So who would you give the crown to? Read the full story here

Organisers Culturenet Cymru are staging the online poll to find the 100 greatest Welsh heroes with the winner announced on St David's Day 2004.

The early leader is founder of the NHS Nye Bevan, closely followed by Medieval leader Owain Glyndwr.

But who do you think has the right to be called the greatest Welsh man or woman of all time? Tell us what you think.

The following comments reflect the balance of views we have received:

Richard Burton reading Dylan - 'to begin at the beginning' - the greatest Welsh team-up up to and including Phil Bennett and Gareth Edwards. Tidy.
Squiz, Llanmaes

Owain Glyndwr a name that speaks volumes of Welsh greatness.
Gareth Cording, Wales

Simon Weston this man has shown what courage is all about and got on with his life whilst helping others. Also Ryan Davies & Max Boyce two great comedians and ambassadors for Welsh Comedy
John , Sir Gaerfyrddin

Robert Owen Pioneer of co-operation
Vivian Martin, Wales

John Charles, the football player. The "Gentle Giant" is still remembered and loved in Turin, and he is probably one of the reason for loving Wales Claudio, Italian living in Surrey, England

It has to be John Frost of the Newport chartists - a father to modern democracy.
Nicholas Clark, Wales

Howard Marks for contribution to the counter culture
Zoe Thomas, UK

King Arthur, of course! Other than that David Lloyd George - he saved the country in WWI as Churchill did in WWII
Rob, UK Got to be Mary Hopkin, (followed by Mary's parents).

Ann Robinson?
Ben, UK

Ivor the Engine.
Philip, Been to Wales on My Holidays

Swansea Jack, a selfless dog that saved many human lives over its years in Swansea.
Dino, Australia

Richard Burton...but of course!
Gwenda, Ireland

Tom Jones is magic.
Gwen, England

Aneurin Bevan probably deserves the award but I have to choose John Charles. One of the top ten soccer players of all time.
John Fry, Wales

Nicky Wire from the Manic Street Preachers!
Marc, UK

Michael Owen - He's Welsh and he's my hero because he plays for In-ger-land.
Paul, England

Esgob William Morgan who translated the bible into Welsh
Bob Williams, Wales

Richard Burton if only for that wonderful voice; the entire rugby team of the 70's and Sparky Isabelle

Ian Rush - the greatest goal scorer of all time.
Adam, Conwy

John Charles, the football player. The "Gentle Giant" is still remembered and loved in Turin, and he is probably one of the reason for loving Wales.
Claudio, Italian living in Surrey, England

Eric Jones of Tremadoc, mountaineer & adventurer - he epitomises the most courageous and well balanced in Wales.
John Brailsford, France

Richard Burton if only for that wonderful voice; the entire rugby team of the 70's and Sparky.
Isabelle,

Gareth Edwards His exploits on the field epitomises the pride and passion felt by Welsh men and women Bob Jones, Wales

Stanley Baker. From the Rhondda to Zulu, what more needs to be said?!
Emma B, Wales

Twm Morys - poet, minstrel, lover of language. The spirit and creativity of his work represent the beauty and timelessness of all that is good about Wales
Gwirion, Wales

Why has no one mentioned Griffith Jones of Llanddowror? That man set up a teaching system that helped 200,000 Welsh people of all sexes, ages and backgrounds to learn to read!
Des Williams, Wales

Best would have to be my mother being there for me and for all the work she has done for charity, despite her illness. Worst would have to be Prince Charles, for being the most un-Welsh Prince of Wales that we could possibly have.
Gavin, Wales

My choice for the Greatest Welsh person has to be Gareth Edwards His exploits on the field epitomises the pride and passion felt by Welsh men and women.
Bob Jones, Wales

Ivor the engine - he put Wales on the map. Martin Welsh

Max Boyce, he proved it was impossible to be Welsh and funny at the same time.
Mike Hall, UK.

It has to be Nye Bevan. Charismatic and passionate. Far from perfect but achieved a great deal in his short time in office. Built some pretty good houses too.
Sally Carter, Wales

Ivor the engine - he put Wales on the map.
Martin Welsh, Welsh lad in Australia

Richard Burton, Richard Burton, Richard Burton.
Angela, Born in Wales, living in Thailand

Richard Burton - best ever Welshman, flawed genius, Wales summed up
Scott Maunders, Australia

Gelert of course. Why limit it to boring old men and women?
Tinek Mitski, Poland

Anthony Hopkins. A wonderful actor a great ambassador for Wales and the man who helped to save Snowdon for the Welsh people Eileen Goodrich, Wales

I pick as the greatest Welshman of all, the Reverend Lawrence J Pippick whose outreach program here in Los Angeles, USA, has brought solace and financial aid to the neediest immigrants in the area.
Matty Wong, USA

The "Little Digger", Billy Hughes, PM of Aussie during WWI
John Lovering, Australia

My hero is Llewellyn the great. I also think that Anuerin Bevan is a hero as well.
Llewellyn James, Wales

Anthony Hopkins. A wonderful actor a great ambassador for Wales and the man who helped to save Snowdon for the Welsh people.
Eileen Goodrich, Wales

My Welsh hero is Howard Marks - nuff said!
Dave, UK

Tom Jones - singer; Dylan Thomas - poet; Richard Burton - actor Paul Willson, Canada

My vote goes to Nye Bevan. Would Great Britain be as great today without its health service.
John Elward, Wales

No doubt it has to be Llywelyn II, Y Lliw Olaf, our last prince, killed by the English while attempting to unite Wales as one nation.
Claire Davies, Wales

Cerys Matthews because she showed that any girl stuck in a dead end can make it big and be talented, and be themselves no matter what.
Alex, Wales

Tom Jones - singer; Dylan Thomas - poet; Richard Burton - actor
Paul Willson, Victoria BC Canada

I vote for David Lloyd George - a charismatic orator who as chancellor of the exchequer introduced old age pensions and then as prime minister led a coalition government during WW1.
Marion Davies, England

If you define hero as one who overcame with courage and nobility of spirit then perhaps we do not have to look too far back in history - Simon Weston. Marc Ollosson, UK

Aneurin Bevan - he created the best health service in the world.
Phillip Davies, Wales

My mother. For the reasons , who needs any to nominate the best person in their life?
Anthony Rose, Wales

Aneurin Bevan - the NHS, although now crumbling, was a shining beacon to the world of what could be done with vision and commitment.
Graham Cook, Wales

My Welsh hero is Charles our current Prince of Wales. He represents everything that is Welsh in Wales.
KS, England

If you define hero as one who overcame with courage and nobility of spirit then perhaps we do not have to look too far back in history - Simon Weston.
Marc Ollosson, UK

Dylan Thomas-The most beautiful pure poet in the English language.
M. Arnold, USA

My Welsh hero is Llywelyn, Prince of Wales as he was the last Welsh Prince before the English took over. Also, Kelly Jones is a bit of a hero (Stereophonics!)
Helen McCormack, Wales

Lloyd George - the only Welsh PM. A remarkable man.
Greg Walker, Wales

As an expat in Latin America for 30+ years most people here think Wales is part of England. But they do know of Tom Jones and know that he is Welsh, so I will join them and vote for the Treforest boyo. Roy Lodge, Peru

I grew up in Swansea Valley - though I have lived in England now for 17 years It would have to be between Aneurin Bevan and Dylan Thomas for me - although there are many fine women and men eligible for the title, they both genuinely merit the epithet `great'
I Holroyd, England

Ryan Davies, Ronnie Williams, Sir Harry Secombe, Max Boyce, Rhodri Morgan... Wales has produced so may fine comedians.
Kelvin Mason, Wales

As an expat in Latin America for 30+ years most people here think Wales is part of England ( I am educating them). But they do know of Tom Jones and know that he is Welsh, so I will join them and vote for the Treforest boyo.
Ray Lodge, Cajamarca, Per�

John Charles, Tom Jones, Aneurin Bevan, Fireman Sam
Livzy, Bangor Aye

David Thompson was born in Westminster, England, April 30, 1770 of Welsh parents. He can be considered as the greatest cartographer of all time. J Issitt, Canada

Without Owain Glyndwr, there would be a greatly diminished idea of Wales and Welshness. With less to look back upon, there is less to build upon.
David Lloyd Owen, Wales

David Thompson was born in Westminster, England, April 30, 1770 of Welsh parents. He can be considered as the greatest cartographer of all time.
J. Isitt, Canada

Aneurin Bevan - free flowing orator and thinker.
G Breton, Wales

It has to be Ron Davies for what can only be described as the most bizarre (and in some senses amusing) departure from politics.
Hywel Evans, Wales

I think u should look at Llywelyn the great and a few of the other leaders from then rather than always Owen Glyndwr without men like Llywelyn Owain wouldn't have had a country to fight for
Dave, Wales

What about the 'other' Thomas poet from Wales? I'm talking about RS Thomas, who wrote hundreds of beautiful, compact poems in which he made powerful statements and posed profound questions about the human condition.
Frank, UK

I think Tanni Grey Thompson should win. She's done so much for Wales and overcoming losing her mother. She is the hero of Wales. Sarah Blanche, Newbridge

Without equal, Anuerin Bevan has to be Wales' greatest Welshman. The greatest social step ever made by our country has to be the NHS. The Liberals dreamt of it and the Tories did not want it, but Nye delivered it.
Robert Bevan, Wales

Gareth Edwards to represent the very best of Welsh rugby in the 70s when the team's performances helped to put Wales on the map and lift the spirits of the nation.
Mike Roberts, Wales

I feel the greatest Welsh person should be judged on two qualities alone -courage and vision. There are many who deserve this accolade in one or the other, but only one in both - Owain Glyndwr. If courage was the overriding factor he would, I feel be closely challenged by Simon Weston. As for Tom Jones, Anthony Hopkins et al forget it!
Kelvin C Jones, Wales

Also John Cale, another much neglected artist who changed the face of music as part of the Velvet Underground. Mark Thomas, USA

My nomination for the Greatest Welsh person of all time would be for Dylan Thomas.
Vince Harris, Wales

I think Tanni Grey Thompson should win. She's done so much for Wales and overcoming losing her mother. She is the hero of Wales.
Sarah Blanche, Newbridge

Dylan Thomas, his importance to literature is not yet fully realised. He made the mundane beautiful and vital. Also John Cale, another much neglected artist who changed the face of music as part of the Velvet Underground.
Mark Thomas, USA

I think either BBC Wales' Bob Humphrys or weatherman Derek Brockway should be named greatest Welsh man of all time, they're both the best in their respective fields and brighten up the news reports.
Jane Hall, Wales

Gareth Edwards is the greatest within my lifetime, I probably don't have enough knowledge to judge further than that.
Jay, Wales