1974 in Wales

1974 in Wales

Other years

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1974 in: The United Kingdom • Ireland • Scotland

Other events of 1974

This article is about the particular significance of the year 1974 to Wales and its people.

Incumbents

• Prince of Wales – The Prince Charles
• Princess of Wales – vacant
• Secretary of State for Wales – Peter Thomas (until 5 March); John Morris
• Archbishop of Wales – Gwilym Williams, Bishop of Bangor
• Archdruid of the National Eisteddfod of Wales – Brinli

Events

• 23 January – A UFO appears to crash in a remote area of North Wales. This becomes known as the Berwyn Mountain Incident.
• 28 February – In the first United Kingdom general election of 1974, Geraint Howells wins Ceredigion for the Liberals, while Gwynfor Evans fails to retain Carmarthen for Plaid Cymru in the February election by just three votes.
• 5 March – Elwyn Jones is appointed Lord Chancellor in Harold Wilson’s government.
• 1 April – The Local Government Act 1972 comes into effect, reorganising local government areas and incorporating the area of Monmouthshire as part of Wales.
• 10 October – In the second United Kingdom general election of 1974, Gwynfor Evans succeeds in regaining his seat at Carmarthen with a majority for Plaid Cymru of 3,640 votes.
• 22 November – Helen Morgan becomes Miss World; she is forced to resign after four days when it is discovered that she is an unmarried mother.
• Tredegar House is bought by Newport Council.
• Laura Ashley opens stores in Paris and San Francisco.

Arts and literature

• Kyffin Williams is elected to the Royal Academy.
• Andrew Vicari is appointed official painter to the Saudi royal family.
• The Cory Brass Band is the first Welsh band to win the British National Championship.
• The BBC Welsh Symphony Orchestra achieves full symphony status.
• Foundation of the Welsh Jazz Society.
• Journalist Hugh Cudlipp is created Baron Cudlipp of Aldingbourne.
• Glyn Daniel becomes Professor of Archaeology at Cambridge.

Awards

• National Eisteddfod of Wales (held in Carmarthen)

• National Eisteddfod of Wales: Chair - Moses Glyn Jones
• National Eisteddfod of Wales: Crown - William George
• National Eisteddfod of Wales: Prose Medal - Dafydd Ifans

New books

• Tony Conran - Spirit Level
• Islwyn Ffowc Elis - Marwydos
• Gwynfor Evans - Land of my Fathers
• David Jenkins - T. Gwynn Jones: Cofiant
• Bobi Jones - Tafod y Llenor
• Jan Morris - Conundrum
• Leslie Norris - Mountains, Polecats, Pheasants
• John Ormond - Definition of a Waterfall
• Goronwy Rees - Brief Encounters
• Alun Richards - Dai Country
• Harri Webb - A Crown for Branwen

Music

• Andy Fairweather-Low - Spider Jiving (album)
• Alun Hoddinott - The Beach of Falesá (opera)

Film

• Richard Burton stars in The Klansman.

Welsh-language films

• None

Broadcasting

• 30 September - Independent radio station Swansea Sound comes into operation.

Welsh-language television

• 8 October - Pobol y Cwm appears for the first time.

English-language television

• Richard Burton is banned from BBC productions after complaints about his derogatory comments about Winston Churchill and others in power during World War II.
• Windsor Davies makes his first appearance as Sergeant Major Williams in It Ain't Half Hot Mum.

Sports

• Curling - The Welsh Curling Association is formed.
• Golf - Brian Huggett wins the Portuguese Open.
• Snooker - Ray Reardon is World Professional Champion for the third time.
• BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year - Gareth Edwards

Births

• 5 January – Iwan Thomas, athlete
• 30 January – Christian Bale, actor
• 3 May
  • Barry Jones, boxer
  • Kelly Jones, musician
• 11 May - Darren Ward, footballer
• 29 May – Jenny Willott, politician
• 25 June – David Park, golfer
• 3 September - Robert Page, footballer
• 5 September – Becky Morgan, golfer
• 20 September (in Suva, Fiji) – Owen Sheers, poet and actor
• 17 October – Beverley Jones, athlete
• 18 October – Robbie Savage, footballer
• 24 October – David Evans, squash player
• 8 November – Matthew Rhys, actor
• 12 November - Jonathan Morgan, politician

Deaths

• 21 January - Sandy Griffiths, football referee, 65
• 12 February - Alec Harris, spiritualist medium, 76
• 3 April – Desmond Donnelly, politician, 53
• 5 April - Cecil Spiller, cricketer, 73
• 13 May – Islwyn Evans, Wales international rugby player, 75
• 29 August (in Oxford) – Harold Arthur Harris, academic, 71
• 9 September – Neil McBride, MP for Swansea East, 64
• 28 October (in Harrow) – David Jones, poet and artist, 78
• 24 November - Ivor Jones, footballer, 75
• 29 December – William Charles Fuller, Victoria Cross recipient, 80
• date unknown - Sir Archibald Lush, schools inspector, about 75