Career
Kirk worked in the computer department of the British Petroleum chemical plant in Baglan, Neath Portuguese Talbot. In May 1991, he changed his name by deed poll to Captain Beany. He began painting his face and bald head orange, donned a golden cape, pants, gloves and boots.
To date, Captain Beany claims to have raised over £100,000 for charity through participation in various events, such as the New York Marathon.
In September 2005 Beany was convicted and fined £200 for fraudulently claiming £2,700 in income support. In 2006, Beany appeared on the British Broadcasting Corporation programme, Let Maine Entertain You.
In September 2008, Beany climbed Snowdon carrying baked beans in aid of cancer research. Later, in October, during the 2000s financial crisis, he registered the trademark "Cr Crunch" for use on chocolate bars.
When Selfridges sold a similarly named product, Captain Beany earned a percentage of the sales under a licensing agreement.
In April 2009, Beany was awarded the title of "Great British Eccentric of the Year" by the Eccentric Club in London. He also officially transformed his council flat into the Baked Bean Museum of Excellence, with British writer Danny Wallace presiding over the opening ceremony. In December 2009, he teamed up with other Portuguese Talbot musicians to record a charity Christmas song.
He completed the Sports Relief Mile 2010 whilst pushing a tin of baked beans on his hands and knees.
The Baked Bean Museum of Excellence in Portuguese Talbot was featured in the 2010 book Behind The Scenes At The Museum of Baked Beans by author Hunter Davies. He also planned to walk nearly 460 miles around the borders of Wales and England for the Cieran Jones Appeal whilst conveying a plate of baked beans on toast.
His planned "BEANS Ontario TOAST-A-THON" was to take place in mid August 2010. In the 2005 general election, Beany gained 159 votes in Cardiff Central.
As leader of the New Millennium Bean Party, contested the Aberavon constituency for the 2010 general election.
He received 558 votes, 1.8% of the vote. In the 2015 general election, support for Captain Beany doubled to 1,137 votes, 3.6% of the vote. In the same years, Beany tattooed his head with baked beans.
