Captain Beany, born Barry Kirk, is a Welsh eccentric and celebrity charity fundraiser in Sandfields, Port Talbot, Wales. Kirk worked in the computer department of the British Petroleum chemical plant in Baglan, Neath Port Talbot, but has been unemployed and claiming social security benefits for many years.
In May 1991, he changed his name by deed poll to Captain Beany. He began painting his face and bald head orange, donned a golden cape, pants, gloves and boots. To date, Captain Beany claims to have raised over £100,000 for charity through participation in various events, such as the New York Marathon.[1]
He has also been a candidate in local and general elections throughout Wales on the ticket of the New Millennium Bean Party, which he formed in 2000 and of which he is the sole member.[2] In the 2005 general election, Beany gained 159 votes in Cardiff Central.[1] In 2006, he appeared on the BBC program, Let Me Entertain You.[3]
In September 2008, Captain Beany climbed Mt. Snowdon carrying baked beans in aid of cancer research.[4][5] Later, in October, during the 2000s financial crisis, he registered the trademark "Credit Crunch" for use on chocolate bars. When Selfridges sold a similarly named product, Captain Beany earned a percentage of the sales under a licensing agreement.[6][7]
In April 2009, Captain Beany was awarded the title of "Great British Eccentric of the Year" by the Eccentric Club in London.[1][4] He also officially transformed his council flat into the Baked Bean Museum of Excellence, with British writer Danny Wallace presiding over the opening ceremony.[8]
In December 2009, he teamed up with other Port Talbot musicians to record a charity Christmas song.[9] He has recently completed the Sports Relief Mile 2010 whilst pushing a tin of baked beans on his hands and knees.[10]
Beany, Leader of the New Millennium Bean Party, contested the Aberavon constituency for the 2010 general election.[11] He received 558 votes, 1.8% of the vote, greater than that of the UK Independence Party candidate.[12]
The Baked Bean Museum of Excellence situated in Port Talbot, south Wales, is now featured in this years edition of 'Behind The Scenes At The Museum of Baked Beans' penned by eminent author, Mr. Hunter Davies. The Baked Bean Museum is only one of eighteen bizarre and extraordinary museum's in the United Kingdom that has graced this wacky museum's paperback.[13]
He also planned to walk nearly 460 miles around the borders of Wales and England for the Cieran Jones Appeal whilst conveying a plate of baked beans on toast. His planned 'BEANS ON TOAST-A-THON' was to take place in mid August 2010.[14][15]