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Famous people of South Wales

Chris Duffy, musician born in Cardiff, Wales

  • Person's Name: Chris Duffy
  • Fame as?: Singer / Songwriter
  • Fame Hilite: Co-founder of Waterfront, whose 1989 single "Cry" made them the first Welsh duo to reach the US top ten.
  • Birth info: Born and raised in Cardiff, Wales.
  • Body Text 2:

    "Cry" was recognised at BMI's 50th Anniversary Celebrations in Los Angeles as one of the most-played singles on US radio, and Waterfront were named BMI Songwriters of the Year in 1990. Duffy released a solo record on Polydor in 1992 before reuniting with Cilia in 2000, and the pair have continued releasing new material as Waterfront in the decades since, including the 2011 album Ghosts of the Good.
  • Career Highlights:
    • Career Highlight: Waterfront's "Cry" reached No. 10 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in 1989
    • Career Highlight: Named BMI Songwriter of the Year, 1990
    • Career Highlight: Released solo album All the Time in the World on Polydor, 1992
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  • Connection: Grew up in Cardiff, playing in local band The Official Secrets before co-founding Waterfront there with Phil Cilia.
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  • Location String: Cardiff
  • Connection Place Map: 51.4816,-3.1791
Christopher James Duffy grew up in Cardiff and cut his teeth in the local band The Official Secrets before teaming up with fellow Cardiff musician Phil Cilia to form the pop duo Waterfront in the 1980s. The pair were signed directly to EMI/SBK by Charles Kopelman and Marty Bandier, and later to Polydor Records, launching a career that would take them onto the American charts. Waterfront's biggest success came with the 1989 single "Cry", which reached No. 17 in the UK and No. 10 on the US Billboard Hot 100, making...

Chris Evans, (Sir) biotechnology entrepreneur born in Port Talbot, Wales

Chris Evans, (Sir) biotechnology entrepreneur born in Port Talbot, Wales
  • Person's Name: Sir Chris Evans
  • Fame as?: Biotechnology, entrepreneurship and biochemistry
  • Fame Hilite: Britain's most colourful biotech entrepreneur, dubbed 'The Welsh Wizard'.
  • Birth info: Chris was born in Port Talbot, Wales, on the 29th of November, 1957.
  • Body Text 2:

    Driving force behind Merlin Biosciences, which backs pharmaceutical and bioscience research firms throughout Britain, Evans grew up among the 'rough and tumble kids' of his Port Talbot council estate before going on to become a Chartered Scientist and one of the most prolific company-builders in UK biotechnology.
  • Career Highlights:
    • Career Highlight: Co-founded Merlin Biosciences, 1996
    • Career Highlight: Appointed OBE for services to biotechnology, 1995
    • Career Highlight: His companies have developed over 200 clinical medicines and products
    • Career Highlight: Established the UK Stem Cell Foundation and the Cancer Awareness Trust
    • Career Highlight: Knighted in 2001 for his pioneering services to bioscience, medical enterprise, and international trade
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  • Connection: Born in Port Talbot, South Wales, the son of a steelworker.
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  • Location String: Port Talbot, Neath Port Talbot, Wales
  • Connection Place Map: 51.5860,-3.7889
  • Comments:
    • Comment By: margaret , This Comment: Driving force behind 'Merlin' which backs pharmaceutical and bioscience research firms throughout Britain.
Sir Christopher Thomas Evans is widely regarded as one of Britain's most successful and colourful biotechnology entrepreneurs, sometimes nicknamed 'The Welsh Wizard'. Since the 1980s he has launched and supported more than fifty companies in the biotechnology sector, twenty of which have listed on six different stock markets. He is the co-founder of Merlin Biosciences, established in 1996, which grew into one of Europe's largest specialist biomedical venture capital and advisory firms, backing pharmaceutical and...

Christian Jones, Guitarist & Vocalist born in Swansea, Wales

  • Person's Name: Christian Jones
  • Fame as?: Guitarist & Vocalist
  • Fame Hilite: Swansea-born guitarist who has recorded and performed with Bonnie Tyler, Gladys Knight, Outkast and Bobby Brown
  • Birth info: Born and raised in Swansea, Wales (exact date not publicly documented)
  • Body Text 2:

    Jones studied at the Academy of Contemporary Music in London, graduating with honours and being named Student of the Year, before building a career as a touring and recording guitarist across the UK and, from 2001, in Atlanta, Georgia, where he became known for his versatile playing and distinctive Welsh accent among American collaborators.
  • Career Highlights:
    • Career Highlight: Graduated with honours from the Academy of Contemporary Music, London, named Student of the Year
    • Career Highlight: Relocated to Atlanta in 2001, becoming an in-demand session and touring guitarist
    • Career Highlight: Recorded and performed with Bonnie Tyler, Gladys Knight, Outkast and Bobby Brown
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  • Connection: Born and raised in Swansea, with early career ties to the Neath and Swansea music scene
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  • Location String: Swansea, Neath
  • Connection Place Map: 51.6214,-3.9436
Christian Jones was born and raised in Swansea, Wales, a city with its own strong musical pedigree, having also produced Bonnie Tyler and Badfinger. A child prodigy on guitar, he went on to study at the Academy of Contemporary Music in London, where he trained alongside players such as Guthrie Govan and Paul Gilbert and graduated with honours, being named Student of the Year for his talent. Early in his career Jones played and recorded with Welsh bands including Cameo and Dirty Fingers, based in Swansea, as well as...

Christopher Williams, artist with a connection to Wales (Maesteg, Neath)

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Christopher Williams He was commissioned by King George V to paint the investiture of Edward, Prince of Wales at Caernarfon Castle. He painted portraits of the Rt. Hon. Lloyd George and Sir John Rhys. During WW1 he painted the Welsh charge at Mametz Wood, it now hangs in the National Museum of Wales.

Colin Jones, sportsman with a connection to Wales (Gorseinon, Penyrheol, Swansea)

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Colin Jones Boxer of note. Defeated Kirkland Laing tp become the British Champion and went on to beat Mark Harris for the Commonwealth title too. He later went up against Henrik-Palm for the European Welterweight Championship, a match lasting just two rounds. Could have taken the World title but for a split descision from the judges!

Colin McCormack, actor from Penarth, Cardiff

  • Person's Name: Colin McCormack
  • Fame as?: Actor from Penarth, Cardiff
  • Fame Hilite: Penarth-born actor with a long association with the Royal Shakespeare Company.
  • Birth info: Born 2 December 1941, Penarth, Glamorgan
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    As well as his own acting career, McCormack taught at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, where his students went on to include Ewan McGregor, Daniel Craig and Damian Lewis.
  • Career Highlights:
    • Career Highlight: Long association with the Royal Shakespeare Company, 1967-2004
    • Career Highlight: Played Alan in the science-fiction series Chocky (1984)
    • Career Highlight: Played Kevin Masters in EastEnders
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  • Connection: Born in Penarth, near Cardiff, and educated at Penarth Grammar School.
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  • Location String: Penarth, Cardiff, Wales
  • Connection Place Map: 51.4362,-3.1725
  • Comments:
    • Comment By: gwendolyn , This Comment: He played the part of Sir Mador in the King Arthur film 'First Knight' with Sean Connery and Richard Gere.
Colin McCormack was born on 2 December 1941 in Penarth, near Cardiff, Glamorgan, the eldest son of a railway worker. He was educated at Kings College junior school in Cardiff and at Penarth Grammar School, before studying at Cardiff Art College and then training at the Central School of Speech and Drama in London. From 1967 to 2004, McCormack was closely associated with the Royal Shakespeare Company, appearing in productions ranging from a 1967 staging of 'Macbeth' to Edward Hall's 'Julius Caesar'. Beyond the RSC, he...

Dai Francis, Welsh miners' leader born in Seven Sisters, Neath, Wales

  • Person's Name: Dai Francis
  • Fame as?: Trade Unionist & Miners' Leader
  • Fame Hilite: General Secretary of the South Wales Area NUM (1963-1976) and first president of the Wales TUC.
  • Death info: Died 30 March 1981 at the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, aged 70.
  • Birth info: Born 5 February 1911 at Seven Sisters, Dulais Valley, near Neath, South Wales.
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    Francis was admitted to the Gorsedd of Bards at the 1974 National Eisteddfod under the bardic name "Dai o'r Onllwyn" in recognition of his support for Welsh-language culture. He died in Cardiff on 30 March 1981; his papers are held at the Richard Burton Archive, Swansea University.
  • Career Highlights:
    • Career Highlight: Became General Secretary of the South Wales Area NUM, 1963
    • Career Highlight: Became first president of the Wales TUC, 1974
    • Career Highlight: Admitted to the Gorsedd of Bards, National Eisteddfod, 1974
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  • Connection: Genuinely and deeply Welsh: born in the Dulais Valley coalfield, spent his working life among South Wales mining communities, and led the Wales TUC.
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  • Location String: Seven Sisters and Onllwyn, Dulais Valley, near Neath, South Wales
  • Connection Place Map: 51.7666,-3.6801
Dai Francis was one of the most significant Welsh trade unionists of the twentieth century. David "Dai" Francis was born on 5 February 1911 at Seven Sisters in the Dulais Valley, near Neath, South Wales, the son of a coal hewer, and followed his father down the pit at Onllwyn colliery in 1926, aged just fifteen. Francis rose through the ranks of the South Wales Miners' Federation, becoming chief administrative officer of the new National Union of Mineworkers' south Wales area in 1959 and its General Secretary in...