Bevan - his name will live on forever

7:54am Thursday 12th June 2008

Comments (22)   Have your say »

BRIAN Bevan's daughters have told of the pride felt for their record-breaking father more than 40 years after his sensational career came to an end.

Warrington Wolves' legendary Australian winger, who holds the try-scoring world record, is thought of as fondly today by supporters as he was when he touched down 740 times during a glorious Wilderspool career spanning 1945/46 to 1961/62.

And his magnificent achievements, including 16 international appearances for Other Nationalities, have recently received special recognition Down Under as part of year-long celebrations to mark Australia's 100th anniversary in rugby league.

Bevan's daughter Jeanette Lane has just returned from a month's stay in her father's homeland, where she was among the limelight of national media attention after Bev was named in Australia's Team of the Century at the Centenary Ball staged at the Royal Hall of Industries in Sydney.

Jeanette's elder sister, Jennifer Alldis, was unable to make the trip due to work commitments but followed the night-long televised unveiling of the Team of the Century from her Birkenhead home on the internet. The trip stirred fond memories of their father, who died aged 66 in 1991.

"To hear The winger of the century is' and then Dad's name was read out - I just burst into tears. I was absolutely overcome by it," said Jeanette, who was accompanied at the 1,000-guest ball with her husband Mike, while former Warrington players Harry Bath and fellow Team of the Century inductees Bobby Fulton and Andrew Johns were also present. They showed some footage of Dad making an interception and touching down.

"And then I had to go on stage to receive Dad's blazer, there was one for each player that was named in the Team of the Century. I hadn't planned a speech. I wanted to speak from the heart if Dad was selected, which we hoped he would be.

"It was highly charged with emotion. It was a national and hugely prestigious event that completely bowled us over.

"Harry Bath was there, which was lovely as he was a great friend of Dad's. He was nominated in the 100 but wasn't in the 17, he's been very poorly.

"And as I was tearful giving my speech, I looked down and I noticed he was tearful as well.

"When the presentation was finished, there were interviews to do with the media and a lot of people came over to say congratulations for my Dad.

"We spoke with Andrew Johns and his wife, Mal Meninga and Wally Lewis.

"It was a huge event and a fantastic occasion.

"To think that all these years later Dad is remembered with such fondness and such respect speaks for itself really."

And what would Bev have thought about all the fuss, which also included for Jeanette an appearance at a Kangaroos reunion dinner and a Team of the Century parade in front of 35,000 supporters ahead of the Australia versus New Zealand Centenary Test match at Sydney Cricket Ground on May 9?

Jennifer said: "He probably wouldn't know how to say he was, but he would be proud."

Jeanette added: "I'm sure he's looking down. I felt his presence very strongly on the night of the ball. He'd be as modest as ever but I know he'd be exceptionally proud.

"He was very shy, very modest, very retiring. Never would he want in any way to appear arrogant.

"And he was almost embarrassed at his own achievements that included the world record 796 tries - which came somewhere near 1,000 with charity matches, scoring seven tries in a match, and then five or six times it was five or six in a match.

"The record speaks for itself. I was bursting with pride on the night and I'm still bursting with pride.

"It's 16 years since we lost him but it certainly doesn't seem that.

"I think I can say with confidence that his name will live on in Rugby League forever and his record will never be surpassed. We don't say that because he's our father, we say it because the statistics speak for themselves.

"No-one has come anywhere near."