Peter Jackson: Big Stu would have loved the story of how umpire Edward tamed McEnroe

They came in their hundreds to send Stuart Gallacher off on his final journey, among them a retired dentist who once made headline news across the world in a very different theatre of sport.
Heaven knows Big Stu had his share of rows on and off the field during a Scarlet lifetime as player, captain, chairman, chief executive and, in his later years, as a pioneer of Europe, doubling up as a field general in the regions' fight against the WRU.
But for a contretemps on a truly global scale, not even he could match the furore which engulfed a former Llanelli wing on the centre court of Wimbledon one summer long ago.
Edward James was the umpire on the receiving end of the most notorious altercation ever witnessed at the All-England club.   John McEnroe's spoilt-brat reaction to James' calling a serve out provoked the brash American into his famous cry: ‘You cannot be serious.'
Like a true Scarlet isolated at Wimbledon as the air turned blue in what McEnroe called ‘the pits of the world', James never flinched.   He gave the player a public warning, then awarded a point against him ‘because you are rude'.
McEnroe's continuing rant and pathetic attempt to break his racquet earned him another penalty point for insulting the referee and a £750 fine.   Mr James, slightly stooped now as he is entitled to be at 85, sipped his cup of tea after Wednesday's memorial service and chuckled about what happened 33 years ago.
None of those who came from beyond Llanelli for the occasion would have had the faintest clue that the octogenarian mingling among them, a past president of Llanelli RFC, had once told McEnroe where to get off.    As one who loved a tall story, Gallacher would have wanted chapter and verse had the Grim Reaper not called him home far too soon at the age of 68.
The hearse entered the stadium through a guard of honour formed by the current Scarlets' squad.    Six ex-players – Anthony Buchanan, Rupert Moon, Tony Copsey, Gareth Jenkins, Stephen Jones, Robert Norster – carried the coffin and placed it on a catafalque astride the halfway line for the eulogies.
Former chairman Huw Evans acclaimed Gallacher as ‘the greatest Scarlet of all time', some claim considering the competition – Ivor Jones, Carwyn James, Ray Gravell, Phil Bennett to name but four.
As a sign from above, the rain held off, out of respect for Gallacher and the occasion.    When it comes to arranging a rugby funeral, Llanelli is in a class of its own.
*This article was first published in The Rugby Paper on November 2.