Residents of Skewen, Swansea, are mourning the loss of global superstar Bonnie Tyler, remembering her as a down-to-earth coal miner's daughter who never forgot her roots. Born Gaynor Hopkins, she regularly returned to the village in her Rolls Royce, hosted legendary Christmas parties in Mumbles, and maintained her local accent throughout her career.
Local Memories of a Global Icon
In Skewen, nearly everyone seems to have a connection to the singer. Salon owner Kimberley Davies, whose father Francis is Bonnie's cousin, recalled: "She was so lovely, a lovely woman and so down to earth." The last time they met was at her father's birthday party, where Bonnie spontaneously sang. Davies added: "It was really lovely, and I'm so glad I've got those memories to look back on. She put Skewen on the map bless her, everybody loved her."
Accountant Robert Lewis, a friend since their 20s, remembered her early days singing with Bobby Wayne and the Dixies, saying they were "better than ABBA in those days." He noted that her former bandmates knew her as Sherene. Lewis said: "When I first met her, when she was with Bobby Wayne and the Dixies, she was Sherene. So everybody in the music world at that time would know her as Sherene."
Christmas Open House with Hundreds of Guests
Lewis described the iconic Christmas parties at her Mumbles home, which drew 100 to 200 people annually. "For many years we used to go down to her house in Mumbles. Her nephew Chris used to play the piano and everybody would get together and sing Christmas carols and songs and she would sing. So it was just one happy get together. Sometimes there would be like 100 to 200 people there on a Christmas day, back and forth, because it was an open house, you could call in and have a drink and go home."
Beth Jones, owner of Billion Hair in Skewen, recalled: "She used to rock up in her Rolls Royce to see her family, and was still a Skewen girl. Absolutely gutted. Long live Bonnie Tyler!" Sylvia George from Rhydyfro, a fan, said: "I was in tears when I heard. What a woman, she was fabulous, down to earth. I think we are all devastated."
A True Ambassador for Wales
Kim Hickman and Caroline Evans, owners of Streaks Ahead salon, remembered when Bonnie turned on Skewen's Christmas lights in 2010. Hickman said: "You can take the girl out of Skewen, but you can never take Skewen out of the girl." Lloyd and Marilyn Davies, who often saw her in Mumbles, called her a "good ambassador for Wales." Carl Draper, owner of Café-tiére in Skewen, said: "I just think we've lost an icon, very popular around Skewen, Swansea and Mumbles. I met her a couple of times, she was really genuine and would stop and talk to anyone. True to her roots. She will be well missed."
Bonnie Tyler's legacy endures in the hearts of those who knew her as Gaynor Hopkins, the girl from Skewen who became a global star but never forgot where she came from.
