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24 Feb 2024 | |
Obituaries |
Dan Rees, father of Aled Rees (Xt, 1982) and Morgan Rees (Xt, 1988), brother of the late David Rees (Xt, 1952), Henry Rees (Xt, 1959) and the late John Rees (Xt, 1962), cousin of the late Michael Rees (Xt, 1953) and Martin Rees (Xt, 1958), and uncle of David Rees (Xt, 1983), died on 24 February 2024, aged 87.
The following tribute has been provided by Dan’s son Aled.
Dan was born in Abertillery, Wales. He was the third of the five children of Harry and Aleda (née Minton). Dan married Agnes (Nina) Paterson in 1963. They had three children, Aled and Morgan who attended College and Daniele who attended Cheltenham Ladies College. A fourth child, Mathew, died shortly after childbirth.
Dan was educated at Blaenau Gwent Infants School (until March 1943) and Cwmtillery Boys School (known as Cochin Chic) until July 1944. He attended Wells House Preparatory School in Malvern from September 1944 and then Cheltenham College.
Dan was at Christowe from 1949 to 1955. He was one of nine members of the Rees family to attend Cheltenham College and Christowe (hree brothers, two sons, a nephew and two cousins – one of whom, Martin, later played scrum-half for Cardiff 1st XV (1958-61) and was reserve scrum-half for Wales). Dan was Head of Christowe and a College prefect.
He played at outside-half for the 1st XV in 1953 and was appointed Captain of the Sevens team to play at Rosslyn Park but was unable to play due to illness. This also kept him out of the 1954 1st XV, and indeed ended his rugby career.
After leaving College, Dan went to France to polish his French, living with a family in Lacapelle Marival (Lot) and then undertaking a course at the Sorbonne. He then studied Commerce at Birmingham University before qualifying as a Chartered Accountant with Peat Marwick, Mitchell & Co, Cardiff. He transferred to Peats in Paris in 1963 and then Geneva in 1971 where he was appointed Senior Partner. He retired in 1998.
Dan’s maternal grandfather, Dan Minton, was a miner who died in 1918 aged 46. An early member of the ILP (Independent Labour Party) and friend of Kier Hardy, he was a key figure in the South Wales Miners’ Federation and Labour Candidate elect for Abertillery.
His paternal grandfather, David, was a miner who left the mines in the early 1920s and set up a bakery business (D Rees & Sons Golden Crust) with one baker and his sons. It became one of the biggest bakeries in Wales. In 1956, the business was sold to Spillers.
Dan lived in his house in Monnetier-Mornex, Haute Savoie, France for 53 years.
He was an avid collector of the marine art of Bernard Finnigan Gribble but he was proudest of his Bristol 405 which he enjoyed driving in France where few had ever seen such a car.
Golf – a bridge at Bossey Golf & Country Club (France) was dedicated to him for services to the Club over a 45-year period as Treasurer. He only played twice in the Old Cheltonian Autumn competition and on both occasions won the Founder’s Cup (Foursomes) aged 60 and 80. He played at 98 of the top 100 Links courses in the British Isles (only missing out on Muirfield and Machrihanish) and played off a handicap of 12.1.
Rugby – he was a fanatical supporter of Wales (he was one of few Welshmen alive today to have seen Wales last beat New Zealand in 1953 at Cardiff Arms Park), and he attended World Cups in England and Wales, Australia, France, New Zealand and again in England.
Dan was convivial, exceedingly generous, interested in people, well read and was much loved by his family and many friends. He is survived by his children Aled, Daniele and Morgan, and grandchildren Jake and Holly.