Â鶹Éç

Richard Burton interview: on returning to Wales

In order to see this content you need to have both enabled and installed. Visit for full instructions

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.


Bookmark this page:

Â鶹Éç iD

Â鶹Éç navigation

Â鶹Éç © 2014 The Â鶹Éç is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read more.

This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets (CSS) enabled. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets (CSS) if you are able to do so.