Grease star Dame Olivia Newton-John, died at the age of 73 on Monday, August 8, as the news was confirmed in a statement by the singer's husband. It was revealed that she had passed away peacefully at her ranch in southern California, surrounded by family and friends. Born in Cambridge and then moved to Australia at the age of six, Olivia's dad, was actually born in Cardiff, as she discovered in 2007.
The singer, songwriter, actress, entrepreneur and activist had been battling breast cancer for 30 years, but in recent years she'd discovered her dad's origins, before he became an MI5 agent in WWII.
Olivia is most famously known for playing the character of Sandy in the hit musical movie Grease, the highest-grossing film of 1978. The star also enjoyed a successful music career with hits such as Physical, Xanadu, If Not For You and Let Me Be There.
Read more: Grease's Pink Ladies and T-Birds pay tribute to Olivia Newton-John
And back in 2007 the famous singer retraced her family history and discovered a connection to Wales. During an episode of BBC series Coming Home, the dame retraced her Welsh roots to a Cardiff drinking spot where her dad was born. She was stunned to discover her links to the O'Neill's pub, now called by its old name The Market Tavern, on the Hayes as she researched into her family history.
Her father, Brinley Newton-John, was born in the pub when it was the New Market Tavern and her grandmother Daisy worked behind the bar. Brinley was educated at Canton High School, which is now home to the Chapter Arts Centre, and then went on to the University of Cambridge where he studied modern and medieval languages.
In 1940, Brinley joined the MI5 as an officer and spent two years interrogating captured German pilots, using his language skills and familiarity with upper-class German society to gain their confidence and elicit information. In May 1941, he was also involved in authenticating the identity of Rudolf Hess, who was later imprisoned and convicted for his crimes.
In 1942, Mr Newton-John was then seconded to the top-secret Ultra project at Bletchley Park, the intelligence unit that, among other things, broke the German Enigma codes. Following the war, Brinley moved to Melbourne, Australia in 1954 with his family, including six-year-old Olivia.
During the special programme on BBC, Olivia and her older sister, Rona, not only found where their father had lived as a child but also discovered the identity and life stories of their Welsh ancestors. They discovered their great-grandmother Elizabeth Richards, born in 1843, had married James Newton, the cellar man at the New Market Tavern, which then became O’Neill’s, which then moved to Church Street.
The couple lived at 13 St Mary Street, now part of the Howell’s building, and were married at Bethany Chapel, also now incorporated into the department store. But the sisters’ biggest surprise was at O’Neill’s, where the manager at the time - Paul Thomas, turned out to be their fourth cousin.
"It's wild," Olivia said during the show. "It's mind-boggling to not only find this pub, but find out that it’s run by our fourth cousin." She then added: "I had no idea our father was born above a pub or that my grandmother Daisy worked behind the bar! I had a fantastic time – it's been one surprise after another. It's been exciting and stimulating. I can't wait to come back."
The Australian star eventually did return in 2013, where she performed at her father's birthplace - Cardiff, as part of her UK tour. Speaking with WalesOnline at the time, she said: "It will be lovely to be performing in my father's homeland.
"Unfortunately my relatives [in Wales] have all passed away now. I have been back to the little house [where they lived] and little church where they are buried. It was a beautiful trip. My sister and I did the trip together."
In the statement announcing her death, husband, John Easterling, said: "We ask that everyone please respect the family’s privacy during this very difficult time.
"Olivia has been a symbol of triumphs and hope for over 30 years sharing her journey with breast cancer. Her healing inspiration and pioneering experience with plant medicine continues with the Olivia Newton-John Foundation Fund, dedicated to researching plant medicine and cancer. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that any donations be made in her memory to the Olivia Newton-John Foundation Fund (ONJFoundationFund.org).
"Olivia is survived by her husband John Easterling; daughter Chloe Lattanzi; sister Sarah Newton-John; brother Toby Newton-John; nieces and nephews Tottie, Fiona and Brett Goldsmith; Emerson, Charlie, Zac, Jeremy, Randall, and Pierz Newton-John; Jude Newton-Stock, Layla Lee; Kira and Tasha Edelstein; and Brin and Valerie Hall."
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