On 5th September 1927, Kathleen Thomas from Penarth, became the first person, as well as the first woman, to swim the Bristol Channel.  Many men had attempted the challenge and failed.

She had announced her intention to swim the treacherous 11 miles of chill, grey water between Penarth and Weston-super-Mare in the South Wales Echo, and no one believed that "a mere woman" would have the strength or stamina to go the distance

That part of The Bristol Chanel, which has the second highest tidal range in the world, has a fearsome reputation due to its lethal tides, caused by scattered headlands and islands funneling enormous volumes of tidal water through small spaces and the distance Kathleen swam was considered closer to 22 miles once the perfidious currents were taken into account.

'Crowds lined the beach to watch Kathleen wade into waters, accompanied by a launch containing representatives from the Welsh Amateur Swimming Association and a rowing boat carrying her uncle Jack in a bowler hat and 7hrs 20mins later, fortified by Bovril and chocolate, Kathleen arrived on the shores of the West Country.  The terrific struggle against the currents had called on all her reserves of energy and the final 100 yards had demanded every last ounce of her strength.

She was taken to a nearby hotel after the swim, where she had both a warm and cold bath, took half-hour rest and ate a fish lunch before returning to Wales a hero.

Jasper Newton "Jack" Daniel -  founder of  Jack Daniel's Tennessee whiskey distillery was born on September 5th, 1850 in Lynchburg, Tennessee, his grandfather Joseph "Job" Daniel, was born in Wales and had emigrated to America.  Jack Daniel died from blood poisoning in 1911, which was allegedly caused when he kicked his safe in anger when he could not get it open — he always had trouble remembering the combination.

Was the original recipe for Jack Daniel's legendary American whiskey discovered in Wales.

Mark Evans was researching his family history when he discovered a recipe, the ingredients of which match that which goes into making the  in the world's best selling whiskey.  It was written in 1853 by his great-great grandmother who was called Daniels and who was a local herbalist in Llanelli.  Her brother-in-law John 'Jack the Lad' Daniel left Llanelli at about the same time to move to Tennessee, where the Jack Daniel distillery was opened three years later.  The assumption being that he made contact with his namesake and introduced him to the Welsh recipe.     

Born on this day 1962 in Cardiff

Peter Wingfield - television actor, well known for his television roles in Holby City, Queen of Swords and Cold Squad. But he is best known for his role as the  Immortal Methos in Highlander.  In addition, Peter also played  Simon Pemberton on the  BBC radio drama The Archers. 

In 2011, Peter put his acting career on hold, to return to medical school and subsequently qualified as a doctor. Peter was Welsh National Trampoline champion at age 15.  

Born on this day 1959 in Blaina

Mike Ruddock, OBE - former Wales Grand Slam winning  rugby coach, who won the Welsh Coach of the Year in 1992 and 2005.  Ruddock is currently coach of the Ireland Under 20 rugby team.  As a player Ruddock  made 119 appearances for Swansea, scoring 43 tries and played for Wales B. before his playing days were ended prematurely in 1985. Working as an electricity linesman, he fell from a pole, suffering serious injuries including three compressed vertebrae and a fractured skull.  

Born on this day 1888 at Blaencaerau farm, Caerau, near Maesteg

Sir Rhys Hopkin Morris, Liberal MP, who was a fierce opponent of Lloyd George throughout his political career and later became the first Regional Director of the BBC in Wales. 

He graduated from  U.C.N.W. Bangor in Philosophy also serving as student President and taught in Bargoed for a few months after leaving College.  He enlisted in the Royal Welch Fusiliers on the outbreak of war in 1914. He was twice mentioned in dispatches and awarded a medal for action in which he was severely wounded and carried shrapnel in his leg for the rest of his life.  He was called to the Bar in the Middle Temple in 1920 and practised in the South Wales circuit, before becoming interested in politics.

Morris was a Gladstonian Liberal and as such believed in  limited government expenditure, low taxation, free trade and little government intervention as opposed to Lloyd George, who was an Interventionist Liberal.  His characteristic independence of mind twice contradicted expectations and saw him elected to parliament,  he ran as an Independent Liberal against a pro-Lloyd George candidate and was elected in one of the most surprising results of the 1923 General Election.  He returned to Parliament after the 1945  election, when he won Carmarthen  from the  Labour Party  despite the rest of the country experiencing a Labour landslide.  Hopkin Morris was to hold this seat for the remainder of his life.  

Born on this day 1885 in Aberaeron

Reverend Jenkin Alban Davies - Former Wales rugby captain. 

 Davies served during World War I and was later appointed vicar of Hook in 1924.  But he is best remembered as captain of the Terrible eight, the Welsh forwards that got the better of their Irish opponents in an extremely physical encounter in Belfast in 1914.

This match is remembered as 'The Roughest Ever' and the niggling had started the evening before the match when the Irish came to the Welsh hotel and their pack leader, Doctor William Tyrell told Welsh forward Percy Jones: 'It's you and me for it tomorrow.'  Jones, a miner replied 'I shall be with you, doing the best I can.'  Another Wales forward asked: 'Can anyone join in?' And so they did!  It was one of the all-time best punch-ups, with players continually fighting during the match  and the referee, a Mr.Tulloch, from Scotland, taking little notice. 

Ater the match Jones and Tyrell  signed each others menu-card and then in 1951, the two sat together to watch the match in Cardiff.  Tyrell at that time being president of the IRU and Jones an hotelier.