1966 in Wales

1966 in Wales
Other years
1963 \| 1964 \| 1965 << All >> 1967 \| 1968 \| 1969
1966 in: The United Kingdom • Ireland • Scotland
Other events of 1966

This article is about the particular significance of the year 1966 to Wales and its people.

Incumbents

April - Future Welsh Secretary Peter Hain arrives in the UK from South Africa with his family.
14 July - In the Carmarthen by-election, caused by the death of Megan Lloyd George, Gwynfor Evans wins Plaid Cymru's first Parliamentary seat.
22 July
- Fifteen people are drowned at Penmaenpool in the Mawddach estuary.
- The M4 motorway Port Talbot by-pass is officially opened by The Queen.^[1]
8 September - The Severn Bridge is opened.
21 October - At Aberfan, following heavy rain, a colliery waste tip collapses onto the village's primary school, killing 116 children and 28 adults. Cledwyn Hughes, Secretary of State for Wales, and his government colleague, George Thomas arrive on the scene late afternoon, followed, in the evening, by Prime Minister Harold Wilson.
22 October - Lord Robens, chairman of the National Coal Board, arrives in Aberfan after going ahead with his installation as Chancellor of the University of Surrey, despite news of the disaster.
26 October - The Welsh Office appoints a tribunal, chaired by Edmund Davies, Baron Edmund-Davies, to investigate the causes of the Aberfan disaster.
27 October - Almost a week after the Aberfan disaster, writer and broadcaster Gwyn Thomas makes his famous radio tribute to the children of Aberfan.^[2]

British Press Awards - Special Award for Journalism - David Rhys Davies, Merthyr Express

Alun Hoddinott - Concerto no. 3, op. 44
Severn Bridge Variations (composite work composed by Malcolm Arnold, Alun Hoddinott, Nicholas Maw, Daniel Jones, Grace Williams and Michael Tippett)

Richard Burton stars in Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? alongside his wife Elizabeth Taylor. The performance wins him a BAFTA Best Actor award.

Hywel Bennett makes an impact in his first major TV role in Where the Buffalo Roam, a Wednesday Play.

Athletics - Lynn Davies becomes the first person to hold the European, Commonwealth and Olympic long jump titles simultaneously.
Football - Ivor Allchurch plays his final game for Wales, against Chile.
Rugby union
- Phil Bennett makes his first appearance for Llanelli RFC.
- Wales win the Five Nations Championship for the third successive year.
Tennis - Future rugby star J.P.R. Williams wins the junior championship at Wimbledon.
BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year - Lynn Davies