The 1st of March is on its way and with it many a Welshman will be celebrating St. David’s Day. Are you familiar with the achievements of these notable Welsh folks?...

Dame Shirley Bassey
Born in Tiger Bay in Cardiff to a Nigerian father and English mother, Bassey recorded three of the most iconic James Bond title songs: Goldfinger (1964), Diamonds Are Forever (1971), and Moonraker (1979). Dame Shirley as had albums in the UK charts in seven consecutive decades. All hail Queen Shirl!

Sir Anthony Hopkins
Hopkins’ portrayal of serial killer Hannibal Lecter in The Silence of the Lambs won him his first Oscar in 1992; his second Oscar came at the age of 83 for his performance in The Father. Fellow actors Richard Burton and Michael Sheen are also from his home town of Port Talbot.


Catherine Zeta-Jones
The Swansea-born actress won an Oscar in 2003 for her performance in the musical Chicago, and a Tony in 2010 for her Broadway performance of A Little Night Music. She’s one half of a Hollywood power-duo with husband Michael Douglas. ‘Zeta’, by the way, was the name of a ship that her great-grandfather sailed on.

Sir Tom Jones OBE
‘Jones the Voice’ released his 41st studio album, Surrounded by Time, at the age of 81. The son of a Pontypridd coal miner, Jones first hit the charts in 1965 with It’s Not Unusual, and has explored multiple musical genres from R&B to gospel. A musical legend, Tom Jones has sold over 100 million records worldwide and is now a judge on the TV show, The Voice.

Laura Ashley
The textile and fashion designer was from Merthyr Tydfil. She was best known for her chintzy style and she had a love of patterns and simple elegance. She set up a home furnishing and clothing brand that still has shops around the globe.

Aneurin Bevan
Aneurin "Nye" Bevan PC was a Welsh Labour Party politician, noted for tenure as Minister of Health in Clement Attlee's government in which he spearheaded the creation of the British National Health Service. He is also known for his wider contribution to the founding of the British welfare state.

Roald Dahl
Roald Dahl was a British novelist, short-story writer, poet, screenwriter, and wartime RAF fighter ace. Dahl was born in Wales to affluent Norwegian immigrant parents. His books have sold more than 250 million copies worldwide. Dahl has been called "one of the greatest storytellers for children of the 20th century".