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Gaynor Morgan, inventor born in Bridgend, Wales

  • Person's Name: Gaynor Morgan
  • Fame as?: Inventor of the Incostress incontinence pessary
  • Fame Hilite: Nurse and inventor who created the Incostress device to treat female stress incontinence.
  • Birth info: Gaynor was born in Bridgend, South Wales.
  • Body Text 2:

    Morgan opened her company in memory of her mother, who passed away in 2004 not long before Incostress reached market. The device won a gold medal at the international invention show in Geneva, and Morgan has since campaigned for better funding support for independent medical innovators.

  • Career Highlights:
    • Career Highlight: Born: Bridgend, South Wales
    • Career Highlight: Known for: Inventing the Incostress pessary
    • Career Highlight: Category: Scientists / Medical Invention
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  • External Profile Pic: https://www.famouswelsh.com/images/
  • Connection: Born in Bridgend, South Wales
  • Related Material:
  • Location String: Bridgend, South Wales
  • Connection Place Map: 51.5039,-3.5763
  • Comments:
    • Comment By: Welshwitch , This Comment: Device to prevent stress incontinence in women. The only reusable device in the world.
    • Comment By: Welshwitch , This Comment: Gaynor won a gold medal at the British inventors show at Alexandra Palace October 2007 for the device.
    • Comment By: Kashina , This Comment: Incostress (www.incostress.com) - An amazing product. It has changed my life.
Gaynor Morgan is a nurse and medical inventor from Bridgend, South Wales, best known for inventing the Incostress pessary, a reusable device for treating female stress incontinence. Morgan developed the device with her mother after her mother's own surgery for incontinence failed, spending over ten years perfecting the design. Incostress is worn internally and works by gently supporting the urethra, reducing involuntary urine loss without the need for surgery. Clinical evaluations have found it allowed a substantial...

Owen Teale, actor from North Cornelly, near Bridgend

  • Person's Name: Owen Teale
  • Fame as?: Actor from North Cornelly
  • Fame Hilite: Welsh character actor from North Cornelly best known as Ser Alliser Thorne in Game of Thrones and for his Tony Award-winning Broadway role in A Doll's House.
  • Birth info: Born 20 May 1961 in North Cornelly, near Bridgend, south Wales.
  • Body Text 2:

    Teale's two-decade run of television work spans everything from a 1985 appearance in Doctor Who to the 2023 series The Rig, opposite Iain Glen and Martin Compston, and the 2025 series Sandokan. He was cast as Ser Alliser Thorne in Game of Thrones at short notice, replacing another actor shortly before filming began, and went on to appear across four seasons of the show.

  • Career Highlights:
    • Career Highlight: Won the 1997 Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play for A Doll's House on Broadway.
    • Career Highlight: Played Ser Alliser Thorne in HBO's Game of Thrones from 2011 to 2016.
    • Career Highlight: Played Chief Constable Philip Osborne in the BBC drama Line of Duty.
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  • External Profile Pic: https://www.famouswelsh.com/images/
  • Connection: Born in North Cornelly, near Bridgend, and educated at Cynffig Comprehensive School in Kenfig Hill; he remains an honorary member of the Pyle and Kenfig Golf Club near his home area.
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  • Location String: North Cornelly, near Bridgend, Wales
  • Connection Place Map: 51.5333,-3.6913
  • Comments:
    • Comment By: DoneDeal , This Comment: Stacks of TV appearances including 'Hot Gold', 'The Conspiracy' in 2001, 'Cherry Orchard' in 2000, 'Belonging' in 1999, and more: 'Secret House of Death', 'Dangerous Lady', 'The Hawk' and Will Scarlet in 'Robin Hood'.
    • Comment By: RoyalExchange , This Comment: Owen Teale was spotted drinking in my local pub, The Royal Exchange, Davies Street, Brynmawr, Gwent, South Wales. (Shameless plug - Ed)
    • Comment By: Brilliant , This Comment: Mr. Teale is one of the best actors in the world today. A good deal of his work has been done for British TV. He did, however, win a Tony Award in New York for 'Best Featured Actor in a Play', for his work in 'A Doll's House', in 1997.
    • Comment By: owisped , This Comment: He grew up in my gran's street - he's from Cornelly near Kenfig Hill, Bridgend.
Owen Teale was born on 20 May 1961 in North Cornelly, near Bridgend in South Wales, the son of Roy and Louise Teale. He attended Cynffig Comprehensive School in nearby Kenfig Hill, where a teacher named Mr Davis first awakened his interest in acting, and went on to train at the Guildford School of Acting. He made his television debut in 1984 in The Mimosa Boys and appeared in Doctor Who the following year, before landing the role of Will Scarlet in the 1991 film Robin Hood alongside Patrick Bergin. Stage work brought...

Pam Ferris, actress from Aberkenfig, Bridgend

  • Person's Name: Pam Ferris
  • Fame as?: Actress from Aberkenfig
  • Fame Hilite: Played Ma Larkin in The Darling Buds of May, Miss Trunchbull in Matilda, and Aunt Marge in Harry Potter.
  • Birth info: Born 11 May 1948, Hanover, Germany; raised in Aberkenfig, near Bridgend, South Wales.
  • Body Text 2:

    Pam Ferris played Catherine Zeta-Jones' mother in The Darling Buds of May alongside David Jason, and appeared in the Harry Potter films based on J.K. Rowling's novels. Her stage work includes a 2007 Laurence Olivier Award nomination for The Entertainer at the Old Vic, and she has continued acting into recent years, returning to Call the Midwife in 2026.

  • Career Highlights:
    • Career Highlight: Played Ma Larkin in The Darling Buds of May (1991-1993)
    • Career Highlight: Played Miss Trunchbull in Matilda (1996) and Aunt Marge in the Harry Potter films
    • Career Highlight: 2007 Laurence Olivier Award nomination for The Entertainer at the Old Vic
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  • External Profile Pic: https://www.famouswelsh.com/images/
  • Connection: From Aberkenfig, near Bridgend, South Wales
  • Related Material:
  • Location String: Aberkenfig, near Bridgend, South Wales
  • Connection Place Map: 51.5333,-3.5833
  • Comments:
    • Comment By: Llynfi , This Comment: In spring 2007 appeared on TV in genealogy program tracing her roots.
Pam Ferris, from Aberkenfig near Bridgend, South Wales, is an actress born on 11 May 1948 in Hanover, Lower Saxony, Germany, where her English father, a policeman named Fred Ferris, was stationed with the Royal Air Force. Her mother, Ann Perkins, was Welsh, and after the family returned to the UK, Pam grew up in the Aberkenfig area, before the family emigrated to New Zealand when she was 13. She returned to the UK at 22 after a period working in theatre in Christchurch. She is best known for playing Ma Larkin, mother...

Peter Karrie, actor with a connection to Wales (Bridgend)

  • Person's Name: Peter Karrie
  • Fame as?: Actor
  • Fame Hilite: Welsh singer and actor best known for starring as the Phantom in The Phantom of the Opera.
  • Birth info: Born 10 August 1946, Bridgend, Wales, as Peter Karagianis.
  • Body Text 2:

    Karrie remains closely associated with Welsh musical theatre, regularly returning to Wales for stage and charity work throughout his career.

  • Career Highlights:
    • Career Highlight: Twice voted 'Favourite Phantom' by the Phantom of the Opera Appreciation Society, in 1994 and 1995, for his performances in The Phantom of the Opera
    • Career Highlight: Starred as Jean Valjean in Les Misérables and in leading roles including Fagin in Oliver! and Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof
  • Show Comment Form: No, don't show form
  • External Profile Pic: https://www.famouswelsh.com/images/
  • Connection: Born and brought up in Bridgend, South Wales.
  • Related Material:
  • Location String: Bridgend, Wales
  • Connection Place Map: 51.5042,-3.5766
  • Comments:
    • Comment By: neezyjones , This Comment: Voted the world's favourite phantom by the 'Phantom of the Opera appreciation society'.
Peter Karrie was born Peter Karagianis on 10 August 1946 in Bridgend, South Wales, and was brought up in Wales. He began his career as lead singer of the pop group Peter and the Wolves, before travelling to London, where he worked as a busker before landing his first stage role. Karrie went on to star in many of the West End's biggest musicals, including Les Misérables as Jean Valjean, Chess as Freddie Trumper, Evita as Che on UK tour, Annie as Daddy Warbucks, Oliver! as Fagin, and Jesus Christ Superstar as Judas...

Shane Greenhall, vocalist from Bridgend, Wales

Shane Greenhall, singer from Bridgend. Bridgend's 'Those Damn Crows' vocalist. From Bridgend's backyards to rock stages: the story of Shane Greenhall and Those Damn Crows. Those Damn Crows are a Welsh rock band bringing a fresh dose of energy and classic influences to the modern scene. Their story, however, isn't your typical rise to fame. It's a tale of childhood friends, musical journeys, and a chance encounter with some very vocal crows. The band's roots lie in the South Wales town of Bridgend, a place with a strong...