The Valleys -

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53 Results

Sidney Gilchrist Thomas

‘These two young men, Thomas and Gilchrist of Blaenavon, did more for Britain's greatness than all the Kings and Queens put together.’ ( Andrew Carnegie)

A global hero of industry; in the 1870s, his experiments at Blaenavon Ironworks led to a boom in steel making that echoed around the world.

John Cynan Jones

Pentre-born John Cynan Jones conducted the Treorchy Male Choir for 22 years at more than 600 public performances.

R J Jandrell

This heroic volunteer helped to make the Atlantic safe during WW2

Cwmcarn born Royden Jandrell swam through the flooded lower deck of HMS Rodney, sealing off inundated areas to prevent his ship from sinking during the Battle of the Atlantic in May 1941. His heroic actions helped make the waters of the north Atlantic safe from German attack for which he was awarded the DSM.

Dafydd Williams

Shaper of the modern world

This shaper of the modern world drafted the first constitution of the French Revolution, assisted with writing the American Constitution and founded the Royal Literary Fund.

Senghenydd Community Heritage Champs

The scale of this event sent shockwaves around the world.

Four hundred and forty miners died at the Universal Pit, Senghenydd, in 1913 in the worst mining disaster to happen in Britain. A hundred years, on the Senghenydd Community Heritage Champions are committed to remembering these mining heroes.

William 'Mabon' Abraham

This trade union leader and Rhondda MP is best known for his role as negotiator in the Cambrian Colliery Dispute of 1911.

Sir Daniel Gooch

I look back upon the time spent at Tredegar as by far the most important years of my life... large works of this kind are by far the best school for a young engineer. (Sir Daniel Gooch)

Sir Daniel Gooch trained as an engineer under Thomas Ellis at Tredegar Ironworks. Together they pioneered steam railway locomotion in south Wales.

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.

Zephaniah Williams

Chartist Leader who was transported to Australia in 1840 for his part in the Newport Rising.

Blunt, bold speaking Zephaniah Williams held strong radical views and led Chartists from the Eastern Valleys to Newport during the Chartist Rising of 1839.

Arthur Linton

Champion Cyclist of the World - in 1894!

World champion cyclist Arthur Linton was as famous as Chris Froome and Bradley Wiggins in the 1890s, when cyclists from South Wales led the world of international cycle racing.

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