Returning to the Green, Green Grass of Home: Sir Tom Jones considers returning to Welsh mining town 40 years after leaving to become a tax exile in the USA

  • Sir Tom Jones left Pontypridd in Glamorgan, Wales to move to the USA in 1974
  • Was advised to move after Government raised tax for high earners to over 90% 
  • 77-year-old says he 'never really left' and is poised to return to his home village 

Sir Tom Jones said he may consider returning to Pontypridd in Glamorgan, Wales

Sir Tom Jones said he may consider returning to Pontypridd in Glamorgan, Wales

Sir Tom Jones could return to his Welsh hometown 40 years after he fled to America as a tax exile.

The 77-year-old moved to America some 43 years ago in 1974, on the advice of his accountant after the government raised tax for high earners to more than 90 per cent.

But the legendary singer said he 'never really left' the town of Pontypridd, Glamorgan and says while it is 'early days,' he hasn't ruled out a return.  

Born Thomas Jones Woodward in Pontypridd, South Wales to a traditional coal-mining family, the singer transformed himself from a penniless miner's son into a £190million global superstar through records including Delilah and It's Not Unusual.

But Sir Tom said he loved coming back to the UK and his roots in the Valleys, and keeps in touch with family in his home town.

In 2014 he spent three months living in the Savoy Hotel in London while filming BBC One's singing contest The Voice, and then did a 45-date tour of America and Australia. 

Earlier this year he put his stunning mansion in Mulholland Estates, Beverly Hills on the market for £6.45 million.

The five-bed home was bought by the singer in 1998 for just over £2.1million.

The Welsh sex bomb singer is pictured here with his Rolls Royce Phantom  in Pontypridd in 1974

The Welsh sex bomb singer is pictured here with his Rolls Royce Phantom in Pontypridd in 1974

This photo shows Laura Street in Pontypridd, Glamorgan, where the star grew up with his mining family

This photo shows Laura Street in Pontypridd, Glamorgan, where the star grew up with his mining family

Born Thomas Jones Woodward in Pontypridd, South Wales to a traditional coal-mining family, the singer transformed himself from a penniless miner¿s son into a £190million music star

Born Thomas Jones Woodward in Pontypridd, South Wales to a traditional coal-mining family, the singer transformed himself from a penniless miner's son into a £190million music star

In 2016 Sir Tom put his Grade II-listed mansion in East Sussex on the market.

The six-bedroom Grade II-listed property in the village of Burwash, East Sussex, was once jointly owned by Sir Tom and Engelbert Humperdinck - and was put on the market for £4.75million. 

The pair, who bought Socknersh Manor together in the early Sixties, never moved into the property full-time, but instead they used it to throw lavish weekend parties. 

Sir Tom told James Desborough of the Daily Mirror: 'I'm still trying to decide to be honest with you, but the reason that I went, was because of the government situation at that time.  

'It was 1974 when things changed and I was doing a lot of shows in America. 

'My accountant advised me: 'I wouldn't come back at the moment if I were you.'

Last year Sir Tom was left grief-stricken after the death of his childhood sweetheart and wife of 59 years, Linda, who lost her battle with terminal lung cancer. 

He fell in love with Linda when he was only eight years old, and used to meet her at the local shop or the red telephone box at the bottom of the hill of their Welsh town while out running errands for his mother.

The singer is picturd here in 1987 in Pontypridd for a TV Spectacular which he vowed would "Rock Wales to its foundation"

The singer is picturd here in 1987 in Pontypridd for a TV Spectacular which he vowed would 'Rock Wales to its foundation'

Sir Tom Jones pictured in 1983 with a pint at his old haunt, the Treforest Non-Political Working Men's Club in  Pontypridd with 86-year-old Harry Beard and other friends

Sir Tom Jones pictured in 1983 with a pint at his old haunt, the Treforest Non-Political Working Men's Club in Pontypridd with 86-year-old Harry Beard and other friends

Last year Sir Tom was left grief-stricken after the death of his childhood sweetheart and wife of 59 years, Linda, who lost her battle with terminal lung cancer

He pursued the petite blonde for years until she agreed to date him when she was 15, and liked to say the road always ran back to her.

It was a case of opposites attracting: he was a local rough lad, in the D stream at school with undiagnosed dyslexia. The son of a coal miner, he dreamed of fame.

She was bright, with a formidable work ethic and few expectations outside of South Glamorgan. But his talent took him far from the valleys — and far from her. 

Sir Tom was on tour when he discovered the devastating news that Linda had lung cancer and that it was terminal.

She died shortly after in April 2016 at the age of 75.

He said shortly after: 'I had to stop at that point and I didn't know whether I would be able to sing again because it hurt so much because we had been together since we were kids.' 

In September, Sir Tom Jones apologised to fans after being forced to postpone his 21-date US tour until next year on doctors' orders

In September, Sir Tom Jones apologised to fans after being forced to postpone his 21-date US tour until next year on doctors' orders

In September, Sir Tom Jones apologised to fans after being forced to postpone his 21-date US tour until next year on doctors' orders.

The 77-year-old had been due to kick off his latest run of live concerts with a show in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania on September 6 and continue on the road through to October 7 with a final gig in Tulsa, Oklahoma.  

The music icon wrapped his multi-city UK and European tour at the start of August after performing 26 shows across 12 countries. 

However, in a statement to fans, the legendary singer said all US tour dates had been postponed until 2018.

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