THE Ken Jones committee members were out in force last weekend, raising £350 for the appeal to build a statue to honour the famous Gwent sportsman.

Blaenavon town councillors Cllr Stuart Evans, Cllr Alan Jones, Cllr Pauline Whitcombe and Cllr Brian Whitcombe joined the headteacher of BlaenavonHeritage School, Debbie Woodward, in raising money for the Ken Jones statue appeal.

The group collected money at Rodney Parade, Newport, before the Dragons vCavalieri Prato game on Saturday.

Many people were happy to share their memories of Ken, who as well as being an Olympic athlete and rugby international, was a teacher at Newport High School.

This brings the appeal total to £12,643.25.

Although this is a long way from the £80,000 which is needed for the statue, to be made by sculptor Les Johnson, there is a host of fundraising events planned for the coming months.

Blaenavon singer Cai Williams will be performing on February 18 in Blaenavon Workingmen’s Hall at 7pm.

Tickets are on sale in the hall, the Heritage Centre and from FOY Estate Agents.

There will also be a social evening at Blaenavon RFC on Saturday, April 21, with artist Richard Beavis.

Chairman of the committee Cllr Stuart Evans said: “I would like to express my sincere thanks to everyone who took part, especially the kind people who donated so generously, none more so than the gentleman who made a donation of £102 via a cheque.”

● To donate, cheques must be made out to ‘Ken Jones Memorial Fund’ and posted to the care of Lewis Freeman at 52 Thornhill Close, Upper Cwmbran, Torfaen, NP44 5TQ.