A local celebrity who gained acclaim for his weird and wonderful inventions including a “rocket” which he attached to the top of his car has died suddenly.
Gerald Howells died aged 73 at his home in Treherbert with his family by his side after suffering a heart attack last week.
His relatives said Treherbert was mourning the loss of a quirky man who never failed to bring a smile to people’s faces.
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Forever passionate about renewable energy which he used to power batteries and tools at home, Gerald gained most attention for the rocket attached to his red Vauxhall Corsa – complete with propellers, wings, and blacked-out windows.
His family said he was happiest on top of the Rhigos mountain in the Rhondda where he’d often be seen by walkers testing his windmills.
Watch as Gerald talks about his shuttle and shows us some of his other inventions:
A self-taught inventor and jack of all trades who lived the vast majority of his life in Treherbert he began his working life on the Valleys coal lorries before becoming an electrician, a fireman, a gardener, a red-coat in Butlins, and even a paid actor. He starred in Cutting Edge on Channel 4 and 2002 film Outside the Rules.
“He was an eccentric person who always wanted more from life,” his family said. “He always wanted to look forward and a new idea was always around the corner.
“Everyone knew Gerald, you couldn’t miss him. He was always out and about and you couldn’t miss him with that thing on top of his car. Everyone knew when Gerald was coming through the Rhondda.”
Gerald created everything from energy-creating wind turbines out of old bicycle parts to massive robots, boats, propeller-powered bicycles, and vintage tandem bikes. He had not finished his latest invention – a “tandem tricycle” powered by an attached windmill – when he died last week.
“He was ahead of his time really,” his family explained. “He was happiest on top of the Rhigos, where he’d often pull up at the layby and test his windmills. People would often speak to him up there and take a genuine interest in what he was doing.
“He was a strong man who stood up for what he believed in and he was forever buried in his work – a true inventor.”
Speaking to WalesOnline about his rocket invention in 2018 Gerald said : “I've got a wild imagination – always have since school. As soon as I have one idea I have another idea – and I just jump from one to another.
"Everything I make works and has a purpose and I make everything out of waste – I don't really buy anything."
Gerald created the famed shuttle from old lifeboat rafts which he designed to be a sleeping box. "If I'd been on a long run I'd end up sleeping in the back of the car and waking up with a crick in my neck in the morning," he said.
"So I thought: 'Hang on, why don't I make a sleeping box on top of the car? One where I can lie down and stretch out in it'.
"I don't want to disturb any of the locals when I'm working so my workshop is up on top of the Rhigos mountain.
"It's nice and quiet and peaceful. It gives me time to think up there.”
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