It is with great sadness that we learn of the passing of Mr John Peake who served this club with distinction and had such a great passion for youth rugby.
John Peake joined the Quins Committee in 1972/73 and from the onset he showed his keen interest in youth rugby. Within the same year he joined a small youth committee as chairman with Noyr Bryan as coach. Success soon followed for the Quins Youth team when in 1973/74 they won the Llanelli & District Cup. John can be seen in the team photograph taken at the end of that season.
More success soon followed in 1974/75 when the Quins Youth won the Welsh Youth Knock-Out Cup with both Peter Elsom and Wally Williams gaining Welsh Youth caps. This was even more special as it was the club’s centenary season.
Further honours were achieved in the 1976/77 season when the youth triumphed again in the Welsh Youth Knock-Out Cup and added two more trophies in winning the Llanelli & District Cup and the District League Shield. Welsh Youth Caps were also awarded that season to Quins Youth players David Jacob and Huw Jones.
Having experienced success with the Carmarthen Quins Youth, John then moved on to join the Llanelli and District Youth Committee as the Carmarthen Quins Youth representative. John continued in this capacity for a number of years until he was appointed as District Secretary within the Llanelli & District Youth, also becoming youth secretary when Carmarthenshire West was formed.
In the late 1980’s John joined the Welsh Youth and soon became a Welsh Youth Selector. That moved on to John being appointed as Welsh Youth Publicity Officer and eventually made Chairman of Selectors for one year. This carried on until the Welsh Youth was disbanded in season 2001-2002.
Many a Quins youth player will have looked back on their time with the Quins Youth and remember John with a great deal of respect and affection. Many gained district, county or Welsh Youth international honours and would recall the support and encouragement John would have given them on this journey.
We wish to convey our sincere condolences to John’s family at this very sad time.
