RICHARD FRANCIS BELL (RFB) AT 80 – A RUGBY FOOTBALL APPRECIATION
On 6 December 2024 Richard Bell – Bridgwater & Albion’s former stalwart lock and prop forward – reaches the grand old age of 80.
Richard learnt his rugby football at Westover School and like all promising and enthusiastic players, joined Bridgwater & Albion Colts when he left school. He made an immediate impact and at the tender age of 16, he was selected for the 1st XV in the opening match of the 1961/62 season against AS Bordeaux which Albion won 28-8. As a Colt, he was in the Somerset Colts team for three years. He played in a Colts side containing the likes of contemporaries Byron Wynn, Lionel and Steve Date, Terry Webber, Ray Andrews and Alan Snook whom were later to become his team-mates in the senior sides. After making his 1st XV debut, he did not look back and amassed a considerable number of appearances despite missing nearly two complete seasons due to injury. With Albion playing a significant number of fixtures each season, particularly after the installation of floodlights in 1964/65, then the appearances kept coming.
One of Richard’s early and probably lasting memories was the 1964/65 season when Albion went 14 games unbeaten at the start of the season before losing to Glamorgan Wanderers and during that run, they defeated Bath 23-17.
In his early years, Richard played in the second row and remember that in those days, you only won the ball in the line-out under your own endeavours i.e. by your own momentum unless of course the odd hand on the shoulder of your opposite number went unnoticed by the referee. To say that he leaped like a salmon may be an antithesis but there was certainly a graceful poise. Mind you, Richard’s idea of winning the ball on the line-out was somewhat wishful on some occasions and even if the ball flicked the fingernail of his little finger sufficiently to head his scrum-half’s way, then he had won the ball. Never mind the poor No. 9 having to clear up in those situations but the experience was relished by all.
Richard always played competitively and his opposite numbers would have relished the game against him. On a light-hearted note, Richard was one day surprised when leaving the field at Torquay, he was accosted by and prodded by the umbrella of the irate wife of his opposite number that day who thought that he had manhandled her spouse. It appears that the player himself was somewhat sanguine about the matter but his wife clearly thought differently. You cannot please everyone all of the time.
In his formative seasons, young Richard was partnered by John Coleman and Dave Hodge (when he switched from No. 8) – both legends of the club. Later on, he also formed partnerships with Derek Wheeler, Chris Mitchell and Archie (Streeeetch Laddie) Burleigh and Laurie Ross when he switched to the second row. Later, he was instrumental in guiding younger players Pat Donovan, Stan Cook and Paul Lovatt to become very useful Albion players. He always gave his opponents a lot to think about and initially crossed swords with the likes of Jack Matthews of Taunton, Mike Burgess and later Duncan Henry of Weston-super-Mare, John Baxter of Exeter, Alvin Williams of Penzance Newlyn and Ron Glazsher of Plymouth Albion and Penryn. Richard also competed in the second row against several international players and gave no quarter – he faced English Internationals in Chris Ralston of Richmond; Nigel Horton of Moseley; Dave Watt of Bristol and also encountered the later Welsh International Robert Norster of Abertillery. As a result, he was a highly respected player both within the club and amongst his opponents.
Richard took over the 1st XV captaincy in 1970/71 for the first time and was later honoured with the appointment again in the 1974/75 and the 1975/76 (centenary) seasons. Also at the end of his first captaincy season, he also led the combined Albion, Weston-super-Mare and Torquay Athletic side to Zambia. In this mid-1970’s period another highlight would have been appearing for Bridgwater & Albion against Harlequins in the RFU knock-out Cup competition in 1973/74 when the Londoners required three dropped goals and a penalty to defeat Albion 12-6. In that match, Richard appeared for the 349th time and during the centenary season, he reached his 400th 1st XV appearance. 400 quickly became 500 in the 1977/78 season with the landmark coming in an away match at Pontypridd when a home crowd graciously acclaimed the achievement – they knew something about it as their own Bob Penberthy played over 700 1st XV games for his club and happened to be Richard’s opposite number on the day of the 500th.
By then, Richard had switched to the front row and he had appeared for Somerset in the County Championship match against Cornwall at Redruth there and also represented Somerset in other fixtures. During one of those, he encountered the high stepping Andy Ripley of Roslyn Park and England fame and badly damaged his shoulder which kept him out for some time. Perhaps quite naturally his career started to slow down and his appearances became more spasmodic. He reached 550 games in the 1980/81 season and made his 561st (during this research I have found him two more games beyond what was thought to be his total of 559) and final appearance against Worcester on 18 December 1982 in a 15-0 victory – a great way to bow out. Thereafter he continued to play in the United and Athletic XV’s as well as assisting the veterans.
Richard married Ann in the late 1960’s and daughter Joanne was born in November 1970 in the first of his captaincy seasons (your writer remembers this well as he was honoured to be vice captain to Richard in that season and led Albion for the first time when Joanne was born and Richard missed a game). Two years later son Nick was born and Richard would have been delighted that he followed in his footsteps in many ways. In rugby football, Nick was also an Albion Colt and made his way into the 1st team as a hooker; in business terms Richard, having joined his father Bob in the family business RK Bell Ltd, then introduced Nick later on and he of course took over the running of the business after Richard’s retirement.
During his retirement he remained an ardent supporter of the club and was elected as President for the 1997/98 and 1998/99 seasons as the club had climbed its way into National League status. He had some difficult matters to deal with in those times due to the ever-changing requirements of the club to compete at that level with several coaching posts going by the way in quick succession. He was made a Life Member of the club in 2016 and still continues to watch the club sides whenever possible.
During his career Richard rumbled over for many tries for the club but perhaps one of the most surprising features of his play was his competent goal-kicking. He kicked toe on with the ball slanting on a mound of mud (no tees in those days) and with considerable accuracy. Penarth will certainly testify to that when they were booted to a 3-15 defeat at the Broadway Ground with RFB kicking 5 penalty goes for us.
Beyond the rugby football field, Richard was also a very competent cricketer playing with the local Bridgwater Dragons – a useful batsman and big hitter as well as a tidy bowler; surprisingly he was also quite nimble-footed on a tennis court as those passing the courts at Cranleigh Gardens or Victoria Park would testify; golf became another sporting passion of Richard’s and he played at Enmore Park off a mid-teens handicap which he thoroughly enjoyed.
Due to his long attachment to games and the intensity with which he played them, then his mobility in later years was certainly compromised. However, with a quick adaption to a mobility scooter with a specially adapted truck to carry it about, he was still able to visit Bridgwater & Albion, Bridgwater Cricket Club just down the road in the summer months; and to follow his friends and colleagues around various golf courses charting their progress as he went.
Richard’s appearances in our 1st XV have only been eclipsed by one other – Tony Harris (582) and only one of three players to reach the 500 mark (NP Edmonds is the other).
I can only say that as a long-time team mate on the field and colleague off the field through our various club sides, that Richard has been an absolute inspiration to all who have played with him. He has shown us the example of how to enjoy the game both on and off the field. His hard working and skills shone through. When I first came into the 1st XV, then I always thought he was much older but of course it was his early start at age 16 which meant that he had gained considerable experience in his youth and carried that forward throughout his career.
Bridgwater & Albion has been delighted to chart Richard’s progress from a Colt through our senior sides and into retirement and thank him for his considerable efforts both on and off the field. Here’s to a great 80th birthday celebration with many more to come.
Scribe
Category: Club News
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