Sporting circles in the Cardigan area and further afield heard with profound regret of the death of former top local rugby player Bobby Bird.

A native of Cardigan, the 77-year-old who had lived in Cilgerran for many years and was a former member of the fire department at the Royal Aircraft Establishment at Aberporth, was captain of Cardigan RFC during the mid-1960s.

As well as excelling at rugby the immensely popular character, who was affectionately known to many as ‘Tweet’, was an expert fisherman on the River Teifi and a volunteer bailiff.

He leaves his family, including wife Flo, son Barry and daughter Janet, to whom the sympathy of countless people over a wide area is extended.

Before the start of Saturday’s League 3 West A game between Cardigan and Neyland at King George V Playing Field players and spectators observed a silence in Bobby’s memory.