1955 in Wales
 1955 in Wales |
| Other years |
| 1952 | 1953 | 1954 << All >> 1956 | 1957 | 1958 |
| 1955 in: The United Kingdom • Ireland • Scotland |
| Other events of 1955 |
This article is about the particular significance of the year 1955 to Wales and its people.
Incumbents
- Prince of Wales – vacant (The Duke of Cornwall (Prince Charles) was not created Prince of Wales until 1958)
- Princess of Wales – vacant
- Archbishop of Wales – John Morgan, Bishop of Llandaff
- Archdruid of the National Eisteddfod of Wales – Dyfnallt
Events
- 18 April–28 May - Sir Charles Evans leads the mountaineering expedition that conquers Kanchenjunga.
- 20 December - Cardiff becomes the official capital of Wales.
- The Farmers Union of Wales breaks away from the National Farmers Union.
- Kylie Minogue's mother, Carol Jones, emigrates from Maesteg to Australia.
Arts and literature
- The Gold Medal for Architecture is introduced to the National Eisteddfod.
- Bertrand Russell retires to Plas Penrhyn, Penrhyndeudraeth.
- The Guild for the Promotion of Welsh Music is founded.
Awards
- National Eisteddfod of Wales (held in Pwllheli)
- National Eisteddfod of Wales: Chair - Gwilym Ceri Jones
- National Eisteddfod of Wales: Crown - W. J. Gruffydd
- National Eisteddfod of Wales: Prose Medal - William Thomas Gruffydd
- Emyr Humphreys wins the Somerset Maugham Award for Hear and Forgive.
New books
- Kingsley Amis - That Uncertain Feeling
- Islwyn Ffowc Elis - Ffenestri Tua'r Gwyll
- (Edwin) Stuart Evans - Elegy for the Death of a Clown (poem)
- Gwilym Thomas Hughes - Ei Seren tan Gwmwl
- Elisabeth Inglis-Jones - The Story of Wales
- Dylan Thomas - A Child's Christmas in Wales (posthumously published)
- R. S. Thomas - Song at the Year's Turning (poems)
- Richard Vaughan - Son of Justin
New drama
- Saunders Lewis - Siwan
Music
- Grace Williams - Penillion
Film
- Stanley Baker plays Richmond in Laurence Olivier's film of Richard III.
- The Constant Husband, starring Rex Harrison, includes some Welsh dialogue.
Broadcasting
- The Welsh Home Service becomes available on VHF from Wenvoe
Welsh-language television
- January - First televised Welsh-language play, Cap Wil Tomos
English-language television
Sport
- Cricket - Wilf Wooller becomes an England Test selector.
- Rugby Union
- 22 January - Ken Jones becomes Wales's most capped player (36) in a game against England.
- 12 March - Wales beat Ireland 21–3 at the National Stadium, Cardiff.
- 26 March - Wales win the Five Nations Championship for the fourth time this decade.
Births
- 22 January - Clive Griffiths, footballer
- 4 March - Joey Jones, footballer
- 2 May - Peter Sayer, footballer
- 22 May - Maggie Jones, Baroness Jones of Whitchurch, politician
- 9 June - Alun Pugh, politician
- 21 June (in Sunderland) - Janet Ryder, politician
- 22 June - Green Gartside, musician
- 2 August - Alun Davies, biologist
- 4 August - Steve Jones, marathon runner
- 8 August - Gordon Davies, footballer
- 12 October - Brian Flynn, footballer and manager
- 17 November - Amanda Levete, architect
- 7 December - Mihangel Morgan, author and academic
Deaths
- 5 January - Douglas Marsden-Jones, Wales and British Lions rugby player, 61
- 25 January - Robert Dewi Williams, teacher, clergyman and author, 84
- 26 January - Gwilym Davies, Baptist minister, 75
- 29 January - Sir Rhys Rhys-Williams, politician, 89
- 19 March - Tom Evans, Wales international rugby player, 72
- 2 April - Billy O'Neill, Welsh international rugby player, 76
- 27 April - Ambrose Bebb, author, 60
- 19 May - Percy Bush, Wales international rugby union player, 75
- 13 July - Ruth Ellis, murderer, 28 (hanged)
- 28 August - Sir Lewis Lougher, businessman and politician, 83
- 28 September - Lionel Rees, airman, Victoria Cross recipient, 71
- 14 October - Harry Parr Davies, songwriter, 41
- 15 October - Thomas Jones (T. J.), founder of Coleg Harlech, 85
- 30 October - Bert Dauncey, Wales international rugby player, 83
- 1 November - Ronw Moelwyn Hughes, politician, 58
- 15 December - V. E. Nash-Williams, archaeologist, 58
- date unknown - Melbourne Johns, munitions worker and wartime secret agent, 55