Barry filmmaker aims to tell the story of ‘Rick on the Roof’

Glamorgan Star news 03/04/2024

2 minutes read

A London-based filmmaker, hailing from Barry, is on a mission to immortalise former Barry protester Ricky Canty – better known as Rick on the Roof.

Who is Rick on the Roof?

Ricky Canty’s rooftop protest, which lasted an astonishing 26 months, was born out of a dispute over the ownership of his family home in Radlan Close, Barry. Despite facing numerous challenges, Rick remained undeterred.

He claimed that the bankruptcy proceedings he and his mother Rita were made the subject of were fraudulent. Shortly afterwards, Rick first occupied the roof of the property on 19th April, 2006, before bailiffs were due to arrive and evict him. Friends and family helped him stay in a makeshift tent on the roof by providing food and drink – sent up to him in a bucket.

He was then jailed in the spring of 2007 for contempt of court and served a three-month sentence. During this time, the house was sold at auction for £92,000. Rick was released on 4th June, 2007, but a week later he was back on the roof. He remained there until he was allegedly assaulted and forced down in October 2008. He died on 7th November, 2023 aged 74. A death notice read: “Rick will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.”

About the Filmmaker…

**| Isaac Mayne wants to tell Rick’s story.**

Isaac Mayne, was just 11 years old when Rick embarked on his extraordinary rooftop protest, an event that shocked and fascinated Barry locals and the media alike. Speaking to the Glamorgan Star he said: “If I had a fire in my belly to make this film before, it’s a roaring flame now that he’s gone.”

“I needed to document his life and the culture and community he inspired and will always be part of – And it has to be now before that memory begins to fade.”

The documentary, supported by Ffilm Cymru Beacons scheme, aims to encapsulate the essence of Rick’s protest and its impact on the town. Featuring raw and authentic conversations with Rick himself and the individuals he brought together, the film will weave together two narratives and timelines: the story of Rick’s rooftop protest from 2006-09 and the present-day reflections of those whose lives he touched.

Pictured on the roof he lived on for two years is the late Ricky Canty. Photo courtesy of the BBC. — **| Pictured on the roof he lived on for two years is the late Ricky Canty.** *Photo courtesy of the BBC.*

Scheduled to begin shooting this spring, the documentary is expected to be completed towards the end of the year. As part of the Beacons scheme, the film will eventually be available for streaming on BBC iPlayer, alongside previous recipients.

With the production company One Wave at the helm, Isaac said the documentary promises to be: “A bittersweet, uplifting and slightly bizarre tale of a man on a roof who inspired and united a Welsh town.”