Clare Balding dedicates book to Eddie Butler’s widow

Sports broadcaster Clare Balding has dedicated her new novel to the widow of former Wales captain and respected commentator Eddie Butler.

Butler, who played for Wales 16 times between 1980 and 1984, and captained the side on six occasions, died in September 2022, aged 65, while on a charity trek in Peru.

Balding’s debut adult novel is set in the Monmouthshire countryside and tells the tale of Alex, whose life is turned upside down when she unexpectedly inherits a decrepit farm.

“It’s such a lovely place to represent, and it’s so easy to write about people who are, by their nature, kind and generous,” she said.

As well as his Wales caps, Eddie Butler was called up to the British and Irish Lions squad that toured New Zealand.

After retirement, he became a respected rugby broadcaster, and he and his wife, Sue, became friends with Balding.

The dedication in the novel reads: For Sue and in memory of Ed.

“I had the first copy of it in my hands and I took it and I gave it to [Sue], and I said ‘you might want to look at the beginning and you might want to read the acknowledgements as well. And, and we cried, a lot,” Balding told BBC Radio Wales.

Other tributes to Welsh rugby are also peppered through the story, with several legendary players having characters named after them – although they are all four-legged.

In the first chapter, readers are introduced to Jiffy, the Welsh terrier with a tendency to roll in sheep poo.

He was named after another former Wales international and broadcaster, Jonathan Davies, who Balding worked with and befriended while covering rugby league.

But the author admitted she had not yet told the real Jiffy about his furry namesake in her book.

“I need to let him know. I might just send him a message saying, ‘I’m going to be talking about you a lot Jiffy, because you’re the dog’, which I hope he takes in the correct way.”

The story also features a lamb named Barry John and another dog called G, for Gareth, but Balding says there is debate about which legendary rugby Gareth’s the dog is named after.

“It could be Gareth Edwards or Gareth Jenkins, you know, take your pick. And the character goes old school. Gareth Edwards,” she said.

The Welsh landscape plays a pivotal role in the book, becoming a character itself, says Balding.

She added she and Sue Butler did lots of walking in the area to help her try and bring the land and hills to life in the novel.

She also spent time with Colin and Tracey Evans, local farmers in Monmouthshire, so she could describe accurately the demands of the industry and issues faced by people living in the countryside.

“I hope it reflects how difficult farming life is and how much we should value farmers and what they do to protect our landscape. Also how hard they work, that things are always going wrong on farms and you’re constantly firefighting.

“It’s really, really hard for anyone to breakeven, let alone make money. So how do you do that if you’re not Jeremy Clarkson, coming in with millions already?”

Balding said she also wanted the book to celebrate Welsh community spirit and kindness.

“People help each other out. I think that’s particularly true in rural communities.

“It’s almost like a tribute to friendship and what people do for you, when you need it most, without you even asking.”