Senedd pays tribute to Richard Burton on centenary of his birth

Aberavon MS David Rees led the commemoration, describing Burton as a trailblazer for aspiring actors, an inspiration to people across Wales, and a global icon whose legacy continues to resonate.

“On 10 November, 1925, Richard Walter Jenkins Jr was born in his family home in Pontrhydyfen,” Mr Rees told Members. “His father was a miner. His mother worked in the local pub, the Miners Arms. As the 12th of 13 siblings, he grew up in a Welsh‑speaking household until his mother, Edith, died tragically when he was just two.”

Burton was raised by his sister Cecilia and her husband in Taibach, in a community shaped by coal, steel and chapel life. His talent was spotted at Port Talbot Secondary School by teacher Philip Burton, who became his mentor and whose surname Richard later adopted.

“Richard’s two passions were acting and rugby, and it was the former in which he truly excelled,” Mr Rees said. “Performing in local plays and eisteddfodau, he developed his acting skills and built a strong reputation. Following his time at Oxford University, he began a professional career on stage across the UK before moving into film, where the world became aware of his talent.”

Burton went on to become one of the most recognisable actors of his generation, nominated for an Oscar seven times and starring in films including Cleopatra, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? and The Spy Who Came in from the Cold.

Despite his international fame, Mr Rees said Burton remained deeply connected to his roots.

“He retained strong links with Port Talbot, proudly promoting his Welsh identity internationally and returning regularly to Pontrhydyfen – the one place where he felt he truly belonged,” he said.

Marking the centenary, Mr Rees told the Senedd it was fitting to honour Burton’s achievements and his pride in being Welsh.

“Richard would have been 100 this week, but he sadly died well before his time at the age of just 58. A short life, but a great legacy. We will never forget that talent or that voice – and what a memorable voice. Thank you for everything, Richard.”

#aberavon #actor #davidReesMs #film #pontrhydyfen #portTalbot #richardBurton #richardBurtonCentenary #senedd #taibach

Four Neath Port Talbot vape shops shut down in crackdown on illegal sales

A District Judge at Swansea Magistrates Court approved three‑month closure orders against:

• Vape Land, Commercial Road, Taibach
• Vape Zone, Queen Street, Neath
• Classic Vape, Station Road, Port Talbot
• Pontardawe Vape, James Street, Pontardawe

It is the second time in six months that Vape Land has been issued with a closure order.

Pattern of illegal sales

The court heard that test purchases and inspections over the past two years had repeatedly found counterfeit cigarettes, non‑tax‑paid tobacco and oversized or non‑compliant vapes on sale.

In September, joint inspections by South Wales Police, Neath Port Talbot Council Trading Standards and Waste Enforcement Officers led to seizures of vapes, leaf tobacco and cigarettes. Further complaints were also received about sales to under‑18s.

Despite being notified of the council’s intention to apply for closure orders, the owners of Vape Land, Vape Zone and Pontardawe Vape did not attend their hearings. Classic Vape’s new owner contested the application, but the judge accepted the council’s evidence that the business had changed hands repeatedly following inspections.

What Trading Standards do

Trading Standards teams work to protect consumers and communities by tackling illegal, unsafe or unfair trading practices. Their work includes:

• Carrying out test purchases to check if shops sell age‑restricted products like tobacco, alcohol or vapes to under‑18s
• Inspecting premises for counterfeit or non‑compliant goods
• Seizing unsafe or illegal products, including oversized or disposable vapes
• Taking enforcement action through the courts, including closure orders
• Advising businesses on compliance with consumer protection laws

Residents can report concerns about illegal sales to their local council’s Trading Standards team.

Wider crackdown

The closures come just days after Swansea Magistrates extended closure orders on vape shops in the city, underlining a wider regional clampdown on illegal sales.

Since June 2025, the sale of disposable single‑use vapes has been banned across the UK. The ban was introduced to tackle environmental concerns and to protect children and young people, with many illicit products found in child‑appealing packaging and flavours.

Council response

Cllr Cen Phillips, Neath Port Talbot Council’s Cabinet Member for Nature, Tourism and Wellbeing, said:

“Trading Standards work hard at protecting the public and the vulnerable from illegal tobacco and vape sales. Considerable work has gone into obtaining these closure orders, and the team will continue to use the resources at their disposal to combat this illegal trade.”

He urged residents to report any information about illegal tobacco or vape sales to the council.

More on Trading Standards

From vape shop closures to counterfeit goods crackdowns, our Trading Standards coverage follows the teams working to protect communities across South West Wales.

Browse all Trading Standards stories →

#ClassicVape #CllrCenPhillips #counterfeitCigarettes #illegalTobacco #illegalVapes #Neath #NeathPortTalbotCouncil #Pontardawe #PontardaweVape #PortTalbot #QueenStreet #Taibach #TradingStandards #VapeLand

Waunceirch man sentenced for arson attacks in Neath Port Talbot

An 18-year-old man from Waunceirch, Neath Port Talbot has been jailed after admitting to multiple arson offences, including setting fire to his ex-partner’s clothing and deliberately starting a pub blaze.

Josh Smith, who was 17 at the time of the offences, set fire to clothing belonging to his former partner on 4 January, recording the act on his phone and later sharing it to Instagram.

Just two days later, he deliberately ignited a fire in the toilets of the Somerset Arms, Commercial Road, Taibach. Smith also attempted to set fire to a wheelie bin belonging to a relative of his ex-partner.

After pleading guilty to two counts of arson and one count of attempted arson, Smith was sentenced to 16 months in a Young Offenders Institution. He has also been made subject to a five-year restraining order against the victim.

PC John Ryan from South Wales Police said:
“Josh Smith committed these dangerous offences as retaliation following the end of his relationship with his ex-partner and made numerous people fearful for their safety as a result of his actions.

“We hope he takes the time he will spend at the Young Offenders Institution to think about his actions and to change his ways.”

#Arson #Neath #SomersetArms #SouthWalesPolice #Taibach #Waunceirch

Port Talbot restaurant shut down over cockroach infestation and filthy conditions

The Mirchi Masalla restaurant, located on Commercial Road in Taibach, was issued with a Hygiene Emergency Prohibition Notice on 21 July 2025 by Neath Port Talbot Council’s Food Safety and Health Protection team.

During a routine inspection, officers found the premises in a “filthy” state, with evidence of live cockroaches and poor hygiene standards. The notice required the business to shut immediately.

Following the inspection, Swansea Magistrates Court granted a Hygiene Emergency Prohibition Order, confirming the closure and preventing the restaurant from reopening until the council is satisfied that the public health risk has been removed.

The restaurant, which had been operating seven days a week, will remain closed while the food business operator works with the council to make necessary improvements.

Cllr Cen Phillips, Cabinet Member for Nature, Tourism and Wellbeing, said:

“Our officers took action to prevent this food business from operating to protect members of the public whose health was being put at risk. Officers are now monitoring the position to ensure the order is upheld and the business will not reopen until this authority is satisfied an imminent public health risk is removed.”

Neath Port Talbot Council has confirmed that it will continue to monitor the situation and ensure that food safety standards are met before the business is allowed to resume trading.

#CllrCenPhillips #cockroaches #EnvironmentalHealth #foodHygiene #IndianRestaurant #NeathPortTalbotCouncil #Taibach

Blue Plaques to honour Richard and Philip Burton as Neath Port Talbot celebrates centenary of iconic actor

The announcement comes as part of the Richard Burton Centenary 2025, commemorating 100 years since the birth of the acclaimed performer in Pontrhydyfen, Afan Valley. The centenary programme is designed to reflect on Burton’s life, legacy and the role Neath Port Talbot played in shaping one of the most distinctive voices in global cinema and theatre.

The plaques will be installed at the former homes of Richard Burton and Philip Burton, recognising not only the actor’s achievements but also the profound influence of the teacher who helped him rise from a working-class Welsh village to international stardom.

A legacy rooted in the Afan Valley

Born Richard Walter Jenkins on 10 November 1925, Burton was the twelfth of thirteen children in a Welsh-speaking mining family. His mother died when he was just two years old, and he was raised by his sister Cecilia and her husband Elfed in Taibach, Port Talbot. Though his early life was marked by hardship, Burton’s natural talent for language and performance began to shine through during his school years.

It was at Port Talbot Secondary School that Burton met Philip Burton, a charismatic and visionary teacher who would become his legal guardian and lifelong mentor. Philip Burton recognised the young Jenkins’ potential and worked tirelessly to develop his voice, diction and stage presence — famously taking him to the top of Margam Mountain to practise voice projection.

In 1943, Richard Jenkins officially became Richard Burton, adopting his mentor’s surname and gaining access to opportunities that would eventually lead him to Oxford University, the Royal Air Force, and a career on stage and screen.

From Port Talbot to Hollywood

Richard Burton’s rise was meteoric. After early success in radio and theatre, he made his film debut in The Last Days of Dolwyn (1949), and quickly became a leading man in British cinema. His breakthrough in Hollywood came with My Cousin Rachel (1952), earning him an Academy Award nomination and a Golden Globe.

Over the next three decades, Burton starred in more than 60 films, including Cleopatra, Becket, The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, and Equus. He was nominated for seven Academy Awards, won two BAFTAs, and became one of the most recognisable voices in the world — famously narrating Dylan Thomas’ Under Milk Wood and Jeff Wayne’s War of the Worlds.

Despite his global fame, Burton remained deeply connected to his Welsh roots. He returned regularly to Port Talbot, named his Swiss home Le Pays de Galles, and often spoke of the influence of his upbringing on his voice and character. “I think [my voice] is invested with small coal and rain or something — the voice is the voice of my people,” he once said.

Honouring the mentor behind the star

Philip Burton’s own story is equally remarkable. Born in Mountain Ash in 1904, he became a teacher, playwright, and BBC radio producer, working on nearly 200 programmes and helping to shape the careers of countless young performers. After moving to the United States in the 1950s, he founded the American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA) in New York, where he continued to mentor aspiring actors.

Philip Burton’s influence on Richard Burton was profound and lifelong. He directed Burton in stage productions, supported him through personal and professional challenges, and remained a guiding presence until his death in 1995. His legacy is now being rediscovered through the centenary celebrations and the recent film Mr Burton, in which he is portrayed by Toby Jones.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

New book shines spotlight on the inspirational teacher who made Richard Burton
Biography explores the life of Philip Burton and his transformative impact on the young actor’s career.

Neath Port Talbot celebrates RB100: The Richard Burton Centenary
Events and exhibitions mark 100 years since the birth of the iconic Welsh actor.

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Community-led campaign brings plaques to life

The campaign to install Blue Plaques for both Richard and Philip Burton was driven by the Burton Bont Festival Group, a local organisation dedicated to celebrating the heritage of Pontrhydyfen and the Afan Valley. Their efforts were supported by Neath Port Talbot Council, which has incorporated the scheme into its Heritage Strategy — a plan to protect the area’s historic environment and promote cultural pride.

Charlotte Burton, Richard Burton’s granddaughter, said: “We are so excited that two Blue Plaques will be unveiled in honour of Philip and Richard Burton. Thank you to the local community and the Neath Port Talbot council for making this possible.”

Cllr Cen Phillips, Cabinet Member for Nature, Tourism and Wellbeing, added: “We know that the creative spirit runs deep in Neath Port Talbot, the Dramatic Heart of Wales, and so we are delighted to grant the Blue Plaques to the former homes of Richard Burton and Philip Burton.

“By honouring both men, we are recognising the importance of mentors and teachers to our communities. We are glad to see our local community has embraced the Blue Plaque Scheme, which plays such a vital part in putting our Heritage and Culture Strategies into action.”

The plaques will be unveiled during Richard Burton Centenary Week in November 2025, with events planned across the region to celebrate the actor’s life and legacy. Visitors can also explore the Richard Burton Trails, which include the Birthplace Trail in Pontrhydyfen and the Childhood Trail in Taibach and Port Talbot — offering a deeper look at the places and people that shaped one of Wales’ greatest cultural icons.

To find out more about the centenary programme, visit RichardBurton100.org

#BluePlaque #film #heritage #NeathPortTalbot #NeathPortTalbotCouncil #PhilipBurton #Pontrhydyfen #RichardBurton #Taibach

Taibach vape shop shut down after selling illegal cigarettes and vapes

A District Judge at Swansea Magistrates Court approved the closure of Vape Land in Commercial Road, Taibach, under Section 80 Of the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014.

Neath Port Talbot Council’s Trading Standards Team say the premises had been selling counterfeit and non-tax paid tobacco and cigarettes as well as Illegal and oversized vapes on a number of occasions since June of last year.

A Senior Investigations Officer from the council’s Trading Standards Team gave the District Judge a brief history of Vape Land, explaining that on June 12th, 2024 a test purchase of a pouch of Amber Leaf hand rolling tobacco was made by colleagues as part of a national operation – trademark holders later confirmed the tobacco to be counterfeit.

In August 2024, South Wales Police and Neath Port Talbot Council Enforcement Officers conducted an inspection at Vape Land which led to vapes, leaf tobacco and cigarettes being seized.

The District Judge was further told more complaints were received regarding the sale of non-compliant single use vapes, cigarettes and tobacco and the sale of vapes to people under 18.

As a result, a further operation with South Wales Police took place in April of this year during which vapes, cigarettes and leaf tobacco were seized. All the single use vapes seized were found to contain far in excess of the fluid allowed for such products.

The District Judge agreed to the closure order at a hearing on June 12th, 2025 after being told by the investigations officer it was the council’s view that unless the shop was closed the nuisance would not stop.

The court heard the person who has been leasing the shop since April 2024 could not be traced for interview.

The sale and supply of single-use (disposable) vapes across the UK became illegal on June 1, 2025. This ban applies to all businesses, both online and in-store, regardless of whether the vapes contain nicotine. 

The rationale behind the ban is to address the environmental impact of disposable vapes, which are often discarded improperly and contain harmful substances. The ban also aims to protect children and young people, as disposable vapes are seen as appealing to underage vapers. 

Non-compliant single use vapes of the type found at Vape Land are often in colourful, child-appealing packaging and flavours. The consequences to the mental health of the impressionable children purchasing these vapes can be long term and very serious.

The NPT Council Senior Investigations Officer told the District Judge: “The business which was trading from this premises was operating with blatant disregard to the consequences the children would suffer due to accessing these vapes.”

Neath Port Talbot Council’s Cabinet Member for Nature, Tourism and Wellbeing, Cllr Cen Phillips said: “I commend our Trading Standards Officers for achieving this closure order and I would urge anyone who cares about their community and their children’s health to report any information they have relating to illegal tobacco or vape sales.”

#CllrCenPhillips #illegalCigarettes #illegalVapes #NeathPortTalbotCouncil #PortTalbot #Taibach #TradingStandards

Took another #Wander in the hills above #PortTalbot today, following the #WalesCoastPath (alternative route) from #Brombil to #Taibach before heading for #Goytre and then back over the hill and passed #BrombilReservoir. Some great views over #Aberavon and #SwanseBay. Met some impressive looking Rams and a friendly #Goat...and a bonus (very small) #waterfall to finish off the walk.

#Defaidodon #Cymru #Wales