Mr Burton

[Pacemaker]

Just watched this at Port Talbot Reel cinema, been released a week earlier in Port Talbot.
Really enjoyed, can't fault anything with Toby Jones starring. The CGI is a bit crap but the acting is first class, typical small town boy does good movie but enjoyed it.

 

[Darran]

Good to hear.
We plan on seeing it.
My wife has had a poem accepted for the 100 Poems for Rich book released later this year to celebrate what would have been his 100th birthday.

 

[Pegojack]

One of my all time heroes, such a shame he turned to booze as a crutch in later life and was then taken from us too early.
Hope the film is still on in Port Talbot when I'm over to see the Hull match, it would be a blast to see it there.
Hey Darran, you can take me in your limousine.....

 

[Darran]

One of my all time heroes, such a shame he turned to booze as a crutch in later life and was then taken from us too early.
Hope the film is still on in Port Talbot when I'm over to see the Hull match, it would be a blast to see it there.
Hey Darran, you can take me in your limousine.....

Of course you can.
Seriously though Richard was good friends with my wife’s mother who I never knew as she died when my wife was 11,there could have been more to the story had she lived,she studied art in Toronto in the late 50’s early 60’s where my wife was born and when she came back to Port Talbot,Richard presented her with an award.
We’ve also got a copy of Taibach Youth Club magazine from 1972 which mentions my wife’s mother and Richard.
I’ve also been studying/researching local history in Port Talbot Library where they’ve got Port Talbot Guardians going back to the 1940’s. I’ve got some amazing cuttings/articles which I shall be emailing you shortly.

On a side note BBC4 are showing old Michael Parkinson interviews and a few weeks ago they showed the Burton interview,it was only on for 45 minutes and he must have smoked 10 fags.

 

[Pegojack]

Yes, I saw that Parkie. My mother's claim to fame was that she grew up in the same street as Tony Hopkins, Tanygroes St. in Port Talbot, but she was a few years older, so she just knew him as the baker's little boy, always playing on his bike at the end of the road.

 

[Pacemaker]

It does show Burton for the flawed character he was, warts and all, and the film gives from what i have previously read an accurate account of his upbringing and the challenges he faced.

Unfortunately with his mother dead by the time he was 2 and a drunken father (with a magnificent performance by Steffan Rodri) of ten children he didn’t stand much of a chance.

His sister whom he adored is shown in a very good light.

Burton is played by Harry Lawtey whose brother George was a coach/analyst at the Swans under Luke Williams.

 

[Darran]

This is one of the cuttings I had from Port Talbot Library.

 

[Swanjaxs]

Was Richard Burton a Jack? Anyone know?...

 

[swan65split]

Him and Liz often visited the house across the road from my wifes parents, who were friends of the cple that lived there, i saw them just the once , stunning for Liz is an understatement. ........no not seeing me, she was out of this world.

 

[swan65split]

Was Richard Burton a Jack? Anyone know?...

More a rugby man.

 

[Darran]

More a rugby man.

Indeed,so much he took Liz to watch The Wizards.

 

[Darran]

Oh and here’s his rugby shirt, circa 1941/2nwhen he was the captain of the Port Talbot Secondary School First XV in Taibach.