Sir Tom Jones

Sir Tom Jones

Unlike Dame Shirley Bassey, who left her telephone number on the wall at the Danygraig Arms, we’re not sure if Tom ever sang here. We’d like to think he had a pint or two when it was a pub back in the early sixties, as he only lived a stones throw away in Laura Street, now a Treforest landmark, where “The Voice” himself grew up.
All of us at the Groggshop have been huge fans of Sir Tom throughout our lives. We’re massively proud of his musical legacy and whenever I’m abroad and people aren’t sure where I’m from, I always say… “Do you know Tom Jones?”… the answer is invariably a resounding “Yes”. I then go on to explain we’re from the same village as this legend of modern music.
Making a Grogg of our local hero was a no brainier and I made the first one back in the early 80’s. It was taken out to Tom when he was living in Los Angeles and delivered safely by his mother-in-law, Vi Trenchard, a very good friend of my grandmother’s.

The figure depicted Tom in his classic open necked shirt and skin tight trousers. I had been inspired by a family story of Tom’s shirts, which found their way to the Groggshop.
My father had been invited to a formal dinner sometime in the seventies and although he managed to borrow a dinner suit, he had no suitable dress shirt. My grandmother decided to ask Vi if Dad could borrow one of Tom’s. Vi couldn’t see a problem with that and Dad excitedly anticipated their arrival, relieved he’d be well dressed for the event.
He couldn’t have known they would turn out to be Tom’s show shirts…. three of them…bright red, gold and white silk, with extremely frilly fronts. Tom’s muscular frame was also a few sizes bigger than Dad, so we offered to give them back but Vi kindly said to keep them. Sadly, although, I’m certain they are in the building somewhere, I can’t find them. A great loss to our collection of memorabilia.
I’ve made Tom a few times since that first figure, including the taller less “groggy” version Dad presented to Tom when he was filming his television show at Castle Coch. I’ve been keen to make a new, updated figure of our Welsh legend for a while and luckily, I’ve finished “Sir Tom” just in time for his birthday and his concerts at Cardiff Castle (Summer 2024).

Happy Birthday Sir Tom and congratulations on your amazing career – long may it continue.

Limited to 500 pieces.

Priced at £150 plus £6.00 P+P UK Next Day Delivery (If in stock & ordered before 2pm – inscriptions 1-2 days extra) / Worldwide Postage £60.