1983 in Wales
 1983 in Wales |
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This article is about the particular significance of the year 1983 to Wales and its people.
Incumbents
- Prince of Wales – The Prince Charles
- Princess of Wales – Diana
- Secretary of State for Wales – Nicholas Edwards
- Archbishop of Wales – Derrick Childs, Bishop of Monmouth (elected)
- Archdruid of the National Eisteddfod of Wales – Jâms Nicholas
Events
- 9 June - In the UK General Election.
- The SDP, led by Roy Jenkins, allies with the Liberals and gains fourteen seats.
- Stefan Terlezki becomes MP for Cardiff West.
- Plaid Cymru retains two seats.
- John Marek is elected for Wrexham, becoming the only Czech-speaking MP.
- Geraint Howells retains Ceredigion for the Liberals.
- 13 June - Four days after Labour's landslide defeat to the Conservatives in the general election, Michael Foot resigns after two-and-a-half years as party leader.[1]
- 21 June - Last coal raised at Tymawr and Lewis Merthyr Colliery.
- 2 October - Neil Kinnock, 41-year-old MP for Islwyn replaces Michael Foot as leader of the UK Labour Party.[2]
- Alan Wilson discovers what he believes to be King Arthur's memorial stone at the small ruined church of St Peter-super-Montem on Mynydd-y-Gaer in Glamorgan.
- Marcher Sound launches on 1260 AM and 95.4 FM (now BBC Radio Wales) from Wrexham, inaugurating the Marcher Radio Group.
- The BBC National Chorus of Wales is formed.
Arts and literature
Awards
- National Eisteddfod of Wales (held in Llangefni)
- National Eisteddfod of Wales: Chair - Einion Evans
- National Eisteddfod of Wales: Crown - Eluned Phillips
- National Eisteddfod of Wales: Prose Medal - Tudor Wilson Evans
New books
- Walter Hugh Boore - The Odyssey of Dai Lewis
- Rachel Bromwich - Dafydd ap Gwilym: Poems
- Marion Eames - Y Gaeaf Sydd Unig
- Alice Thomas Ellis - The 27th Kingdom
- Nigel Jenkins - Practical Dreams
- R. Tudur Jones - Ffydd ac Argyfwng Cenedl
- Alan Llwyd - Yn Nydd yr Anghenfil
- Robert Nisbet - Stories of Sheepskin
- Craig Thomas - Firefox Down
New drama
- W. S. Jones - Ifas y tryc
Music
- The Alarm - "Sixty Eight Guns" (#17 in the UK Singles Chart)
- Y Cyrff form at Llanrwst
Film
Welsh-language films
- Yr Alcoholig Llon
Broadcasting
Welsh-language television
- SuperTed makes his first appearance.
English-language television
- QED: Simon's War (about Simon Weston)
Sport
- Boxing - David Pearce of Newport wins the British heavyweight title.
Births
- 19 January - Rhian Morrissi, harpist
- 14 February - Rhydian Roberts, singer
- 18 February - David Vaughan, footballer
- April - Gary Griffiths, operatic baritone
- 13 April - Nicole Cooke, cyclist
- 12 May - Jamie Tolley, footballer
- 9 June - Ryan Watkins, cricketer
- 19 June - Richard Evans, footballer
- 10 August - Richie Pugh, rugby player
- 23 August - James Collins, footballer
- 25 October - Marcus Stead, journalist & author
- date unknown - Myfanwy Waring, actress
Deaths
- 10 January (in Amsterdam) - Carwyn James, rugby coach, 53
- 10 February - Michael Roberts, politician, 55 (in Parliament)
- 20 March - Alec Jones, politician, 58
- 9 September - Edgar Morgan, dual-code rugby international, 87
- 10 September - Dai Rees, golfer, 70
- 1 October - Ernie Finch, Wales international rugby player, 84
- 24 October - Norman Fender, Wales dual-code rugby international, 73
- 2 November - Tudor Watkins, politician, 80
- 30 November - Richard Llewellyn, novelist, 76
- date unknown - Richard Vaughan, novelist