Speech by Dafiolo

Speech Type: Best man
Speech Creator: Dafiolo
Speech Date: May 2001
Ladies and gentlemen, on behalf of Gemma our lovely bridesmaid today, I would like to thank Gwyn for his toast and I'm sure you'd all agree, he was spot on saying all those nice things about her.

It's great to be in a normal wedding, as last week I went to a wedding where two aerials got married. It was a dreadful wedding, but the reception was great!!!!

Well, Gwyn Thomas Morris, what can I say, or rather, where do I start!!!!

I met Gwyn more than 10 years ago now when we both arrived at Cyncoed College to begin a gruelling 3year degree course. Over the next 10 or so years we were to become great friends and share many good times.

But I remember leaving my hometown of Tregaron in deepest West Wales as a very green 18 year old and being warned by the lads to watch out for strangers, especially GOGS, – (and for those of you not familiar with the term Gogs, it's a term of endearment used in the south, for our North Walian friends)

I was told that Gogs in Cardiff were like a dose of piles, – if they come down and go back up, that's ok, but when they come down and stay down, they're a pain in the arse!!!

When he arrived in Cardiff, Gwyn had very little previous experience of the English language and on one particular occasion when he'd borrowed a friend's television he left a note for him, that read, "John, I've burroughed your television!!"

Gwyn quickly settled down into college life, where he had a go at all the sports available to him. One of those sports was karate where he tried to emulate the King of Karate the great Chuck Norris. Unfortunately following a mis timed three step assault, Gwyn gave up, but by then his new nickname had been born, – "Chuck."

This was to be Chuck's only sporting failure, as over the next four years he was to establish himself as 1st team goalkeeper, played for both Welsh and British colleges football teams and then rugby league for the Welsh Students in the Student Rugby League World Cup in York in 1989 and later the Welsh Amateur team.

His determination and enthusiasm for all he does, saw him succeed in his first job as a PE teacher in Ysgol Y Cymer. This was followed by a Head of Department post at his current school, Croesyceiliog in Cwmbran, when only 25 years of age.

This goes to show that when Gwyn wants something he doesn't give in until he gets it, – isn't that true Katie!!!!

It was during those early teaching days that I had the fortune of sharing a palace of a house with Gwyn along with Cookie, Scoop and Magoo.

During those times we often visited friends in London and it was during one such journey, with Chuck driving, that a question was asked. – "Who were the famous brothers that played in England's winning World Cup team?" To which Chuck replied instantly – Bobby Charlton and Bobby Moore, Of course the famous "Bobby Brothers!!!!"

At that time Gwyn was also friendly with Joe and Lance, and strangely enough the three of them fell for three sisters living here in Cardiff. Unfortunately for the lads the girls lived at home with their very protective father.

Anyway, one evening the lads decided to try their luck and ask the father if the girls could come out.

First up to the house was Lance. He knocked the door and soon the father came and answered. Lance said "Hi I'm Lance, I've come to take Nance to the dance, any chance?" – Father thinks he's a decent looking chap and shouts upstairs, " Nance it's Lance he's come to take you to the dance" – down she comes and off they go.

Next up was Joe and he knocks on the door. The father again answers, and Joe says, "Hi I'm Joe I've come to take Mo to the show, can she go?" – Father has a look at him but thinks he too is a decent enough chap and shouts upstairs, " Mo it's Joe he's come to take you to the show, off you go. So they both leave.

Seeing all this Gwyn thinks he too will adopt the same tactics and knocks the door. When the father answers, Gwyn says, "Hi I'm Chuck" at this the father says "You're not taking my daughter anywhere!!!!"

One good thing about Gwyn is that he can take a joke, so can Kate mind, – she's taken Gwyn!!!

We all know about Gwyn's love for travel, be it camping and skiing in Europe with Kate or surfing with his brother Rhys in Hawaii, he is never happier than when he is out and about.

Indeed it's his love for New Zealand that brings us here today, as it was in the Kiwi Bar in Cardiff, he met Kate.

I wasn't there myself, probably at home writing poetry or something, but it wasn't long before he was telling us all that he'd met "THE ONE." – and he wasn't wrong was he.

I said earlier in my speech that I was green when I arrived in Cardiff as an 18yr old, – now 11yrs on and I'm still here and still green, but today it's green with envy. Katie you look absolutely fantastic today.

You thought you were lucky when you won that car in college, but believe me Gwyn, today is the day when you've really hit the jackpot.

All I can do now is wish you both all the happiness in the world.