Neath rugby followers will be saddened to hear of the death of Noel Mellin who played in the back row for the Club in the 1950’s and early 1960’s.

Noel Mellin was very much a man of Neath with the family roots in Water Street. He was an outstanding schoolboy player and enjoyed a lifetime association with the Neath Athletic club, playing for and captaining both the Colts and the Athletic senior team.

After captaining the Boys Clubs of Wales and completing an eventful national service in the Army (during which he seemed destined for Suez and played a bit-part in the film “Dunkirk”), Noel whilst playing mainly for the Athletic was ever-ready to step into the Neath team when occasion demanded.

It frequently did – and Noel soon proved himself to be an utterly dependable performer and treasured most of all his appearances against the stellar Cardiff sides of that era when he proved himself the equal of many of the internationals on view.

Noel probably retired from the Game earlier than he should have and was one of the craftsmen responsible for building the Athletic’s first clubhouse – situated in the basement of the old Liberal Club in Orchard Street and which was very conveniently placed for Neath to seek a player needed at short notice.

He was engaged in the local business trade in partnership with his great pal Terry Jenkins (who also appeared at scrum-half for Neath) and Noel served the Athletic off-field for over 50 years as a stalwart treasurer, committeeman, vice-chairman, chairman and ultimately president and he was a loyal member of the Neath Former Players.

The Neath Club’s sympathy goes to all his family and friends.

Funeral service at Margam Crematorium on Tuesday 28th June at 12 noon.