This is a reunion photo celebrating the Centenary of Machen Cricket Club, around 1977, where several stalwarts attended. It is taken at Lower Machen looking towards Machen Plas. On the front bench to our left is Don Harris, teacher at Bedwas Comprehensive ("The World is Round") and on the right Harold Cooper, the long-serving Chair of Bedwas Rugby Club. To the right of Harold Cooper is Dilwyn Evans, another larger-then-life character, who lived in the Pontypool area.

Harold Cooper was a very significant character in the history of Bedwas and Machen. From Yorkshire, he lived in Trethomas with his wife Marion. Apart from being an excellent cricketer, Harold was a scientist at the Trethomas Coke Plant, Justice of the Peace and Chair of Bedwas RFC. He had an incredibly dry humour.