#kevjohns — Public Fediverse posts
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Dr Sian Williams announced as ambassador for cancer charity Maggie’s
The BBC presenter, who hosts the Radio 4 programme Life Changing and is also a counselling psychologist, has been involved with the cancer care charity for 10 years.
She joins the likes of broadcaster Mark Chapman, Emmerdale star Lisa Riley and recording artist AJ Tracey as Maggie’s marks its 30th year of supporting people with cancer.
The Swansea branch of Maggie’s, located on the grounds of Singleton Hospital, offers free practical, emotional, and social support to anyone living with cancer, as well as their family and friends.
Having opened by then, First Minister Carwyn Jones on December 9, 2011, to address the critical need for holistic cancer support in South West Wales, Maggie’s in Swansea sees approximately 3,000 new cancer diagnoses every year.
Locally, Swansea City Football Club has been associated with Maggie’s as its charitable partner since August 2023, with a campaign titled “Tackling Cancer Together”.
The club chose Maggie’s due to the charity’s direct impact on the local community and the personal experiences of club figures with cancer.
They launched an eye-catching pink third kit for the 2023–24 season dedicated to the partnership. The design featured coloured spots representing common types of cancer, with £3 from each sale donated to Maggie’s.
Swansea City legends Alan Curtis MBE and Kev Johns MBE have long-standing ties to the charity, serving as ambassadors for the Swansea centre following their own cancer diagnoses.
Dr Sian Williams said: “I am delighted to be asked to become an ambassador for Maggie’s. I know how brilliantly and compassionately they deliver expert and holistic care to those going through cancer and their family and friends.
“I’ve worked at Maggie’s and had a cancer experience too, so I know what an enormous difference that support can make. I am looking forward to working even more closely with the charity to make sure they can reach as many people as possible at what is potentially the hardest time of their lives.”
After many years as a news presenter on the BBC, including on BBC Breakfast, Dr Sian studied for a Master’s Degree in Psychology, followed by a Professional Doctorate in Counselling Psychology.
During her training as a counselling psychologist, she undertook a placement at Maggie’s West London at Charing Cross Hospital, where she spent 18 months facilitating support groups and delivering one-to-one therapy.
Since then, Dr Sian has, amongst other things, spoken at a carol concert to raise funds for Maggie’s, hosted a panel discussion on men, cancer and mental health in the Senedd for the charity, and taken part in Maggie’s campaigns to raise awareness of treatment induced crash menopause.
Dr Sian has personal experience of cancer after being diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 50 in 2014. Her treatment included a double mastectomy. The author has since expressed how her experience made her realise what a difference the right support can make.
Dame Laura Lee DBE, chief executive of Maggie’s, said: “We are so pleased to announce Dr Sian as an ambassador for Maggie’s. As a psychologist and someone with lived experience of cancer, I know she truly understands our support and the needs of our centre visitors.
“We are marking 30 years of transformative cancer care this year and are more committed than ever to making sure everyone with cancer, and their family and friends, has access to our free expert, practical, emotional and psychological support. It’s wonderful to welcome Dr Sian to the Maggie’s family during our 30th year.”
Maggie’s has been providing free, expert emotional and practical support for people with cancer for 30 years.
[Lead image: BBC]
#BBC #DrSianWilliams #KevJohns #Maggies #SingletonHospital -
SWANSEA: ‘I was just hooked’ — the Kev Johns podcast that’s become even more poignant since his stroke
A podcast recorded with Kev Johns before his mini stroke has been shared by Swansea City, giving fans a chance to hear the club’s beloved matchday host reflect on a lifetime of memories at the heart of the Jack Army — in his own words, in his own voice.
The 78-minute episode of the club’s official podcast Way Down by the Sea was recorded at the Swansea Jack in January 2026. Weeks later, Kev suffered a mini stroke. A GoFundMe campaign has since raised thousands for him and his family — and now the Swans have released the podcast, which takes on an added poignancy given what followed.
Speaking with characteristic warmth and wit, Kev — who holds an MBE for his services to the club and the community — traces his connection to the Swans all the way back to the age of seven, when his father and uncle Jack took him to his first game at the Vetch.
“I’ll never forget coming up the little slope in the North Bank and catching the sight of the pitch with the floodlights on it,” he said. “I was just hooked.”
His early heroes included Herbie Williams, Geoff Thomas and Tony Millington — but one name stands out above the rest. Vic Gommersall, a left-back who became far more than a boyhood idol.
Kev said Gommersall had become a genuine friend in later life, with the two hugging on the terraces when the Swans scored. “My boyhood hero became a friend,” he said. “And the last thing I could do for my dear friend Vic was officiate at his funeral service. It was an incredible honour — but it broke my heart.”
Kev’s path to becoming the voice of the Vetch came almost by accident. He had been working as a commentator on a fans’ football tournament when a brief mention in the Evening Post caught the club’s eye. The phone call that followed changed everything.
“I had a phone call from the Swans saying, ‘You’re doing halftime at Wembley,'” he recalled. “I said yeah. They said, ‘Why don’t you do that for us?’ I said, ‘Well, you’ve never asked.’ They said, ‘Well, we’re asking.’ I said, ‘I’ll do it.'”
The first game he hosted was against Exeter — with Uri Geller in tow. “I had to introduce Uri Geller at halftime and he bent spoons in front of the North Bank,” Kev said. “Who’s going to see a spoon at that distance? And I was going, ‘Oh, it’s incredible, the spoon is bending.’ I had a background in comedy magic — I knew exactly how he did it.”
For years, Kev received no fee — just three match tickets. It didn’t matter. “I’d be there anyway,” he said. “It’s not a money-making thing, it’s not a job. I love the club. I really do love the club. If we win, lose or draw, I’m just proud to be a Jack.”
Among the many memories he shares, the Hull game — when a Swansea win kept the club in the Football League — stands out as one of the most electric. “It was not just on the day,” he said of the tension. “It was the whole week leading up to it. It was almost like a cup final. And when that fourth goal went in — my goodness, it was incredible.”
He also played a central role during one of the darkest chapters in the club’s recent history — the Tony Petty era, when supporters feared for the club’s very existence. “Everything was done for the sake of the football club,” he said of his decision to lead the march through the city and then straight onto the pitch. “Orient were playing and their supporters joined us in the march, which is why we will always respect Orient Football Club.”
He later had Petty on his radio phone-in the following morning. “Man, I had to take him upstairs for a cup of tea afterwards because he was visibly in shock,” Kev recalled. He reserved particular praise for Nick Cusack, the club captain who put his job on the line to support the supporters’ campaign. “He stood out and he stood tall and it was remarkable what he did,” Kev said.
The podcast also takes in some of Kev’s more personal memories — including a moving service he held at the Vetch before it was demolished, for supporters whose ashes had been scattered on the pitch. And his recollections of Terry Coles, the young Swansea supporter who died following a match at the Vetch in 1994, are deeply affecting.
“Terry and the boys from Morriston had just got in — they’d been in town, no trouble whatsoever,” he said. “And he didn’t stand a chance.” Days later, Kev was asked to lead prayers at the memorial game. “I looked around the circle,” he said. “Gareth Southgate, David James — John Gregory had brought the full cup final team down to play that game. He would have been excused for using a few squad players. But he brought a full team down.”
Even now, decades on, it is clear the weight of that day has never left him.
The full episode of Way Down by the Sea is available on Spotify and YouTube.
Related stories from Swansea Bay News
SWANSEA: City rallies for ‘our Kev’ as fundraiser launched after stroke
A fundraising appeal was launched to support Kev and his family following his mini stroke.Swansea favourite Kev Johns recovering after minor stroke
Much-loved Swansea entertainer and Swans matchday announcer Kev Johns is recovering well.Kev Johns on life as Swansea’s panto dame — 30 years of sparkle at the Grand
Kev lifts the curtain on his extraordinary four-decade career as Swansea’s panto dame.Swansea Grand prepares for festive panto adventure Aladdin
#KevJohns #SwanseaCityFC
Kev Johns joined Joe Pasquale for Swansea Grand’s Christmas 2025 pantomime Aladdin. -
SWANSEA: City rallies for ‘our Kev’ as fundraiser launched after stroke
Jessica Rice, a close family friend, has set up the fundraiser to help ease financial pressures on Kev and his wife Rosie as he begins his recovery — with more than £2,200 already raised.
Known affectionately as “our Kev”, the much-loved entertainer has been a fixture of Swansea life for decades — from the panto stage at the Grand Theatre to the airwaves and the Swansea City stadium.
Now, the man who has spent a lifetime lifting others is being backed by the community he has given so much to.
In a heartfelt message on the fundraiser page, supporters said: “Kevin Johns MBE has been the heart of Swansea for decades… always showing up, always supporting others, and never asking for anything in return.
“Now, Kev needs us.”
Kev suffered a stroke and now faces a period of recovery where he is unable to work — coming after what friends describe as an already difficult few years.
Throughout it all, his wife Rosie has remained by his side “day and night”, with the fundraiser describing her support as the “true meaning of marriage”.
The page adds: “This fundraiser is our chance to give back to someone who has spent his life giving to others.
“We want Kev back doing what Kev does best — and he absolutely will be — but he needs the space and freedom to heal properly first.”
The appeal has struck a chord with many across Swansea, where Kev’s voice and personality have become part of the city’s identity.
Swansea Bay News previously reported that Kev was recovering after a minor stroke, and has also highlighted his incredible career — including more than 30 years as Swansea’s iconic panto dame and being awarded the Freedom of the City.
Supporters say this latest appeal is a chance for Swansea to “come together for Kev — just as he has always come together for us”.
Donations, big or small, are being welcomed to help Kev and Rosie focus fully on his recovery and return to the stage, the mic and the city he loves.
#Charity #community #featured #fundraiser #gofundme #KevJohns #KevinJohns #localNews #MBE #panto #strokeRecovery #Swansea #SwanseaCity #SwanseaGrandTheatre -
Swansea favourite Kev Johns recovering after minor stroke
Swansea City posted the update on social media, wishing “our very own Kev Johns all the best” and saying he is recovering well. The club added it looks forward to welcoming him back to the Swansea.com Stadium soon.
The news has prompted a wave of support from fans, performers and people across the city who have grown up with Kev’s voice, humour and warmth — whether on stage, on air or on the terraces.
Announcer Kevin Johns prior to to the game during the Sky Bet Championship match between Swansea City and Oxford United FC at the Swansea.com Stadium, (Image: Swansea City FC)A giant of Swansea culture
Kev is one of Swansea’s most recognisable figures: a radio host, panto star, charity champion and the long‑serving club chaplain at Swansea City.
In 2022 he was awarded the Freedom of the City, recognising decades of work in the community, on stage and in local broadcasting.
Kev Johns pictured with the framed certificate marking his Honorary Freedom of the City of Swansea.
(Image: Swansea Council)He has also been open about his previous health battles. In 2023 he thanked the NHS after undergoing cancer treatment, telling Swansea Bay News at the time that he was determined to keep performing and “make the show go on”.
‘Get well soon, Kev’
Messages of support have poured in since the club’s announcement, with fans calling him “a Swansea legend”, “the voice of the Liberty” and “part of the fabric of the city”.
Kev is understood to be recovering well following the stroke last week.
Swansea City said:
“Wishing our very own Kev Johns all the best after suffering a minor stroke last week. He is recovering well and we look forward to seeing him back at the stadium soon.”
A community figure who means a lot to Swansea
From Christmas pantomimes to charity fundraisers, school visits and matchday announcements, Kev’s presence has been a constant in Swansea life for more than 30 years.
His absence from the stadium this weekend was immediately noticed by supporters — and his recovery will be watched closely by a city that has taken him firmly to its heart.
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#featured #KevJohns #Stroke #Swansea #SwanseaCityFC
The latest updates on health, care and wellbeing across our region. -
Swansea’s Christmas Parade lights up the city — and earns national recognition
Organised by Swansea Council, the event kicked off at the Guildhall where Santa illuminated the building in red and green before launching the first of two fireworks displays. Crowds gathered at the entertainment stage to enjoy live performances, with professional acts and community groups bringing the city centre to life.
This year’s parade followed a new route, travelling down St Helens Road and the Kingsway before arriving at the main stage supported by Specsavers Swansea and Mumbles. Kev Johns MBE kept the crowd entertained before Santa’s grand arrival, where he lit the towering Christmas tree and switched on the city’s festive lights, followed by a second fireworks display.
The procession featured illuminated floats, marching bands, and larger-than-life characters. Highlights included Spark! the light-up band, the Winter Wonderland Birds, and a new addition for 2025 — the Living Snow Globe, complete with a Snow Queen in a swirling wintry scene. The Witches of Oz float also made a magical return, with the Good Witch in pink and the Wicked Witch in green.
More than 40 local community groups took part, including Mellin Theatre Arts, One Heart Drummers, and Bonymaen Kids Play Initiative — showcasing the depth of Swansea’s creative talent and community spirit.
The parade has now been shortlisted for a prestigious national award by the National Outdoor Events Association, recognising its impact, creativity and community engagement.
Councillor Rob Stewart, Leader of Swansea Council, said:
“Swansea truly came alive as thousands joined us for our spectacular Christmas Parade. This event is a highlight of the festive season, and I’m incredibly proud of the effort and creativity that made it possible. It was a wonderful celebration of Swansea’s community spirit and a fantastic way to start Christmas together.”
View our photo gallery of the parade highlights, featuring illuminated floats, performers, and the moment Santa lit up the city.
A Cinderella-inspired illuminated carriage leads the parade past the Royal Court Hotel.
(Image: Swansea Council)Parade performers light up the street with glowing shoes and festive costumes.
(Image: Swansea Council)The Grinch makes a mischievous appearance on the Whoville float as fireworks light up the sky.
(Image: Swansea Council)A roller-skating performer dressed as a glowing gift box entertains the crowd.
(Image: Swansea Council)The Grinch returns on a peppermint-themed float packed with festive characters.
(Image: Swansea Council)Giant gingerbread characters bring sweetness to the festive procession.
(Image: Swansea Council)A glowing red dragon puppet mesmerises the crowd with its mechanical movements.
(Image: Swansea Council)A vibrant insect lantern floats above the crowd in a sea of artificial snow.
(Image: Swansea Council)Giant gingerbread characters bring sweetness to the festive procession.
(Image: Swansea Council)A gingerbread girl waves from a candy-themed float decked in festive lights.
(Image: Swansea Council)The Snow Queen poses inside her magical snow globe, surrounded by icy branches and ornaments.
(Image: Swansea Council)A glowing snow globe reveals a wintry castle scene as families gather to watch.
(Image: Swansea Council)A giant inflatable octopus dances through the streets with glowing tentacles.
(Image: Swansea Council)Spark! performers energise the crowd with illuminated drums and theatrical flair.
(Image: Swansea Council)Giant illuminated stars float above the crowd as artificial snow blankets the parade route.A performer in a tropical costume waves to the crowd, bringing warmth to the winter parade.A traditional pipe band in full Scottish regalia marches through the city centre.A glowing float of lantern animals — including an elephant, zebra and monkey — delights spectators.Spark! performers energise the crowd with glowing drums and futuristic costumes.A character car resembling Lightning McQueen leads the way, followed by a glowing double-decker bus.Swansea’s towering Christmas tree glows with blue and white lights as crowds gather to celebrate.Fireworks light up the sky above the Guildhall as Santa kicks off the city’s Christmas celebrations.A team of LED-lit drummers perform in formation, energising the crowd with rhythm and light.A glowing snow globe float sparkles with artificial snow and icy decorations.Parade participants dressed as glowing Christmas presents light up the street with festive joy.A fierce red dragon puppet rolls through the snow as spectators cheer.Children and families line the parade route, capturing the magic of the night on their phones.Kev Johns MBE brings sparkle and humour to the parade in his iconic pantomime dame costume.Related stories from Swansea Bay News
Swansea’s Christmas Parade shortlisted for national award
The city’s festive spectacular has been recognised nationally for its creativity and community impact.New route announced for Swansea Christmas Parade
Find out how this year’s parade took a fresh path through the city centre.#christmas #christmasLightSwitchOn #christmasLights #christmasParade #cllrRobStewart #fatherChristmas #featured #floats #kevJohns #santa #sionCorn2 #spark #swansea #swanseaChristmasParade #swanseaChristmasParade2025
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Swansea panto stalwart Kev Johns MBE has been awarded the Honorary Freedom of the City.
Mr Johns was honoured for his charity work and for being an ambassador for the city at a ceremony at the city's historic Guildhall on 8 December 2022.
https://swanseabaynews.com/2022/12/08/panto-star-kev-johns-gets-freedom-of-the-city/ #KevJohns #Swansea #FreedomOfTheCity