Pontrhydyfen, a village nestled in the Afan Valley and often described as Wales' 'Little Switzerland', has unveiled a striking new mural of Ivor Emmanuel on the side of the Colliers Arms pub, honouring the actor best known for his role in the 1964 film Zulu. The tribute is part of a broader community effort to celebrate the village's rich heritage and its famous residents.
A Village of Famous Faces
Pontrhydyfen has been home to generations of celebrated Welsh figures, including actor Richard Burton, opera star Rachel Evans, and Ivor Emmanuel. The village's pride in these figures is evident from the moment visitors arrive, with the Colliers Arms pub featuring a colourful mural of Emmanuel in the red tunic he wore in Zulu.
The mural, painted beside the words "Men of Harlech stop your dreaming / Can't you see their spear points gleaming / See their warriors' pennants streaming / To this battlefield," was organised by the Burton Bont Festival Group, a community organisation established in 2023 to preserve the village's history.
Community Efforts and Celebrations
Andrea Edwards, chairwoman of the Burton Bont Festival Group, said the mural was inspired by Emmanuel's upcoming birth centenary. "Ivor's birth centenary is coming up next year and we thought we wanted to pay homage to him and also create a bit of happiness and cohesion in the community," she said.
The project has resonated widely, attracting more than 120,000 views online. The group's previous work includes marking the centenary of Richard Burton's birth, celebrating the bicentenary of the village's aqueduct, restoring the oak war memorial, and organising events like the annual scarecrow festival.
Life in the Village Today
Inside the Colliers Arms, chef Daryll Launder, who has lived in Pontrhydyfen for sixty years, highlighted the village's community spirit and scenery. "It's just an amazing place to live: the community spirit, the scenery; from the mountains to the river," she said. The pub attracts visitors from as far as Mumbles and Maesteg, and Launder noted the Welsh language is "coming back big time."
Daryll recalled meeting Emmanuel when she was eleven years old, describing him as "lovely, down to earth, really warm." She also emphasised the grounded nature of the village's famous residents: "Like Richard Burton, they went on to become extremely famous but they still kept extremely grounded. They never forget where they came from and we as a village are proud of that."
The village is dotted with tributes to its stars, including quotes from Burton on bus stops, art on street signs, and a large mural on the Miners Arms pub, where a painted quotation reads: "There is one place you belong to, and in my case it's Pontrhydyfen."
Memories of Burton and Taylor
A local resident, speaking anonymously, recalled meeting Burton and Elizabeth Taylor during their visits to the Miners. She remembered Taylor's "beautiful, violet" eyes and Burton's natural charm. "He was so natural with people, completely charming. He never forgot his Welsh and he always went to the schools to visit the children," she said.
David Jenkins, a lifelong local who helps at the Miners, noted that the pub continues to attract visitors, including actor Michael Sheen and the cast of Mr Burton. The pub, open three days a week and run by Pontrhydyfen Rugby Club, serves as a shrine to its most famous regular, with photographs of Burton on the walls.
From the Miners, a short walk leads to Burton's former home, marked by a blue plaque. High above the village, the Pontywood sign serves as a playful Welsh answer to Hollywood, a fitting symbol for a village that has produced stars of its own.
