MP welcomes Burton Diaries back to Port Talbot
25th October 2012
Aberavon MP Dr Hywel Francis will tomorrow co-host the launch of the Richard Burton Diaries at Port Talbot tomorrow.
Dr Francis said
‘I am very pleased to co-host with Mr Martin Grimes, Head of Dyffryn School the Port Talbot launch of Professor Chris Williams’ Richard Burton Diaries, published by Yale University Press.
Ever since I was elected to 2001 I have felt that the great screen
and stage actor, Richard Burton needed to be properly recognised in his home
town and the wider locality. I was greatly encouraged by his widow Sally
and by my friend Graham Jenkins, Richard’s brother.
We now already have the Richard Burton Portrait Bench at Cwmafan, the Richard Burton Trail soon to be extended to Taibach, the Richard Burton Annual Lecture and the Richard Burton Archives and Research Centre at Swansea University.
Much of this has been achieved as a result of the growing cooperation between Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council and Swansea University and most importantly the support from Richard Burton’s family.
We now have the publication of Richard’s diaries and launched in Port Talbot in his old school, now called Dyffryn Lower School.
It will be very special occasion with family and school-friends present and there will be readings from his diaries by present-day pupils.
