Captain Beany

Captain Beany
Personal details
Born Barry Kirk
1954 (age 62–63)
Nationality British
Political party New Millennium Bean Party
Website www.captainbeany.com

Captain Beany (born Barry Kirk c. 1954)[1] is a Welsh eccentric and charity fundraiser in Sandfields, Port Talbot, Wales.

Biography

Kirk worked in the computer department of the British Petroleum chemical plant in Baglan, Neath Port Talbot. 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.[2]

In 2006, Beany appeared on the BBC programme, Let Me Entertain You.

In September 2008, Beany climbed Snowdon carrying baked beans in aid of cancer research.[3][4] 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.[1][5]

Eccentric of the year

In April 2009, Beany was awarded the title of "Great British Eccentric of the Year" by the Eccentric Club in London.[2][3] He also officially transformed his council flat into the Baked Bean Museum of Excellence, with British writer Danny Wallace presiding over the opening ceremony.[6]

In December 2009, he teamed up with other Port Talbot musicians to record a charity Christmas song.[7] He completed the Sports Relief Mile 2010 whilst pushing a tin of baked beans on his hands and knees.[8]

The Baked Bean Museum of Excellence in Port Talbot was featured in the 2010 book Behind The Scenes At The Museum of Baked Beans by author Hunter Davies.[9]

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.[10][11]

Political career

He has also been a candidate in local and general elections throughout Wales. He stood as the "Real Bean" candidate in Aberavon in 1992, coming last with 707 votes (1.8%). In 1997, he stood in Aberavon again, this time as an Independent, and came last again with 341 votes (1.0%). In 2000, he formed the New Millennium Bean Party, of which he is the sole member.[12] On this line in Aberavon in the 2001 election, he came sixth out of seven candidates with 727 votes (2.4%). In the 2005 general election, Beany gained 159 votes in Cardiff Central.[2]

He contested Aberavon again in the 2010 general election,[13] receiving 558 votes (1.8%), placing seventh out of eight candidates.[14] In the 2015 general election, support for Captain Beany more than doubled, to 1,137 votes (3.6%), good enough for sixth out of nine candidates. In the same years, Beany tattooed his head with baked beans.[15]

References

  1. 1 2 Turner, Robin (October 15, 2008). "Chocolate firm gives Captain Beany credit for his Crunch". Western Mail. Retrieved February 24, 2012.
  2. 1 2 3 Turner, Robin. Port Talbot’s Captain Beany’s in line to be The Great Eccentric of 2009, Wales on Sunday. Published March 29, 2009. Retrieved February 9, 2010.
  3. 1 2 Beans means a marathon effort to help charity, South Wales Evening Post. Published August 4, 2009. Retrieved February 9, 2010.
  4. ↑ Castle, Samantha. Snowdon set for baked bean charity challenge, Caernarfon Herald. Published September 8, 2008. Retrieved February 9, 2010.
  5. ↑ Bars are a sweet deal for Beany, South Wales Evening Post. Published October 14, 2008. Retrieved February 9, 2010.
  6. ↑ Wallace, Danny. Play and display, The Observer. Published April 5, 2009. Retrieved February 9, 2010.
  7. ↑ Denholm, Emma. Watch Captain Beany on his musical fundraising hit, South Wales Evening Post. Published December 10, 2009. Retrieved February 9, 2010.
  8. ↑ The Metro-Runners complete for Sport relief
  9. ↑ "Boost for Beany as book spreads word on museum". South Wales Evening Post. 18 June 2010. Archived from the original on 14 September 2012.
  10. ↑ "Long walk for charity". South Wales Evening Post. Archived from the original on September 12, 2012. Retrieved August 7, 2010.
  11. ↑ "The Keiran Jones appeal". Captain Beany.com. Retrieved August 7, 2010.
  12. ↑ Millard, Robin. Britain braces for Captain Beany's 'wind of change', Mail & Guardian. Published May 3, 2005. Retrieved February 9, 2010.
  13. ↑ Captain Beany, this is Wales
  14. ↑ The BBC-Election 2010
  15. ↑ http://www.itv.com/news/wales/2015-05-08/captain-beany-loses-out-to-stephen-kinnock-in-aberavon/
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