MICHAEL Sheen, the actor with the passion for Port Talbot, has been training with ordinary people who, like him, have taken on different and dynamic roles — as lifeboat crew members.
Michael certainly looked the part when he donned regulation lifeboat gear and went on exercise with crews from Mumbles and Port Talbot.
The 42-year-old Baglan boy is five weeks away from staging a three-day Easter production of The Passion — the story of Christ's final days on Earth — in various locations in Port Talbot.
He praised the work of the crews.
"They are a symbol of what community is truly about and I hope that the work that we are doing on The Passion will be a reflection of what they represent," he said.
Michael, whose parents Meyrick and Irene live in Baglan, spent time with the Port Talbot crew and talked about their recent rescues and motivation for becoming part of the RNLI, which relies on donations and legacies.
Training
He then joined the Mumbles crew on board their Tyne class lifeboat, which is launched down the slipway adjacent to Mumbles pier.
Crews from both stations teamed up for a training exercise and showed Michael how they would work together to recover a man overboard in the sea off Aberavon.
Michael, who has played among others Brian Clough, Tony Blair and Kenneth Williams, said: "It was a truly wonderful experience to meet the lifeboat volunteers at both Mumbles and Port Talbot.
"To see their work first hand, serving the community, was an inspiration.
"The work they do, completely voluntarily, reminds us that service like theirs cannot be taken for granted.
"These are people who give up their time and put their own lives at risk to help those of us who find ourselves in need of help."
Mumbles lifeboat coxswain Martin Double said: "We've all seen Michael on the big and small screen and he's a really down to earth kind of guy.
"We did offer to make him an honorary crew member after he had the chance to take the helm of the lifeboat across Swansea Bay, but he's returning to Los Angeles after the Easter holidays."
Mumbles is in line to receive a state-of-the-art Tamar class lifeboat in due course, with campaigners aiming to raise �150,000 for the cause.
Meanwhile, Michael is putting himself out there as part of Comic Relief.
Yesterday afternoon bids had reached �620 for an opportunity to link up with the star on social media website Twitter.
Michael will follow the winning bidder on Twitter for 90 days, re-tweet one of his or her tweets to his many followers, and send out a tweet including his or her Twitter user name.
If that has left you somewhat puzzled, the winner will also get two tickets to see Michael in Hamlet at the Young Vic, London, later in the year and — after the show — he will take you out for dinner.
WEB LINK
nationaltheatrewales.org/passion
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