IF you’ve been sitting up and paying attention, then you’ll appreciate that it is the Richard Burton 100 – a celebration of the birth of the internationally-renowned actor and ‘the voice of Wales’.
During the year, there are a whole series of events, with the action stepping up a gear next week with the release of the new film called Mr Burton.
Fortunately, I have something of an inside track on information about the celebrations as one of my pals is Griff Harries, a chap with more strings to his bow than many Olympic archers.
Griff is delivering a programme of Richard Burton Centenary Tours, which will be running until the end of the year.
Griff’s CV runs from musician, performer, lecturer, broadcaster, educator and arts administrator, with the most recent string to his bow being as a Green Badge Wales Tourist Guide.
Between stints on the SA Radio Live station, the former Swansea Sound broadcaster was able to explain more about Richard Burton 100 –
“The film Mr Burton is about to be released so it’s all big news at the moment. “Burton was born in November, 1925, and there are some big things planned for the end of the year as well.
“The tours are literally ‘selling like hot cakes’ – better than was ever envisaged.
“There is to be a tour especially for those with mobility issues and a BSL signed tour as well.”
The tours explore the landscapes that shaped Richard Burton’s life and career.
The tour visits key locations connected to the legendary Welsh actor and offers insights to his life in Pontrhydyfen, Taibach and Port Talbot.
Other Richard Burton 100 events include ‘The King of Pontrhydyfen’, a free-to-enter poetry competition paying tribute to the actor and his roots.
Budding poets are invited to capture the spirit of Burton, including his commanding voice, his poetic soul, and his deep connection to the Afan Valley and Port Talbot through the power of verse.
Finalists will be invited to present their work at a special event on July 8 at Blanco’s Hotel and Restaurant, Port Talbot, where the winner will be crowned in a fitting tribute to one of Wales’s greatest icons.
There will be three adult age categories: 18-20 years, 20-35, aged 35 and over.
Next month will see Angela V John discuss her new biography of Philip Burton, the teacher regarded as the father Richard Burton didn’t have.
Philip Burton (1904-95) was a talented writer and producer who saw the potential of his young protégé and helped propel him from Port Talbot to the London stage and on to Hollywood.
The biography is called Behind The Scenes: The Dramatic Lives of Philip Burton.
Angela V John will be in conversation with Professor Dai Smith to discuss the biography at The Tabernacle, Newton Road, Mumbles, 3-4pm on Wednesday, April 9
Angela V John will also deliver a talk about Behind The Scenes at the New Plaza in Port Talbot on Friday, April 25 (6pm).
Meanwhile, if you’re unable to make any of the Richard Burton 100 tours and would like to find out more about the actor’s early years in Pontrhydyfen and Taibach, Griff Harries is available to talk to groups and schools all this special year. Just contact the email address – griff.harries@gmail.com
You can find everything you need to know about Richard Burton 100 on the website at – https://richardburton100.org/
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AS Bob Hoskins was fond of saying in the 1995 BT advert, ‘It’s good to talk’.
You never know where chance conversations will lead.
There was a good example this week when a very random encounter led to a chat with a Swansea chap called Frank Austin.
The initial discussion was over the merits of a certain brand of tennis table (a long story which can be batted away for now).
The verbal ping-pong led to Frank revealing his occupation as an artist.
I had to confess that I hadn’t heard of him, but it was plain that I should have when he started reciting a list of the places where his works have been on show.
By any stretch of the imagination, Frank has enjoyed an interesting life.
Extensive travel has played its part in developing his artistic skills and he is able to use a wide variety of mediums to express himself.
His CV includes aerial rigging, welding, tree felling in California, busking in Europe, a building project in Spain, carpet fitting, carpentry and work as a library and classroom designer for schools and various institutes.
Most recently he has been expressing his love for his ‘home town’ of Swansea.
He has been concentrating on images from old Swansea, from the Victorian era, right up to the 1960s.
In some of his work, he’s taken old black and white photos and reinterpreted them with a splash of colour.
A visit to his website is a great trip down memory lane for lovers of ‘old Swansea’.
It’s worth remembering that I would have missed it all if I hadn’t followed the ‘It’s good to talk’ principle.
You can find out more about Frank Austin and his art on his website at – https://frankaustin.co.uk/
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