1996 in Wales

1996 in Wales
Other years
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1996 in: The United Kingdom • England • Ireland • Scotland
Other events of 1996

This article is about the particular significance of the year 1996 to Wales and its people.

Incumbents

15 February - The Sea Empress, an oil tanker, runs aground off Milford Haven, causing devastation to the west Wales coastline.
1 April - The Local Government (Wales) Act 1994 comes into force, creating 22 unitary authorities.
3 April - The first EuroHowl is held in Aberystwyth, Wales.
29 June - The Prince's Trust concert in Hyde Park, London is attended by 150,000 people.
18 July - Howard Hughes is sentenced to life imprisonment at Chester Crown Court for the rape and murder of 7-year-old Sophie Hook at Llandudno 12 months previously. The trial judge recommends that Hughes, 31, should never be released.
28 August - The Prince and Princess of Wales, are formally divorced at the High Court of Justice in London, the first time in history that a Prince of Wales has successfully gone through a divorce. By negotiation, Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales is restyled, Diana, Princess of Wales.
November - The Owain Glyndŵr Society is founded.
Michael German is awarded the OBE for his public and political service.
The Church in Wales ordains its first women priests.
South Wales Constabulary changes its name to South Wales Police.

Sir Anthony Hopkins opens the Cliff Tucker Theatre at the University of Wales, Lampeter.
Alice Thomas Ellis is sacked as a columnist on the Catholic Herald newspaper because of her attack on the reputation of the late Derek Worlock.
Steve Balsamo stars in a West End revival of Jesus Christ Superstar.

National Eisteddfod of Wales: Chair -
National Eisteddfod of Wales: Crown -
National Eisteddfod of Wales: Prose Medal -
Wales Book of the Year:
- English language: Nigel Jenkins, Gwalia in Khasia
- Welsh language:

16 January - Dai Ward, footballer, 61
14 March - Dewi Bebb, rugby player, 57
14 April - Mervyn Levy, artist and critic, 81
27 July - Billy Rees, footballer, 72
5 September - Clem Thomas, rugby player, 67
24 September - I. E. S. Edwards, Egyptologist, 87
9 December
- Diana Morgan, playwright and screenwriter, 86
- Ivor Roberts-Jones, sculptor, 83
29 December - Pennar Davies, poet and theologian, 85
date unknown
- Thomas David Frank Evans, WWII prisoner-of-war
- Aled Eames, historian
- Nigel Heseltine, writer
- Dafydd Orwig, politician and academic