Local Heroes and Characters
Arwyr a Chymeriadau Lleol
Arwyr a Chymeriadau Lleol
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War Heroes
Mr Arthur Evans
Arthur Evans was the Community Policeman and Air Raid Warden during World War Two.
Arthur's wife, Irene, was a cook for the Llewellyn family of Baglan Hall. Here are Arthur, Irene and their daughter, Judith in 1949.
Sporting Heroes
Martin Rees
Martin Rees
Martin Rees is a retired steel worker living in Baglan, Port Talbot.
He holds 59 world records. One of his biggest achievement is breaking the 10km World Record for men over the age of 60. He broke the record in Cardiff in 2013, completing the 10km course in 32 minutes and 48 seconds.
He can run a mile in just over 5 minutes. He achieved his first World Record when he was 45 years old. His aim has been to break a number of records for his age category, M60-64 (men aged 60 to 64).
Mr Rees did not start running until he was 37, but now trains seven days out of every eight. "Everybody's got one little hidden talent and they don't know what it is," he said.
Actors
Michael Sheen
Michael Sheen
Michael Sheen was born on 5th February 1969. He was brought up in Baglan and went to Glan Afan Comprehensive school.
Michael is a keen charity worker. He has taken part in a number of charity football matches, most notably captaining the winning Soccer Aid 2010 team at Wembley Stadium, as well as appearing in the 2012 and 2014 matches.
He is a patron of the British Independent Film Awards, an ambassador for the Dylan Thomas Prize and vice-president of Port Talbot Town F.C. In October 2018, Sheen sponsored a women's football team in Wales. which had sought sponsorship from celebrities who were from the region.
In December 2021, Sheen announced that he would be giving all of his future earnings to charities, declaring himself a "not-for-profit actor.
Rob Brydon
Rob Brydon
Robert Brydon Jones MBE is a Welsh actor, comedian, impressionist, presenter, singer and writer. He was born on 3 May 1965 in Baglan, Port Talbot.
In 2003, he was listed by The Observer as one of the 50 funniest acts in British comedy. He spent six years as a DJ on BBC Radio Wales.
He supports the following charities:
CARE, Children in Need, Comic Relief, Great Ormond Street Hospital, Oxfam, Prince's Trust. Willow Foundation
Paul Potts
Paul Potts
Paul Potts (born 13 October 1970) is a Welsh tenor from Baglan. In 2007, he won the first series of ITV's Britain's Got Talent with his performance of "Nessun dorma".
Paul Potts has raised thousands of pounds for various charities across the world. In 2013, he took part in a 190-mile charity walk to raise money for children in Haiti.
Artists
Andrew Vicari
Andrew Vicari
1932 - 2016
Andrew Vicari was a famous Welsh painter. He was particulary famous for painting portraits. He was born in Port Talbot. He was evacuated to Aberdare during WW2. At age 12 he won a gold medal in the National Eisteddfod. Andrew spent most of his life living in France.
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