New career fits this former steelworker - down to a tee
ESTEL FARELL-ROIG speaks to a former steelworker who has turned things around after being on the brink on suicide when he was made redundant with four children to bring up and a mortgage to pay
Councillor has turned things around from suicidal feelings
AFTER losing his job at Tata Steel two and a half years ago, Nigel Hunt didn’t know what to do. Having worked on the steelworks’ trains for 10 years, he had to do something, as he had four children and a mortgage to pay.
He was let go from the steelworks merely days before hundreds more were made redundant, and was featured in a Vice TV documentary, which showed him trying to get his life back on track after losing his, which left him on the brink of suicide.
So the 48-year-old decided to start making T-shirts celebrating local life in Port Talbot – and they were selling. He was able to pay his mortgage.
Mr Hunt, who is also a councillor for Aberavon, said: “My life has radically changed in the past two years for the best.
“I am a councillor and I run my own business.
“I really enjoy the freedom and making a bit of a difference.
“Initially, I thought if I do six months and six designs and then become a taxi driver or something, I will be happy. But it is getting easier and I am starting to get commissions.”
The brand is called 1901 after the year Port Talbot Town football club was formed, and there are all sorts of designs.
Apart from T-shirts, they also do hoodies, mugs and other merchandise branded with designs and slogans like Shunk, Landed, Tidy and Lush. What became apparent early on is how popular “Shunk” was.
“Shunk” is a word used in Port Talbot for the past two or three generations, the dad-of-four said.
It is used in everyday life in the town, but people outside Port Talbot are not familiar with it.
“It is such an everyday word for us, but you go up to the road to Neath and they have not heard of it,” he continued. “It means that you are slightly untidy because you are hungover or because your shoelaces are not done up, for instance.”
Step into his shop in Number 32, Riverside, and the word is everywhere.
Mr Hunt added: “This week, the Shunk T-shirt with a leopard print is my favourite one. The leopard prints are maps of Wales.”
The aim is to celebrate local life in Port Talbot as well as South Wales in general.
One of their latest designs – “the San Portablo Plaza T-shirt” – celebrates the classic 1940s Plaza cinema in town.
They have also recently released “The Miami Beach Amusement Park T-shirt” celebrating the old Aberavon funfair.
Mr Hunt, who is from Taibach originally but now lives in Aberavon, added: “Port Talbot has always done very well on the creative world and we have lots of actors.
“The majority of my life I have lived here, and I like the beach, the mountains and the people. It is where my family and my