Captain Beany
Encyclopedia
Captain Beany, born Barry Kirk, is a Welsh
eccentric and celebrity charity fundraiser in Sandfields
, Port Talbot
, Wales
. Kirk worked in the computer department of the British Petroleum chemical plant in Baglan, Neath Port Talbot, but has been unemployed and claiming social security benefits for many years.
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.
He has also been a candidate in local and general elections throughout Wales on the ticket of the New Millennium Bean Party, which he formed in 2000 and of which he is the sole member. In the 2005 general election
, Beany gained 159 votes in Cardiff Central
. In 2006, he appeared on the BBC
program, Let Me Entertain You
.
In September 2008, Captain Beany climbed Mt. Snowdon carrying baked beans in aid of cancer research. 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.
in London. He also officially transformed his council flat into the Baked Bean Museum of Excellence, with British writer Danny Wallace
presiding over the opening ceremony.
In December 2009, he teamed up with other Port Talbot musicians to record a charity Christmas song. He has recently completed the Sports Relief Mile 2010 whilst pushing a tin of baked beans on his hands and knees.
Beany, Leader of the New Millennium Bean Party, contested the Aberavon constituency
for the 2010 general election. He received 558 votes, 1.8% of the vote, greater than that of the UK Independence Party candidate.
The Baked Bean Museum of Excellence situated in Port Talbot, south Wales, is now featured in this years edition of 'Behind The Scenes At The Museum of Baked Beans' penned by eminent author, Mr. Hunter Davies. The Baked Bean Museum is only one of eighteen bizarre and extraordinary museum's in the United Kingdom that has graced this wacky museum's paperback.
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.
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
eccentric and celebrity charity fundraiser in Sandfields
Sandfields, Port Talbot
Sandfields is a mainly residential district of Port Talbot, Wales. The area is located in South Wales on a narrow coastal plain between Mynydd Dinas and the sea. The M4 motorway, A48 trunk road and South Wales Main Line run nearby...
, Port Talbot
Port Talbot
Port Talbot is a town in Neath Port Talbot, Wales. It had a population of 35,633 in 2001.-History:Port Talbot grew out of the original small port and market town of Aberafan , which belonged to the medieval Lords of Afan. The area of the parish of Margam lying on the west bank of the lower Afan...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. Kirk worked in the computer department of the British Petroleum chemical plant in Baglan, Neath Port Talbot, but has been unemployed and claiming social security benefits for many years.
In May 1991, he changed his name by deed poll
Deed poll
A deed poll is a legal document binding only to a single person or several persons acting jointly to express an active intention...
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.
He has also been a candidate in local and general elections throughout Wales on the ticket of the New Millennium Bean Party, which he formed in 2000 and of which he is the sole member. In the 2005 general election
United Kingdom general election, 2005
The United Kingdom general election of 2005 was held on Thursday, 5 May 2005 to elect 646 members to the British House of Commons. The Labour Party under Tony Blair won its third consecutive victory, but with a majority of 66, reduced from 160....
, Beany gained 159 votes in Cardiff Central
Cardiff Central (UK Parliament constituency)
Cardiff Central is a borough constituency in the city of Cardiff. It returns one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, elected by the first past the post system....
. In 2006, he appeared on the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
program, Let Me Entertain You
Let Me Entertain You (TV series)
Let Me Entertain You was a daytime variety show that aired on BBC Two from 21 August 2006 and ended on 22 June 2007. The show is presented by British funnyman, Brian Conley, with co-presenter Christine Bleakley.-Format:...
.
In September 2008, Captain Beany climbed Mt. Snowdon carrying baked beans in aid of cancer research. Later, in October, during the 2000s financial crisis, he registered the trademark "Credit Crunch" for use on chocolate bars. When Selfridges
Selfridges
Selfridges, AKA Selfridges & Co, is a chain of high end department stores in the United Kingdom. It was founded by Harry Gordon Selfridge. The flagship store in London's Oxford Street is the second largest shop in the UK and was opened on 15 March 1909.More recently, three other stores have been...
sold a similarly named product, Captain Beany earned a percentage of the sales under a licensing agreement.
Eccentric of the year
In April 2009, Captain Beany was awarded the title of "Great British Eccentric of the Year" by the Eccentric ClubEccentric Club
The Eccentric Club was the name of several London gentlemen's clubs, the best-known of which existed between 1890 and 1986. For much of its history it was based at 9–11 Ryder Street, St James's.-First Eccentric Club:...
in London. He also officially transformed his council flat into the Baked Bean Museum of Excellence, with British writer Danny Wallace
Danny Wallace (humourist)
Daniel Frederick Wallace is a British filmmaker, comedian, writer, actor, and presenter of radio and television. His notable works include the books Join Me, Yes Man, and the TV series How to Start Your Own Country.He lives in London, with his wife, an Australian publicist...
presiding over the opening ceremony.
In December 2009, he teamed up with other Port Talbot musicians to record a charity Christmas song. He has recently completed the Sports Relief Mile 2010 whilst pushing a tin of baked beans on his hands and knees.
Beany, Leader of the New Millennium Bean Party, contested the Aberavon constituency
Aberavon (UK Parliament constituency)
Aberavon is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It returns one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system.-History:...
for the 2010 general election. He received 558 votes, 1.8% of the vote, greater than that of the UK Independence Party candidate.
The Baked Bean Museum of Excellence situated in Port Talbot, south Wales, is now featured in this years edition of 'Behind The Scenes At The Museum of Baked Beans' penned by eminent author, Mr. Hunter Davies. The Baked Bean Museum is only one of eighteen bizarre and extraordinary museum's in the United Kingdom that has graced this wacky museum's paperback.
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.