The Valleys -

Icon Key

Military Heroes

Fighters for Justice

Heroes with Heart

Heroes of Faith

Boxing Heroes

Rugby & Football Heroes

Cycling/Motorcycling Heroes

Other Sporting Heroes

Industry Heroes

Science Heroes

Technology Heroes

Shapers of the Modern World

Music Heroes

TV, Stage & Screen Heroes

Fashion Heroes

Literature Heroes

Fine Art Heroes

53 Results

Glyndwr Michael

The Man Who Never Was helped to dupe the Germans about the invasion of Sicily during WW2.

In 1943 the body of Aberbargoed born Glyndwr Michael was released from a British submarine into the sea off the Spanish town of Huelva in a plot to confuse the German forces.

Richard Burton

Wales' most famous Hollywood superstar.

This Hollywood superstar who appeared in 62 films and was nominated for 7 Academy awards came from the mining village of Pontrhydyfen.

Elizabeth Andrews

This sufragette cared passionately about women's rights, becoming a heroine for thousands of miners' wives as her campaigning secured pit head baths.

One of the most influential female political activists of the early 20th century.

Thomas Dadford Jnr

Dadford was one of the early canal pioneers whose who engineered the Monmouthshire, Brecknock and Abergavenny and Neath Canals.

Dadford was one of the early canal pioneers whose who engineered the Monmouthshire, Brecknock and Abergavenny and Neath Canals. His expertise revolutionised the science of civil engineering and played a major part in the industrial development of Wales.

Michael Sheen

Passionate about his home town of Baglan, Sheen produced an epic piece of street theatre there in 2011 - The Passion.

Mad Jack

'When eternity looks you in the face, you may as well go at full speed to meet it!' (Mad Jack from Pontypool)

This heroic volunteer tested the first train to run over the Crumlin Viaduct in 1857.

James J Davies

James J Davis, or 'Puddler Jim' as he liked to be called, emigrated to America from Tredegar and became United States Secretary of Labor in 1921. He signed his name as James J. Davies - the Welsh way - even though his surname had been changed on immigration to Davis!

Charlotte Guest

Born into the English aristocracy, Lady Charlotte Guest wasn’t an obvious candidate as a translator of medieval Welsh. But within 13 years of marrying John Josiah Guest she had moved to Dowlais, had 10 children, learned Welsh and translated the tales of the Mabinogion. (Angela Elniff-Larsen)

Influential ironmaster's wife who became one of the best known women in 19th century Wales.

Molly Parkin

'This extraordinary product of the Garw Valley: a slip of a girl who stormed the bastions of London's bohemia' (Lyn Howells)

This talented Garw Valley girl became editor of Harpers and Queen. She returned to painting in the 1990s and her work is now inspired by Celtic landscapes, especially around Pontycymer. In 2012 she was awarded a Civil List Pension by the Queen for her services to the arts.

Howard Winstone

'Children born in the tough valleys town were so angry that they came out with their fists clenched!' (Eddie Thomas (Winstone's trainer))

A young man from Merthyr, who had lost three fingers in a factory accident, may seem an unlikely candidate for a world champion boxer. Yet that’s exactly what happened to Howard Winstone who became bantam weight world champion in 1968.

First Previous 1 2 3 4 5 ... Next Last