ZANY fundraiser Captain Beany is the toast of the town after making it into a new book by one of Britain's most-respected writers.

The Port Talbot charity champion not only features in the latest outing from authorised Beatles biographer Hunter Davies, but also inspired its title.

Behind The Scenes At The Museum Of Baked Beans sees Davies go in search of the country's maddest museums.

And Beany, who first put his collection of bean-related artifacts on display at his Sandfields home in 2003, seemed a natural choice for inclusion.

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Journalist and broadcaster Hunter Davies is the author of classic football book The Glory Game and has ghost-written for the likes of Wayne Rooney and John Prescott.

"I had a phone call from him last year, asking if he could come down from London to interview me," explained Beany, who was born Barry Kirk in 1954, but changed his name by deed poll in 1992.

"I couldn't believe it because he's such a well-known and respected writer.

"He did the interview and said he would be in touch.

"Then I got an email from him, telling me they were stuck for a title, and came up with Behind The Scenes At The Museum of Baked Beans.

History

"That was fantastic news. It's a real accolade, and I am over the moon about it."

The section on Beany's museum, which is housed in a bedroom of his Moorland Road flat, not only focuses on its history and contents, but also on the man who created it.

"There's nothing disrespectful about me in it," he said, after reading the chapter devoted to him. "He didn't treat the people who run these museums as idiots, but as people who have a passion for their theme."

The museum was officially opened by TV personality and award-winning author Danny Wallace last year, while he was filming in South Wales.

As it's located within a council flat, the museum is not open to the public as such.

Anyone wanting to have a look around must first contact Beany via his website to arrange an appointment.

"I'm hoping the book will create more interest in the museum — and put Port Talbot on the international map at the same time.

"Mine is the only museum in Wales to feature, so that's quite something in itself."

To make an appointment, go to www.bakedbeanmuseum ofexcellence.org.uk. Behind The Scenes At The Museum Of Baked Beans is published by Virgin Books on July 1, priced £11.99.

paul.lewis@swwmedia.co.uk