Graham Paul
Born 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.
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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 Sportmans 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.
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