Captain Beany

Captain Beany
Personal details
Born Barry Kirk
1954 (age 63–64)
Nationality British
Political party New Millennium Bean Party
Website captainbeany.com

Captain Beany (born Barry Kirk c. 1954)[1] is a Welsh eccentric and charity fundraiser in Sandfields, Port Talbot, Wales.

Biography

Kirk worked in the computer department of the British Petroleum chemical plant in Baglan, Neath Port Talbot. In May 1991, he changed his name by deed poll to Captain Beany. He began painting his face and bald head orange, donned a golden cape, pants, gloves and boots. To date, Captain Beany claims to have raised over £100,000 for charity through participation in various events, such as the New York Marathon.[2]

In 1986 Beany set a world record for the longest bean bath, which lasted over 100 hours.[3]

In 2006, Beany appeared on the BBC programme, Let Me Entertain You.

In September 2008, Beany climbed Snowdon carrying baked beans in aid of cancer research.[4][5] Later, in October, during the 2000s financial crisis, he registered the trademark "Credit Crunch" for use on chocolate bars. When Selfridges sold a similarly named product, Captain Beany earned a percentage of the sales under a licensing agreement.[1][6]

In 2015 Beany raised £3,600 for charity by having 60 baked beans tattooed on his head. Those sponsoring him had their initials inked on inside one of the baked beans.[7]

Eccentric of the year

In April 2009, Beany was awarded the title of "Great British Eccentric of the Year" by the Eccentric Club in London.[2][4] He also officially transformed his council flat into the Baked Bean Museum of Excellence, with British writer Danny Wallace presiding over the opening ceremony.[8]

In December 2009, he teamed up with other Port Talbot musicians to record a charity Christmas song.[9] He completed the Sports Relief Mile 2010 whilst pushing a tin of baked beans on his hands and knees.[10]

The Baked Bean Museum of Excellence in Port Talbot was featured in the 2010 book Behind The Scenes at the Museum of Baked Beans by author Hunter Davies.[11]

He also planned to walk nearly 460 miles around the borders of Wales and England for the Cieran Jones Appeal whilst conveying a plate of baked beans on toast. His planned 'BEANS ON TOAST-A-THON' was to take place in mid August 2010.[12][13]

Political career

He has also been a candidate in local and general elections throughout Wales. He stood as the "Real Bean" candidate in Aberavon in 1992, coming last with 707 votes (1.8%). In 1997, he stood in Aberavon again, this time as an Independent, and came last again with 341 votes (1.0%). In 2000, he formed the New Millennium Bean Party, of which he was the sole member.[14] On this line in Aberavon in the 2001 election, he came sixth out of seven candidates with 727 votes (2.4%). In the 2005 general election, Beany gained 159 votes in Cardiff Central.[2]

He contested Aberavon again in the 2010 general election,[15] receiving 558 votes (1.8%), placing seventh out of eight candidates.[16] In the 2015 general election, support for Captain Beany more than doubled, to 1,137 votes (3.6%), good enough for sixth out of nine candidates.[17]

References

  1. 1 2 Turner, Robin (15 October 2008). "Chocolate firm gives Captain Beany credit for his Crunch". Western Mail. Retrieved 24 February 2012.
  2. 1 2 3 Turner, Robin. Port Talbot’s Captain Beany’s in line to be The Great Eccentric of 2009, Wales on Sunday. Published 29 March 2009. Retrieved 9 February 2010.
  3. ↑ "Achievements". Captain Beany website. Retrieved 10 September 2017.
  4. 1 2 Beans means a marathon effort to help charity, South Wales Evening Post. Published 4 August 2009. Retrieved 9 February 2010.
  5. ↑ Castle, Samantha. Snowdon set for baked bean charity challenge, Caernarfon Herald. Published 8 September 2008. Retrieved 9 February 2010.
  6. ↑ Bars are a sweet deal for Beany, South Wales Evening Post. Published 14 October 2008. Retrieved 9 February 2010.
  7. ↑ "Is this Britain's most bizarre tattoo collection? Man has 60 baked beans inked on his head to raise £3,600 for charity (and now goes by the name of Captain Beany)". Daily Mail Online. 10 August 2015. Retrieved 10 September 2017.
  8. ↑ Wallace, Danny. Play and display, The Observer. Published 5 April 2009. Retrieved 9 February 2010.
  9. ↑ Denholm, Emma. Watch Captain Beany on his musical fundraising hit, South Wales Evening Post. Published 10 December 2009. Retrieved 9 February 2010.
  10. ↑ The Metro-Runners complete for Sport relief
  11. ↑ "Boost for Beany as book spreads word on museum". South Wales Evening Post. 18 June 2010. Archived from the original on 14 September 2012.
  12. ↑ "Long walk for charity". South Wales Evening Post. Archived from the original on 12 September 2012. Retrieved 7 August 2010.
  13. ↑ "The Keiran Jones appeal". Captain Beany.com. Retrieved 7 August 2010.
  14. ↑ Millard, Robin. Britain braces for Captain Beany's 'wind of change', Mail & Guardian. Published 3 May 2005. Retrieved 9 February 2010.
  15. ↑ Captain Beany, this is Wales
  16. ↑ The BBC-Election 2010
  17. ↑ http://www.itv.com/news/wales/2015-05-08/captain-beany-loses-out-to-stephen-kinnock-in-aberavon/
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