60 Seconds with Peter Gillard

What roles did you hold in the industry?

I had two industry careers. I spent half my working life as a practising groundsperson (I started aged 15 as a garden labourer and my last job was Grounds Manager at Cardiff Arms Park) and the other half in education.

I also qualified as lecturer, teacher and assessor at university, and this led to me to setting up the first college-based course for grounds personnel and greenkeepers – and to my involvement with the GMA local, regional and national education.

I want people to know that if they want to progress their careers, they can achieve anything they want to if they put their mind to it!

What was the branch setup back then?

In my early days in, what was then called the National Association of Groundsmen (NAG), Archie MacTaggart [Estates Manager for London University] was NAG secretary and Betty Jackson ran the office in Wimbledon, which supported NAG volunteers based at 40 regional branches.

Motspur Park was the site for the NAG’s Annual Exhibition, which was eventually renamed SALTEX. Derek Walder was also involved during this time and has always made an amazing contribution to the show. As does another Wales branch member, Les Gibbs, who was one of my students.

What was your association with the Wales branch?

I was active within the Wales branch for around 60 years. I was branch secretary, then chairman and finally vice-president. In those days, the branch had 130 members.

The Wales branch had two sub-branches – one at Ebbw Vale, in Blaenau Gwent county borough, and the other in Swansea. They had a strong social aspect, and members shared advice and supported each other. The highlight of our year was our formal annual dinner, which often attracted around 100 guests.

I still meet up with some of the branch members, including Alan Williams, who ran the Ebbw Vale sub-branch. We met when he was a student of mine and we’ve been firm friends ever since.

What were the industry goals and challenges in those days?

Our challenge has always been to raise the status of sports ground managers and promote career opportunities to young people.

The industry has continued to highlight the importance of education. I remember the Wales branch hosted three of the GMA’s (then IOG) National Education Conferences in Cardiff, one of which culminated in a formal dinner in Cardiff Castle in the presence of the Lord Mayor of Cardiff.

We also enjoyed a good rapport with sports organisations. Our president for 40 years was Wilfred Wooller, a prominent rugby and cricket player and broadcaster, and secretary of the Welsh Rugby Union, and many key figures in the sporting world attended our social functions.

How do you now spend your free time?

I give illustrated talks on local history and my travelling experience to local gatherings and history societies. And, of course, I still enjoy meeting up with my old friends from the groundscare industry.