Mel Fry was a promising young wicket-keeper batsman who played for Glamorgan in 1945 in their wartime friendly against Learie Constantine’s XI at Barry Island. A few weeks later he also played in the Glamorgan Future team which met the Glamorgan Past team in a one-day friendly at the Barracks Field ground in Cardiff.
Mel played for cricket and rugby for Newbridge, and in early December 1945, the talented winger, signed professional terms with Swinton RLFC. However, the following week he badly broke his left leg within ten minutes of making his rugby league debut against Barrow at Swinton.
He subsequently returned to South Wales and continued to enjoy success with Newbridge CC before in 1949 being appointed as the groundsman at Pontardawe CC. The following year, Mel also played for the South Wales Cricket Association against the Glamorgan Club and Ground team at Clydach. He also played for Elba CC.
He was married in Kensington during 1956 and lived in the Home Counties for the rest of his life.
FRY, Melvyn Hugh.
Born – Newbridge, 22 August 1904.
Died – Worthing, 1 May 1989.
Batting and Fielding Record:
| M | I | NO | RUNS | AV | 100 | 50 | CT | ST | |
| Wartime | 1 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 11.00 | – | – | – | – |