List of people associated with Penarth
- See also Category:People from Penarth
The following is a list of prominent and notable people associated with the town of Penarth in South Wales.
Politics and public service
- Lorraine Barrett AM (born 18 March 1950) is a Labour Co-operative Member of the Welsh Assembly for Cardiff South and Penarth. Lorraine lives in Penarth, is married to rock and roll promoter Paul Barrett and is the mother of Lincoln Barrett.
- Sir Alun Talfan Davies (22 July 1913 – 11 November 2000) was a Welsh politician, lawyer, writer and publisher, the brother of Aneirin Talfan Davies. Davies lived in Penarth all his life and died in the town.
- Gwilym Davies CBE (24 March 1879 – 26 January 1955) was a Welsh Baptist minister, who spent much of his life attempting to further good international relations through supporting the work of the League of Nations and its successor, the United Nations. He also established the Annual World Wireless Message to Children in 1922, and was the first person to broadcast in Welsh, on St David's Day 1923. Davies retired to Penarth and when he died his ashes were scattered in the sea at Lavernock Point.
- John Dixon (born 1951) is a Welsh politician and Chairman of Plaid Cymru. He stood for Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire constituency in the National Assembly for Wales election, 2007. Dixon lived in Penarth and was educated in the town.
- Sir Henry Lewis Guy CBE, FRS, (15 June 1887 – 20 July 1956) was a leading British mechanical engineer, notable in particular for his work on steam turbine design. Guy was born and educated in Penarth.
- Ralph Hancock (1893–1950) – Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother's favourite landscape gardener built gardens in the UK in the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s and in the United States in the 1930s.[1] A few are well known; the roof gardens at Derry and Toms in London[2] and the Rockefeller Center in New York,[3] the garden at Twyn-yr-Hydd House[4] in Margam and the rock and water garden he built for Princess Victoria at Coppins, Iver, England. Hancock lived in Penarth for most of his life.
- Sir John Hawkshaw (1811 – 2 June 1891), English engineer, was born in Leeds, Yorkshire and was educated at Leeds Grammar School. Hawkshaw was the architect and builder of Penarth Docks and he settled in the town after it was constructed.
- Harrison Hayter (10 April 1825 – 5 May 1898) was a British engineer, participating in many significant railway construction projects in Britain and many harbour and dock constructions worldwide, including Penarth docks.
- Clive Jenkins (2 May 1926 – 22 September 1999) – the British trade union leader who stated in Who's Who that his whole life was dedicated to "Organising the middle classes", which summed up both his sense of humour and his achievements in the British trade union movement, had a second home in the town.
- Constance Maillard (1849–1935) Woman politician and the first female chairman of the Penarth Urban District Council in 1924-25.
- Alun Michael JP MP (born 22 August 1943) – the Welsh politician, Labour and Co-operative Member of Parliament for Cardiff South and Penarth, and member of the UK's Privy Council lives in the town.
- Sir Archibald Rowlands GCB MBE (26 December 1892 – 18 August 1953) was a British civil servant. After serving as private secretary to three Secretaries of State for War, he was Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Air Production during the Second World War. He then worked in India and later acted as a special advisor to Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the Governor-General of Pakistan. Rowlands was born in Penarth and educated at Penarth Grammar School.
- Dr. Wilfred Edward Shewell-Cooper (1900–1982) was a pioneer British organic gardener and pioneer of no dig gardening. He was the author of Soil, Humus and Health (1975). Shewell-Cooper lived in Penarth during the early 20th century.
- John Smith MP (born 1951) – Labour party politician and former Member of Parliament for the Vale of Glamorgan was educated at Penarth County Grammar School. Member of the UK's Defence Select Committee between 2005 - 2007.[5]
- James Pyke Thompson (1846–1897) was an English corn merchant who is best known for his philanthropic work towards the people of Cardiff and Penarth in South Wales. Born into a wealthy family in Bridgwater, Somerset, Thompson joined his father as director of Spiller & Co., Cardiff, one of the largest milling companies in Britain. Thompson lived in Plymouth Road and built the Turner House Gallery to house his collection of paintings.
- Philip Weekes (born Philip Gordon Weekes in the village of Nantybwch, Monmouthshire 12 June 1920 died Penarth 26 June 2003) was a renowned mining engineer who rose to the head of his profession within the mining industry in Wales and beyond.
- Sir Edward Youde GCMG, GCVO, MBE (19 June 1924 - 5 December 1986) born in Penarth was a British administrator, diplomat and Sinologist. He served as Governor of Hong Kong between 20 May 1982 and 5 December 1986.
Armed Forces
- Lieutenant-General Sir Robert Fry KCB CBE is a British Royal Marines general, formerly Commandant General Royal Marines was born in Penarth.
- Patrick Gibbs (1916 – April 2008) was born in Penarth and died aged 92 best remembered as chief film critic of The Daily Telegraph from 1960 to 1986. But his own most dramatic moment came when he was a Royal Air Force Wing Commander based on Malta for three months during the summer of 1942 as a flight commander at the much-bombed but resilient island, which brought his Beaufort torpedo bombers within range of Axis convoys crossing the Mediterranean to Africa. Gibbs was awarded the DSO, DFC and Bar .
- Guy Penrose Gibson VC DSO and Bar DFC and Bar RAF (12 August 1918 – 19 September 1944) – leader of the Dambuster raid married his wife Eve, herself a Penarthian, at All Saints Church Penarth in 1940 and the couple lived for a time in Archer Road, where there is a commemorative plaque to his memory. Gibson was a keen golfer and a member of the Glamorganshire Golf Club in Lower Penarth.
- Samuel George Pearse VC, MM, (16 July 1897 – 29 August 1919) – was a Sergeant in the Royal Fusiliers and a recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. Pearse was born and educated in Penarth before moving to Australia with his family in 1911 after leaving school.
- Richard William Leslie Wain VC (5 December 1896 – 20 November 1917) – a Captain in the Tank Corps was a recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces, was born and educated in Penarth.
Sport
- Colin Jackson CBE (born 18 February 1967 in Cardiff, Wales) – a Welsh sprint and hurdling athlete of Jamaican, Maroon and Scottish ancestry, who now works as a sports commentator for athletics and television presenter lives in Penarth.
- Austin David George Matthews (3 May 1904 – 29 July 1977) was a cricketer who played for Northamptonshire, Glamorgan and England. Matthews was born in Penarth and played rugby for Penarth RFC.
- David Morgan - (born 24 May 1959) played for Penarth Rugby Club, before going on to play for Wales in 1977-1981.
- James "Jimmy" Nelson (7 January 1901 – 8 October 1965) was a Scottish international footballer who played for Cardiff City and Newcastle United in the 1920s and 1930s and captained the famous Wembley Wizards Scotland side of 1928. Nelson moved to Penarth in later life and eventually became a publican in the town after retiring from football.
- Frankie Prince (born 1 December 1949) is a Welsh former footballer who was born in Penarth.
- Jamie Robinson (born 7 April 1980 in Penarth, Wales) is a Welsh rugby union footballer who plays at outside centre for the Cardiff Blues and Wales. He attended Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Glantaf with younger brother Nick Robinson. He is known for his defence, blistering pace and ability to beat defenders.
- George Albert Rowles (1866 – 12 September 1922)[8] was a Welsh rugby union international halfback who played club rugby for Penarth RFC and Newport RFC. He won a single cap for Wales during the 1892 Home Nations Championship. He was the second player to represent Wales while playing club rugby for Penarth.
- Edward Sweet-Escott (27 July 1879 — 1 July 1956) was a cricketer for Glamorgan and England. He was a right-handed batsman and a right-arm off-break bowler. He was born in Brompton-Ralph and died in Penarth after living in the town for many years.
- Edward 'Ted' Vizard (7 June 1889 – 25 December 1973) was a Welsh footballer who became a club manager. He spent almost all his playing career at Bolton Wanderers. Vizard was born in Cogan.
- Bleddyn Williams MBE (born 22 February 1923, at Taff's Well, near Cardiff; died 6 July 2009, Cardiff), was a Welsh rugby union centre. He played in 22 internationals for Wales, captaining them five times, winning each time, and captained the British Lions in 1950 for some of their tour of Australia and New Zealand. Considered to be the nonpareil of Welsh centres he was robust in the tackle and known for his strong leadership and surging runs, he was often referred to as 'The Prince Of Centres'. Williams lives in Penarth.
- George Avery Young (June, 1866 – 21 January 1900) was an English-born sportsman who played international rugby union for Wales and cricket for Glamorgan. Young lived the latter part of his life in Penarth and died in the town.[9]
Entertainment
- Lincoln Barrett (born 1979), also known as High Contrast, is a successful drum and bass DJ and producer. Son of Lorraine Barrett the Welsh Assembly Member and Paul Barrett, Lincoln lives in Penarth.
- Paul 'Legs' Barrett was manager of Shakin' Stevens and the Sunsets for ten years until October 1977 and is well known countrywide as a rock and roll promoter, agent and impressario. He has also managed Jerry Lee Lewis's younger sister Linda Gail Lewis. Paul has lived in Penarth all his life and is married to Lorraine Barrett, the town's Welsh Assembly member.
- Danny Chang – the Oscar and BAFTA nominated film music composer, former hit recording artist and pop concert promoter has his home and recording studio on Beach Road in Penarth.
- Shân Cothi is a Welsh operatic singer and actress. She was born and raised, the daughter of a blacksmith in a tiny Carmarthenshire village. She graduated in Music and Drama from the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth. She has been honoured with Fellowships from both the University of Wales, Aberystwyth and the University of Wales, Lampeter. Cothi lives in Penarth.
- Rebecca Evans (born August 1963) the Welsh soprano opera singer from the village of Pontrhydyfen near Neath, Wales now lives in Penarth with her family.
- Mary Glynne (25 January 1895 – 19 September 1954), was a British film actress. She appeared in 24 films between 1919 and 1939. She was born in Penarth and died in London.
- Denys Graham (born 25 Jan 1895) – TV and film actor born in Penarth. He has appeared in films such as Zulu, The Dambusters and Dunkirk, also TV shows including Angels, Lovejoy and Rumpole of the Bailey.
- Jemma Griffiths (born 18 June 1975) is a singer-songwriter better known as Jem. She was born in Penarth where she attended Stanwell Comprehensive School and went on to attend Sussex University, obtaining a degree in law. Along with Guy Sigsworth, she wrote the song "Nothing Fails", which was later reworked by Madonna and appeared on her 2003 American Life album.
- Phil Jones – the professional bass player and electronics genius that founded the international company, with its headquarters in America, that bears his name Phil Jones Bass and makes expensive high end amplification for artists like Sting, Pino Palladino and Jimmy Page was born and brought up in Penarth.[10]
- David 'Fingers' Land – original bass player with 1970s chart band Racing Cars who had a top twenty hit with "They shoot horses, don't they?" has lived in Penarth all his life
- Ross Lovegrove (born 1958) – the internationally known industrial designer, best known for his pioneering design work on the Sony Walkman and Apple computers, was born and educated in the town and returns home frequently to visit local family members.[11]
- Martyn Joseph – was born in Penarth and is a Welsh singer-songwriter. In 2004, he won the Best Male Artist Category in the BBC Welsh Music Awards.
- Colin McCormack (December 1941 – 19 June 2004) – Actor and member of the Bristol Old Vic and the Royal Shakespeare Company, famous for his stage, television and film roles over fifty years including Macbeth (1988), The Tempest (1988), Two Gentlemen Of Verona (1999) and Julius Caesar (2002). He was also in the RSC's production of A Clockwork Orange (1990). His TV roles were numerous but included Dixon Of Dock Green (1955 and 1974), Z Cars (1966), Please, Sir (1970), The Sweeney (1975), The Good Life (1978), Yes Minister (1980), Martin Chuzzlewit (1994), Inspector Morse (1987), Casualty (2000) and Longitude (2000). He appeared in several films the latest ones being Let Him Have It (1991) and First Knight (1995). Colin will probably best be remembered by television audiences for his recurring role as Alan in the 1984 science fiction series Chocky and his 1991 stint playing Kevin Masters in EastEnders. He also tutored at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and his students included Ewan McGregor, Alistair McGowan and Daniel Craig. Colin died of cancer aged 63. He was born in Penarth and attended Penarth Grammar School.[12]
- Robert (Bob) Morritt (born 1944) – former Penarthian from 1948–1959. Attended Albert Road School and St.Cyres.Best known in North America for his involvement in the recording industry of Arizona. Recorded tracks at Ramsey Studios where Duane Eddy and the Rebels, Sanford Clark and Waylon Jennings all made their earlier recordings.Assisted with the development of [Bear Family Records|" CD titled "Rockin' And Boppin' in The Desert, Volume 2". Morritt has also authored several discographical works and is a successful author of Stones That Speak. Echoes From The Greek Bronze Age.also, Fragments a history of Appalachian music,also , Just For The Record a history of recorded sound,his latest book Wales and the Welsh People was published January 2011.
- Steve Parr (born 1952) – the multiple award winning record producer and sound engineer, UK pioneer of 5:1 and 6:1 sound recording and owner of successful recording studios in London and Austin, Texas was born in Penarth and educated at Penarth County Grammar School. Originally the keyboard player with 1970s Penarth based Glamrock band Ingroville followed by a stint with Arista recording artists Burlesque, Steve has recently recorded the themes and soundtracks for TV programmes such as CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Primeval and films like St Trinian's, Fade to Black and over 300 similar projects. Steve is also the Vice Chairman of the Music Producers' Guild of the UK. In the popular music arena Steve has recorded artistes such as Natalie Imbruglia, Bryan Adams, The Who, Iron Maiden and Super Furry Animals as well as acting as music director and senior sound engineer at the John Lennon and Nelson Mandela tribute concerts.[13][14][15]
- Joseph Parry (21 May 1841 – 17 February 1903 ) – a Welsh composer and musician, born in Merthyr Tydfil. He is known best as the composer of the haunting Myfanwy, much loved by male voice choirs and the hymn Aberystwyth. Parry lived most of his later life in Penarth and is buried in St Augustine's churchyard.
- Shakin' Stevens – also known as Shaky (born Michael Barratt, 4 March 1948, in Ely, Cardiff, Wales) the Platinum selling Welsh rock and roll singer and songwriter, who has the distinction of being one of the top selling UK singles artist of all time, with thirty four Top 40 records and the biggest selling UK male artists during the 1980s, was based in Penarth during the 1960s and early 1970s.
- The Sunsets – Shakin' Stevens's original backing band was formed from mostly Penarth resident musicians, including long serving bassist David 'Batman' Goddard and guitar doyen Cyril 'Cyd' Petherick. The renowned 1950s purist rock and roll band is still based in the town and tours regularly, now fronted by Shaky's younger nephew Levi Barrett.
- The Weapons are an indie/punk band with multi national musicians including two from Penarth, Justin and Georgia Griffiths - the siblings of solo artist Jemma Griffiths.
- Steve Young (Born 1942) – Radio DJ born in Penarth, Steve's family emigrated to Canada while he was still in his teens. He grew up in Medicine Hat, Alberta, and began his radio career working the evening shift at radio station CHAT in 1964. The following year he returned to the UK and applied for a position at Radio Caroline. He joined Radio Caroline South in August 1966. Steve presented the marathon midnight – 6 am show and stayed with the station till its demise. Young now owns a popular radio station in Alberta Canada.
Literature and media
- Gillian Clarke was born on 8 June 1937 in Cardiff and is a poet, playwright, editor, broadcaster, lecturer and translator (from Welsh).[16] She was brought up in Cardiff and was educated and lived in Penarth.
- Adrian Goldsworthy (born 1969) is a British historian and military writer. Goldsworthy was educated at Westbourne School, Penarth. Later, after studying ancient and modern history at St John's College, Oxford, he completed a D.Phil in ancient military history from Oxford University in 1994, using his doctoral thesis in his first book, The Roman Army at War 100 BC - AD 200. Goldsworthy was a Research Fellow at Cardiff University for two years and has taught in different university departments where he has produced various articles on Greco-Roman warfare.
- Martin Hinds (10 April 1941; Penarth, Wales – 1 December 1988[17]) was a scholar of the Middle East and historiographer of early Islam . He co-authored with Patricia Crone the book God's Caliph : Religious Authority in the First Centuries of Islam
- Eric Linklater (8 March 1899 – 7 November 1974) was a successful writer, known for more than 20 novels, as well as short stories, travel writing and autobiography, and military history. Linklater was born in Penarth.
- Denis Alfred Peter Philp (10 November 1920 – 5 February 2006), was a Welsh dramatist and antiques expert, best known for his television series, Collectors' Club. Philp lived in Penarth.
- Frank Roper (12 December 1914 – 3 December 2000) was a British artist and sculptor. He was one one of the most prolific post-War artists undertaking commissions for churches and cathedrals in England and Wales[18] including works for Durham Cathedral, St David's Cathedral, Pembrokeshire, Peterborough Cathedral and Llandaff Cathedral. With his wife, Nora Ellison, he made architectural glass and stain glass windows. In addition to religious commissions, Roper sculpted a wide variety of figures for himself, including nudes, bulls, birds and more abstract works. He also made animated sculpture, such as "singing" fountains and water clocks. Roper was also a potter and a calligrapher. He was awarded the MBE in 1991 for his services to art. Roper retired to Penarth in 1973 and lived there until his death.
- Richard Short (29 December 1841, St Ives, Cornwall – December 16, 1919) was a Cornish artist who painted many scenes in and around Penarth.
- Alfred Sisley the French Impressionist painter famously stayed in Penarth in 1897,at which time he married his long-term companion Eugénie Lescouzec. Sisley creating several landscape paintings of the cliffs and coast during his visit.[19]
- Andrew Phillip Smith (born 1966) is a Welsh writer who has so far specialized in non-fiction in the area of Gnosticism and early Christianity. He grew up in Penarth, and attended the University College of Wales, Swansea. He now lives in California with his wife and son. His published works include The Gospel of Thomas: A New Version Based On the Inner Meaning (Ulysses Books, 2002), The Gospel of Philip: Annotated & Explained (Skylight Paths, 2005) and The Lost Sayings of Jesus: Annotated & Explained (Skylight Paths, 2006). He also runs the small press Bardic Press and has contributed forewords to their books.
- David Sullivan (born 1 February 1949) – the notorious "Private shops" pornography baron, newspaper proprietor and part owner of Birmingham City FC was born and educated in Penarth. He graduated in Economics from Queen Mary College, University of London. Since 1986 he has been the owner of the Daily Sport and Sunday Sport. In 2004, Sullivan was named by the Sunday Times as Britain's 68th richest man, with assets valued at over £500 million.[20]
- Professor Jim Wiegold (15 April 1934 – 4 August 2009) was a Welsh mathematician. He earned a PhD at the University of Manchester in 1958, studying under Bernhard Neumann, and is most notable for his contributions to group theory. Professor Weigold died in Penarth.
- Urien Wiliam (7 November 1929 – 21 October 2006), was a noted Welsh novelist and dramatist. Wiliam was born in Barry and lived and died in Penarth.
References
- ^ The Ralph Hancock website
- ^ Derry and Toms garden
- ^ Rockefeller garden
- ^ Margam garden by Hancock
- ^ John Smith at Theyworkforyou
- ^ Starmer-Smith (1977), p. 13.
- ^ The Pit and the Pitch Walesonline 09-12-2005
- ^ George Rowles player profile scrum.com
- ^ Cricketarchive.com Player profiles
- ^ Phil Jones Bass
- ^ Ross Lovegrove
- ^ Colin McCormack obituary
- ^ Steve Parr at IMDB
- ^ Hear No Evil Studio, London
- ^ Steve Parr at Studio Expresso
- ^ Carcanet Press - Gillian Clarke
- ^ Edmund Bosworth. Martin Hinds 1941-1988." Bulletin (British Society for Middle Eastern Studies), Vol. 16, No. 1. (1989), pp. 118–120.
- ^ Peter Wakelin, (2004), "An Art-Accustomed Eye", National Museums & Galleries of Wales, ISBN 978-0-7200-0555-4
- ^ Jones, J. Alfred Sisley: Impressionism on the Welsh Riviera, The Guardian, 12 November 2008. Retrieved 2011-10-20
- ^ David Sullivan article in The Times