Rugby legend and Zip World founder lend St David’s Day lunch true Welsh flavour

L to R: Alan Brayley, from the Business Club, Gareth Jenkins, Paul Gardner, from the Business Club, Sean Taylor from Zip World and Kevin Johns, who acted at MC at the event.

A giant of Welsh rugby and one of the country’s most go-getting entrepreneurs were guest speakers at the St David’s Day gathering of the Swansea Bay Business Club, for its lunch at Llanelli’s Parc Y Scarlets.

Gareth Jenkins, former coach of the national rugby side and Llanelli RFC legend, shared some of the many highlights of his sporting career with the audience, including memories of being part of the historic side that famously beat the All Blacks 9-3 at Llanelli RFC’s former home, Stradey Park, in 1972.

An audience of around 120 businessmen and women also heard Sean Taylor, co-founder of Snowdonia’s popular tourist attraction, Zip World, talk about a life of adventure and intrepid deeds. Before he set up Zip World, Sean was a Royal Marines Commando and a celebrity bodyguard. His business is an impressive Welsh success story, which has expanded year-on-year, since it was set up five years ago, and it is now valued at £45 million.

Master of ceremonies at the Business Club lunch was local favourite, Kev Johns MBE – the voice of Swansea Sound’s breakfast show, pantomime favourite and chaplain for Swansea City FC.

President of Swansea Bay Business Club, Paul Gardner, said: “The St David’s Day Swansea Bay Business Club lunch highlighted, very fittingly, stories of Welsh success, whether on the sports field, in the business sphere, or in entertainment. One of the strengths of our long-established business club is that it gives people who live and work in Wales, and who have a vested interest in seeing the Welsh economy prosper, a space to share our successes. We gather to learn from each other and to encourage those in business in Wales to be proud of each other’s achievements and to support each other to develop even further within our industries and workplaces.

“I am very pleased we could bring the club’s St David’s Day lunch to Llanelli. Swansea Bay Business Club is well established in Swansea and is happy to be branching out in the wider West Wales area. We are happy to welcome members and visitors from this industrious and inspiring part of Wales too.”

As well as networking opportunities and the chance to hear from top quality speakers, the lunch also served as a joint fundraising opportunity with proceeds raised on the day being split between the Club President’s nominated charity, the RNLI and the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme.