Graham
PaulBorn in Daniel Place, the son of Arnold and May, he
had an older sister, Gaynor, and later a brother, Trevor (now deceased), who also
played for the Pirates. Graham was educated at Lescudjack
and then the Penzance Grammar School, where he was an outstanding athlete. After
playing his first rugby match for our Colts as a 14-years-old scrum-half, he joined
the RAF at the age of 17 and played for Bedford, Nottingham, and for Notts, Lincs
& Derby. Games for the RAF and Coastal Command followed,
but his most important match took place on the 8th. June, 1957, when he married
his wife, Helena. |  |
They
have three sons – the oldest, John, being born on the weekend of the 1958
County Championship Final! In mentioning the 1958 Final,
although Cornwall lost to Warwickshire 16-8 at Coventry, John Reason from the
Daily Telegraph reported that Graham had ‘frightened Warwickshire half to
death’. Following the game a Rugby League ‘scout’ made an approach
to him, but the offer was turned down. Graham, who had
been in the RAF for seven years, and was a PTI stationed at St.Mawgan, was approached
once more later in the year, it being a time when he had to make a very difficult
decision. The words ‘Rugby League’ were taboo
in the Rugby Union world, and everything had to be worked out under a veil of
secrecy. In the event, Graham decided to sign for Hull Kingston Rovers, returning
then to Cornwall to play his 101st. and last game for the Pirates in a 3-all draw
at Penryn on the 22nd. November. On leaving the Memorial Ground, he told Peter
Michell of his decision, Peter being the first person he told. Leaving
the RAF in December, Graham played his first game for HKR on Boxing Day v York.
He went on to play over 200 first team games and became known as ‘The Cornish
Express’ – a nickname given him by TV commentator Eddie Waring.
Memorable moments in his career include one international v France, playing against
Australia in a combined Hull & HKR side, and, of course, playing in the 1964
Cup Final at Wembley When the Paul family returned to Penzance,
Graham and Helena ran the Sportman’s Arms for 21 years. Sadly, though, it
was a long time before the RFU relaxed regulations to permit Graham to help out
at the Pirates, but, once able to do so, he has given quite tremendous input,
helping initially to coach our Junior teams before proceeding to do an excellent
job looking after our grounds and surrounds. |
