Little known facts
Bridgend County Borough has more hours of sunshine than Milan in Italy.
Bridgend Designer Outlet has been named Best Shopping Venue in the UK by people within the leisure industry.
The Welsh National Anthem first official performance was at Maesteg’s Tabor Chapel in 1856. Miss Elizabeth John performed the song which was composed in Pontypridd by father and son, Evan and James James.
The hymn Calon Lan was written in Blaengarw. A bench is to be commissioned to commemorate the fact and the words of the hymn will be carved out in English and Welsh.
The mastermind of the American Revolution, Richard Price, was born in Bridgend County Borough.
The person who invented the Xray process in 1785, Sir William Morgan, came from Bridgend.
High-ranking German officers were held prisoner in Bridgend County Borough during WWII.
The genius behind supersonic flight and eventually Concorde, Sir Morien Morgan, was born at 22, Caroline Street, Bridgend on 20 December 1912.
US President Eisenhower stopped off to visit American troops that were stationed in Bridgend County Borough, on his way to Pembrokeshire to rehearse the D Day landings.
Internationally known movie star Richard Burton was born just a few miles from Bridgend.
The ancestors of Hollywood actress Susan Sarandon (Thelma and Louise fame) worked at Tondu Ironworks and are buried in St Bride’s Cemetery, Aberkenfig.
Pop princess, Kylie Minogue's mum was originally from Maesteg and her great uncle still lives there.
The Antiques Roadshow, with Michael Aspel, was filmed in Bridgend.
Movie stars, Bing Crosby and Bob Hope caught a train from Bridgend Station on their way back to American after staying along the Glamorgan Heritage Coast.
Catherine Zeta-Jones was born just a few miles from Bridgend County Borough.
Huw Edwards (TV Presenter) was born in Bridgend and lived in Litchard.
British Actor Jason Hughes who appears in Midsomer Murders was born in Porthcawl.
Welsh film star, Owen Teale grew up in Cornelly near Bridgend and appeared at Porthcawl's Little Theatre before going on to Guildford School of Acting.
British comedian, Eddie Izzard went to St. John boarding school in Porthcawl.
Emma Booth from Bridgend represented the UK at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1990, she was our youngest ever entrant at 15. Emma came sixth with, Give a Little Love Back to the World.
X Factor finalist Chico was born in Bridgend.
Popular British TV weather presenter Sian Lloyd is a Maesteg girl.
The man who designed Princess Diana's wedding dress, David Emanuel, was born in Bridgend.
British Comedy actor, Windsor Davies comes from the Ogmore Valley.
International movie star and comedian Norman Wisdom visited Bridgend to open the Ogwr Tiki Raft Race.
The biggest collection of Impressionist paintings outside of the mainland galleries such as Paris and Amsterdam is just a few miles down the road at the National Gallery of Wales.
The oldest record shop in the world, Spillers established in 1879 is just 20 minutes away.
The County Borough has produced a wealth of rugby stars such as Gavin Henson, Gareth Thomas, Gareth Cooper, Robert Howley, Scott Gibbs, Dafydd James, Mike Hall, Gwyn Evans, Gareth Williams, J.P.R. Williams, J.J. Williams, Clive Williams, Dr. Jack Matthews.
Nicole Cooke became the first Welsh athlete in 36 years to win a gold medal at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, she also won the World Road Race Championship the same year. Nicole was born in Wick, near Bridgend and attended Brynteg Comprehensive School. Nicole also won gold for Wales in the road race at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester and also won the World Cup in 2003 when she became the first Briton and the youngest ever rider to win aged 20.
Lynn Davies from Nantymoel is the only Welsh athlete to win Olympic gold in a track and field event. Lynn ‘the leap’ was only 22 when he won gold in the long jump in Tokyo 1964.
Athens 2004 Paralympic Games, Stephen Thomas was the first Welsh athlete to gain selection after a very successful Sonal Class Sailing event, Bronze medalist in the World Championships of 2003.
Rhiannon Henry was the youngest Welsh swimmer to ever reach a paralympic games. She gained two bronze medals in her first games in Athens.
Neil Robinson, table tennis player, won a silver medal in the team event in Athens.
During WWII, Italian nationals were looked on as potential collaborators and listed for arrest or even execution! One such person was Maesteg café owner, Angelo Belli.
And finally….
In 1977, there were just 150 Elvis Presley impersonators. Today there are around 85,000 in the USA alone. If the growth continues at this present rate, by 2019, one third of the world's population will be an Elvis Impersonator! Staggering isn’t it?
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