy who is in town does the same!
Malcolm Jones fromThatcham, Berks
My purpose is to try and make contact with Lynn again. We grew up together in Nantymoel, were close friends and were in the same classes at school. In addition we played in the same football, rugby and cricket teams and even 'trained' together when we were home from college during vacations. I would borrow his Wales tracksuit for the purpose and he wore his Great Britain equivalent. We kept in touch up until and including his televised Olympic celebrations in Nantymoel, including being on the stage with him, and the other Glamorgan dignitaries, at the Memorial Boys club - but unfortunately have lost contact over the years.
Val Roy, Germany
As a young athlete training one evening in Maindy Stadium with a friend, Lynn and Sean Pickering were also training. Lynn asked me if either of us were hurdlers. 'I am' I said. I then spent the happiest hour of my young life training with my hero!!! I've never forgotten it and am probably one of the few people who can say they trained with someone who was such an idol! I'm now 55 and live in Germany and would love the opportunity to meet Lynn and talk about how it was in the 60's in Cardiff.
Lynn Betteridge
I too was named after Lynn - my mum always told me that she new him and was an inspiration. I am 49 now and a Fire Officer and have always been proud to carry the name, even when it has got me into some difficult situations i.e. the female ward for a vasectomy!!
Carolyn Matthews, Barry
I was never so proud to be Welsh when Lynn Davies won the gold medal and even more so as he and I were born at the same time (20th May 1942) and we're still looking good. My mother was also a Davies.
Alan Rose
A truly inspirational figure. His autobiography inspired me to take part in athletics as a youngster.
Lynn Evans, Gilfach Goch
As a young boy I asked my mother why she had named me Lynn, she replied that I was named after Lynn Davies who had won a olympic gold medal. My grandfather was from Nantymoel and knew the family. This was my claim to fame, and my reply whenever I was teased about having a 'girls' name. I am at present 48 and work at a hotel. Lynn was dining at the hotel recently and I was telling other colleagues my story. I did not want to intrude on his privacy but mentioned the fact to a member of his dinner party. Imagine my delight when Lynn came to the foyer and asked for me. A true gentleman, down to earth and, probably not realising how much I was enjoying finally meeting him, was conversing with me for several minutes. His family joined in and they were also so friendly. Lynn showed his CBE medal to me and other members of the staff before the party had to finally depart for their homes. A hero in my eyes for his sporting achievements, his present commitments and giving me an occasion I will never forget.Lynn the Leap, thank you.
John Boucher, Pencoed + Llanharan
I remember watching Tilk winning the gold medal and - like so many other Ogmore Grammar pupils - being delighted when he came home to the Ogmore Valley. Our school is gone now but happy memories still remain of Roy Thomas, Keith Bradshaw, Graham Hodgson, Lynn Davies and so many others.
Karl Williams formerly from Nantymoel
As a young boy I remember watching Lynn, who was then in the Grammar School, practicing his jumping at the sand pit on Nantymoel Park. However if my memory serves me correctly at that time he practiced the triple jump. The facilities there were not up to competition level but Lynn persevered and with the help of his coach and mentor, Ron Pickering, he became a great long jumper. I remember the night he won the gold medal on discovering the length of his winning jump he leaped in the air and we all knew the gold medal was coming to Wales and to Nantymoel. The celebrations that took place on his homecoming were tremendous. I saw Lynn sometime after at Bridgend bus station, and was delighted that he still remembered the young boy who lived a few doors away from his house. Lynn is a great ambassador for Nantymoel, Wales and British Athletics and I am proud to say that in his formative years I was there to see the start of the career of a great athlete.
Kevin Morgan, Nantymoel
When I was a teenager in the early 80s I met Lynn who opened a fund raising event in the Bryant Centre. It was swap shop and he bought along his Superstars vest which I wanted him to swap for my cousin's doll (which I borrowed)from my grans bedroom. But he settled for some toy for his daughter Catherine. But my disappointment was short lived when he took us around the valley in his Triumph Spitfire. In following years we called on him when he visited his mum in Commercial Street. He must have got fed up with us - he spent more time with us than with his mum, but he never showed it. A true gentleman and a real local hero who never forgot his roots. Thanks for the memories Lynn.
Andrea McCulloch
I have some great memories of hearing about Lynn's Olympic win when at primary school in Cardiff - we were so excited that one of our own had done it. I also remember reading Lynn's very readable autobiography some years later. I have a memory of seeing him on BBC Wales, speaking with a Canadian accent, and being amazed - it didn't seem right!
Looking at how his record stood for so many years it's really clear that Lynn was something quite exceptional, and I don't think this was ever properly recognised. Anyway, along with Colin Jackson, Dame Tanni Grey, Kirsty Wade and Jonathan Edwards he's one of my athletics heroes. Jon The Jump and Lynn The Leap - two of the best.
Long jumper who won Olympic gold
