St Helen’s ArchivePreserving the past for the future

OT132

Clock

CIC

W A (Billy) Bowen

1890-1891

Commemorative clock, 1890-91 'Welsh Premiers' season. Brass dedication plate on front. Winding key tied to back. Length: 21" (53cm), depth: 6 3/4" (17cm), height: 13 1/2" (34cm).

This heavy slate commemorative clock was presented to Swansea forward Billy Bowen, captain of the ‘All Whites’, the 1890-91 Premier Team of Wales (P:29, W: 26, D: 1, L: 2), A public Testimonial Fund raised £86 15s 3d which was divided equally and given to the players in the form of gifts. Swansea RFC also presented each player with an inscribed pocket watch. This was the second successive season Swansea had emerged as 'Premiers' following their success in 1889-90. During Bowen’s 3 seasons as captain (1889-92) the club played 92 matches, winning 70, drawing 9 and losing just 11, and were ‘Premiers’ twice and runners-up in the third season. Billy Bowen was capped 13 times for Wales (1886-91) and Welsh captain once (1891). He played 213 matches for Swansea between 1882 and 1894.

Clock, W A Bowen, 1890-1981