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Returning to Pontrhydyfen
Richard Burton discusses coming back to his hometown, noting how little the village had changed from his childhood. This clip was taken from the programme Kane on Friday: Richard Burton, which was broadcast in 1977.
Burton was born in the rural mining community of Pontrhydyfen, situated in the Afan Valley, on 10 November 1925. Born Richard Walter Jenkins, he was the 12th of 13 children and was brought up by his sister Cecilia and her husband Elfed after his mother died in childbirth just two years after his own birth.
He took the adoptive name Burton after his schoolmaster, Philip Burton, who would become a mentor to the young actor after he encouraged him to take part in stage productions. Richard was a member of the Air Training Corps, and Philip was also his commanding officer.
