Eddie Butler: Hundreds gather to pay tribute at memorial

Eddie Butler died in September, aged 65

About 700 people attended a memorial service for the former Wales rugby captain and broadcaster Eddie Butler.

The commentator died in his sleep in September 2022, aged 65, while taking part in a charity trek in Peru.

Among the guests at Abergavenny Market, Monmouthshire, were former players, sports broadcasters, friends and family.

The memorial was live streamed at a local pub in the town and hosted by broadcaster Clare Balding.

Outside the venue, broadcaster Sonja McLaughlan said Butler was "one of the greatest men I've ever had the pleasure of knowing".

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"I am devastated that he is no longer with us," she said.

"He was supremely talented, passionate about family, friends and Wales, his beloved Wales and Rugby Union."

She added she would never forget "that voice", adding: "I miss him terribly and it is a huge loss to his family, friends and Wales."

Like many others, ex-England rugby player and commentator Jeremy Guscott remembers Butler's unique voice

Former England rugby star and broadcaster Jeremy Guscott said Butler was "a good guy to work with, very mild...he looked after us".

"He was a guy you could go to to talk about things you couldn't with other people," he said.

"And also his voice. He had an unique way of describing the game."

Former Wales rugby player Tom Shanklin said he remembered Butler "as a wordsmith".

Tom Shanklin said Eddie Butler was "one of the best there was"

"I remember growing up listening to his commentary and then having the joy and excitement of being able to commentate with him," he said.

"He was one of the best there was. His voice is going to be massively missed in this year's Six Nations."

Butler rose to prominence with club side Pontypool, and played for Wales 16 times between 1980 and 1984.

He was called up to the British and Irish Lions squad that toured New Zealand in 1983.

President of Pontypool RFC Graham Price said he remembered Butler as a 19-year-old.

"He came from Monmouth school and he was very raw and very posh and that's how we remember him," he said.

The memorial was live-streamed at a local pub

"He was a complete anomaly for Pontypool at the time because we were all rough and nasty but he soon buckled down to it and under the tutelage of our great coach Ray Prosser he became the great player that he was."

After retirement, Butler became a respected rugby broadcaster.

BBC Sport's head of content Philip Bernie said Butler was a "wonderful man and outstanding broadcaster, an unbelievable wordsmith and sensational writer".

"A delight to spend time with, and he's gone way too young," he said.

"He had incredible range, a great brain and he was a lovely man."

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