Captain Beany

Captain Beany (born Barry Kirk c. 1954) is a Welsh eccentric and celebrity charity fundraiser in Sandfields, Port Talbot, Wales. Kirk worked in the computer department of the British Petroleum chemical plant in Baglan, Neath Port 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.

He has also been a candidate in local and general elections throughout Wales on the ticket of the New Millennium Bean Party, which he formed in 2000 and of which he is the sole member. In the 2005 general election, Beany gained 159 votes in Cardiff Central. In 2006, he appeared on the BBC program, Let Me Entertain You.

In September 2008, Captain Beany climbed Mt. Snowdon carrying baked beans in aid of cancer research. Later, in October, during the 2000s financial crisis, he registered the trademark "Credit 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.