'Gentle giant' in biography list

John Charles played for Juventus and Leeds United.

"Gentle Giant" footballer John Charles is among five people from Wales added to the online edition of the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (DNB).

The founder of the Bank of Wales Sir Julian Hodge, rugby player Vivian Jenkins and writers Bernice Rubens and Islwyn Ffowe Elis are also included.

They are among 211 additions to the dictionary which also features DJ John Peel and serial killer Harold Shipman.

All the dictionary's new entries died in 2004.

Published since 1885, the dictionary lists those who have "for good or ill" left their mark on British society.

Nicknamed "Il buono gigante" - the Gentle Giant - during a successful spell with Juventus in Italy, Mr Charles also played for Leeds, Swansea and Cardiff and was a Welsh international.

His entry explains what set him apart from other players was his ability to "play brilliantly as a centre-half or centre-forward".

It is fitting that this great institution (the DNB) should recognise a great player like John Charles Peter Stead, author

Sir Julian Hodge's achievements in establishing the Bank of Wales despite growing up with no money, connections or qualifications, are noted in his DNB entry.

Aberfan-born Vivian Jenkins' prowess with both the rugby and cricket ball are mentioned in his mini-biography which also points out that his debut game for Wales was also the first Welsh victory at Twickenham since the ground opened in 1910.

Cardiff-born Bernice Ruebens is remembered for novels which recall her Welsh-Jewish upbringing in the Splott district of the city.

The entry for Welsh language novelist Islwyn Ffowc Elis notes that his books told stories of Montgomeryshire farmers and the effects of the changing social conditions of the post war years.

Historian Peter Stead, co-author of For Club and Country - Welsh Football Greats, said it was fitting Mr Charles was included in the DNB because he was a world-class player and a lovely man.

Sir Julian Hodge founded his own bank and was a well-known benefactor

"He achieved world fame," said Mr Stead. "He was Italian player of the year at a time when football was very popular there.

"But when he came back to Wales in the '60s and '70s he never got recognition.

"It is fitting that this great institution (the DNB) should recognise a great player like John Charles."

Accounts of scientists, journalists, actors and broadcasters are also among those added to the DNB, which is published by Oxford University Press and is updated online three times a year.

The next online update will be published in May 2008.