1979 in Wales

1979 in Wales

Other years

1976 | 1977 | 1978 << All >> 1980 | 1981 | 1982

1979 in: The United Kingdom • Ireland • Scotland

Other events of 1979

This article is about the particular significance of the year 1979 to Wales and its people.

Incumbents

• Prince of Wales – The Prince Charles
• Princess of Wales – vacant
• Secretary of State for Wales – John Morris (until 5 May); Nicholas Edwards
• Archbishop of Wales – Gwilym Williams, Bishop of Bangor
• Archdruid of the National Eisteddfod of Wales – Geraint

Events

• 1 March - The devolution referendum rejects the Wales Act 1978 (which would have established a Welsh Assembly) by four to one.
• The Parliamentary Select Committee on Welsh Affairs is established.
• 7 June - In the elections for the European Parliament, Ann Clwyd and Win Griffiths are among the newly elected MEPs. Plaid Cymru win no seats.
• 8 June - A Cessna aircraft crashes into a mountain in Snowdonia, killing all six occupants.
• 12 December - Four holiday homes in rural Wales are the target of arson attacks by Welsh Nationalist political activists.
• Annie Powell of Rhondda becomes Britain's first Communist mayor.

Arts and literature

Awards

• Michael Bogdanov is named "Director of the Year" for the Royal Shakespeare Company production of The Taming of the Shrew.

• National Eisteddfod of Wales (held in Caernarfon)
  • National Eisteddfod of Wales: Chair - withheld
  • National Eisteddfod of Wales: Crown - Meirion Evans
  • National Eisteddfod of Wales: Prose Medal - Robyn Lewis

New books

• Gillian Clarke - The Sundial
• Pennar Davies - Mabinogi Mwys
• Wendy Davies - The Llandaff Charters
• Marion Eames - I Hela Cnau
• Christopher Evans - The Mighty Micro
• James Hanley - A Kingdom
• Emyr Humphreys - The Best of Friends
• Sian James - A Small Country
• Dic Jones - Storom Awst
• Tristan Jones - The Incredible Voyage
• Anna Kashfi - Brando for Breakfast
• Leslie Norris - Sliding
• John Rowlands - Tician, Tician
• Gwyn Alf Williams - The Merthyr Rising
• Raymond Williams - The Fight for Manod

Music

• Dave Edmunds - Repeat When Necessary (album)
• Bonnie Tyler - Diamond Cut (album)

Film

• Rachel Roberts wins the BAFTA award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Yanks.
• Emlyn Williams' play, The Corn is Green, is filmed for the second time, starring Katharine Hepburn.

Broadcasting

• BBC Radio Cymru is launched.
• New Home Secretary William Whitelaw rejects the idea of a Welsh fourth channel on behalf of the Conservative government.

English-language television

• Colin Jeavons stars in Dennis Potter's classic play, Blue Remembered Hills.

Sport

• Boxing - Pat Thomas wins the British Light-middleweight title
• Rugby union - Wales win the Five Nations Championship and take the Triple Crown.
• Snooker - Terry Griffiths wins the World Championship in his first year as a professional.

Births

• 21 February – Laura Anne Jones AM, politician
• 26 February – Steve Evans, footballer
• 17 May – Michaela Breeze, weightlifting champion
• 3 June – Christian Malcolm, athlete
• 4 June – Celyn Jones, actor
• 13 July – Craig Bellamy, footballer
• 8 August – Danny Gabbidon, footballer

Deaths

• January – Dilys Cadwaladr, poet, 76
• 7 February – Charles Tunnicliffe, painter on Anglesey, 77
• 15 April (in Surrey) – Eiluned Lewis, novelist, 78
• 14 May – Jean Rhys, novelist, 88
• 10 October (in Teddington) – Christopher Evans, computer scientist, 48
• 12 December – Goronwy Rees, writer, 70?
• 20 December - Leslie Gilbert Illingworth, political cartoonist, 77
• 21 December – Nansi Richards, harpist, 91
• 29 December – Richard Tecwyn Williams, biochemist, 70
• date unknown
  • Hugh Bevan, academic
  • Dilys Davies, actress
  • Harold Finch, politician
  • Trebor Lloyd Evans, writer
  • Jennie Thomas, children's author