Queen disappears from painted communications cabinet

Richard Youle Local Democracy Reporter

An image of a sporting great rewriting the history books is the latest addition to a city’s many colourful communications boxes, but one depicting the late Queen Elizabeth has disappeared.

The new painted box near St Helen’s cricket and rugby ground, Brynmill, Swansea, portrays West Indian all-rounder Garry Sobers’ six sixes in one over while playing against Glamorgan for Nottinghamshire on August 31, 1968.

His feat at the seaside ground, against the bowling of Malcolm Nash, was the first time six maximums in one over had been struck in first-class cricket.

Uplands councillors wanted to help keep the memory alive by painting the box on King Edward Road, outside what used to be The Cricketers pub.

And since coming up with the idea, it has emerged that cricket’s days at St Helen’s are numbered due to regional rugby side the Ospreys moving there for the start of the 2025-26 season.

The box was painted by Swansea-based Fresh Creative Co with the Uplands Party’s four ward members funding it via their community budget.

‘Poignant’

“I think it is even more poignant given the plans for the ground going forward,” said Uplands Party councillor Stuart Rice.

Swansea Cricket Club’s stint at the St Helen’s crease began 149 years ago. It’s due to move to another ground in the city next year.

Last month, Ospreys chief executive Lance Bradley said the cricket club was not going to relocate until the end of next summer, although he said he hoped it could reschedule the final few fixtures to help the regional rugby side put in a new rugby pitch and stands before its fixtures got under way.

Glamorgan last played at St Helen’s in 2019. Two years later the county side warned the playing surface and outfield would not meet the required standard and operational infrastructure was lacking.  It has gone on to play some matches at The Gnoll, Neath, but won’t return to St Helen’s.

Speaking to BBC Radio Wales Sport in July, Glamorgan chief executive Dan Cherry said:  “It’s a great opportunity for the Ospreys, and in some ways it will be fantastic to see professional sport played there on a regular basis, but it is a sad day for Glamorgan cricket that we won’t be able to play at St Helen’s.

“But we’re committed to look at other options. We’re keen on looking at partnerships in west Wales.”

Painted communications boxes have added a touch of creative flair and colour elsewhere in Swansea.

However, one in Pontarddulais depicting the late Queen flanked by Paddington Bear and a corgi was replaced with a standard issue one.

A member of staff at nearby John Rickard Motor Factors Ltd said it was his understanding that it had to be replaced as part of traffic light signalling work last year.

“Unfortunately it had to be taken away – but maybe it could re-done in the future?” he said.

There are several painted boxes in Pontarddulais funded by ward councillors Phil Downing and Kevin Griffiths.

“It was Covid at the time, we decided to do it to put a smile on people’s faces,” said Cllr Downing.

He said the replacement of the one of the Queen was the first time it had happened.

“We’ve got no control over the upgrades of these systems,” he said.