AN AUTHOR examining the lives of famous names from Barry's past is seeking public support to find out more information about the book's subjects.

Anne James, who is from Barry and attended Romilly Primary School, began researching for her new book, 'Barry Lives', in late 2016 and has now secured a publisher who has agreed to produce the book once complete.

Having whittled down a shortlist of famous characters past and present from the area, Ms James is now looking to obtain more details surrounding her chief characters, either from those who knew them personally or who have conducted their own research into their lives.

Ms James would particularly appreciate information regarding the following people: Edgar Jones, headmaster of Barry Boys School and his wife Annie Gwen, suffragette and teacher, their daughter Gwyneth, head of Barry Girls School and their son Gareth Vaughan Jones, journalist; Sir Samuel Romilly and his sons William, John, Edward, Henry, Charles, and Frederick Romilly; Sir John (Hrothgar) Habakkuk, historian; Elizabeth Phillips Hughes, educationalist; Leslie Illingworth, political journalist; Lord Barnett Janner, MP and president of the Jewish Board of Deputies; Roger Livesy, actor; Bryn Merrick of The Damned; Robert Tear, singer; Maj. Gen. Thomas (Dagger) Wynford Rees, decorated soldier in World War I and II; Gwyn Thomas, writer and teacher at Barry Boys; Eirene Lloyd White (Baroness), political journalist and Labour MP; Grace Williams, composer; Margaret Lindsay Williams, artist; and Sir Charles Campbell Woolley, diplomat.

Ms James would appreciate anyone with memories or information regarding those mentioned to contact her at: annieresearch@virginmedia.com. All contributions will be credited in the book.