2010 in Wales

2010 in Wales

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2010 in: The United Kingdom • England • Ireland • Scotland

Other events of 2010

This article is about the particular significance of the year 2010 to Wales and its people.

Incumbents

• Prince of Wales – The Prince of Wales
• Princess of Wales – The Duchess of Cornwall (does not use title)
• First Minister – Carwyn Jones
• Secretary of State for Wales
  • Peter Hain (until 11 May)
  • Cheryl Gillan
• Archbishop of Wales – Barry Morgan, Bishop of Llandaff
• Archdruid of the National Eisteddfod of Wales – Jim Parc Nest

Events

January–June

• 1 January – Welsh people honoured by The Queen in the 2010 New Year Honours List include Menna Richards, Director of BBC Cymru Wales (OBE) and banker Dyfrig John (CBE).^[1]
• 6 January – School closures and icy road conditions result from heavy snow in most areas of Wales.^[2]
• 7 January – A report issued by the Ministry of Defence concludes that the two pilots involved in the Kenfig air crash of March 2009 "did not see each other".^[3]
• 12 January – Further heavy snow hits south and west Wales, as local authorities begin to run out of grit to treat roads.^[4]
• 12 February – Welsh Secretary Peter Hain and Assembly Environment Minister Jane Davidson announce plans to make the M4 in Wales a "hydrogen highway", with alternative energy refuelling points.^[5]
• 5 February – Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson is recommended by the House of Lords Appointments Commission as one of four new non-party-political peers.^[6]
• 14 February – Welsh rugby international Andy Powell is arrested near Junction 33 on the M4 motorway at 0600 GMT 14 February 2010, in possession of a stolen golf buggy.^[7]
• 15 February – For behaviour "contrary to the squad's code of conduct", Andy Powell is removed from Wales' 35-man training squad for the Six Nations Tournament 2010.^[8]
• 1 March - A BBC poll suggests that support has risen for full law making powers, up to 56%, with 35% against, although Nick Bourne the leader of the Welsh Conservative Party (who supported a yes vote) is sceptical of the poll results.^[9]
• 16 March – Welsh Slate announces the closure of Oakeley Quarry at Blaenau Ffestiniog.^[10]
• 17 March – Government figures show that the unemployment rate in Wales, at 9.2% is higher than any other home country, and higher than all but two other regions of the UK.^[11]
• 16 April – Four men are killed and a fifth is seriously injured in a car crash near Porthcawl.^[12]
• 6 May – In the United Kingdom general election, the Conservative Party wins 8 seats, Labour 26, Plaid Cymru 3 and the Lib Democrats 3.
• 12 May – Cheryl Gillan is confirmed as Secretary of State for Wales in the new UK government of David Cameron; she is the first woman to hold the post.^[13]
• 25 May – The Learned Society of Wales is launched .
• 28 May - Llanrwst celebrates the 400th anniversary of the almshouses built by Sir John Wynn, 1st Baronet.
• 15 June - Cheryl Gillan, the new Welsh Secretary in the Conservative--Liberal Democrat coalition government at Westminster, announces that the Welsh devolution referendum, 2011 will probably be held between January and March 2011.^[14]
• 16 June – New members of the Gorsedd are announced by the National Eisteddfod of Wales. They include Tim Rhys-Evans, Edwin Regan and Jill Evans.^[15]
• 23 June - A Danish tabloid newspaper accuses Stephen Kinnock of tax evasion.^[16] (Kinnock is married to Danish politician Helle Thorning-Schmidt.)
• 24 June – Barry-born Julia Gillard becomes Australia's first female prime minister.
• 28 June – The Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, unveils a new memorial on the site of Six Bells Colliery. The sculpture, known as "The Guardian of the Valleys", commemorates the pit disaster of 1960 and is a tribute to those who work in dangerous industries.^[17]

July–December

• 1 July - Wales's four archaeological trusts launch an online searchable HER website known as Archwilio, at the Treftadaeth Conference in Swansea. Alun Ffred Jones AM, Minister for Heritage, observed: “Wales is the first country in Britain that has made all its archaeological records available online”, and “Archwilio will be a tremendous asset not only for the people of Wales but also for those further afield who have an interest in the rich archaeology and cultural heritage of our country”.^[18]
• 5 August - The Faenol Festival is cancelled for the second year running.^[19]
• 23 August - The remains of Anglesey-born MI6 worker Gareth Williams are discovered locked in a sports bag^[20] at his Pimlico flat.^[21]
• 29 August - Air-sea rescue services begin a frantic search for missing kayaker Elizabeth Ashbee, who became separated from four colleagues in rough waters and bad weather at Ynys Feurig near Rhosneigr, Anglesey.Wales Online Her body is found in Caernarfon Bay two days later.
• September – The University of Wales Trinity Saint David, created by the merger of Trinity University College and the University of Wales, Lampeter, admits its first students.
• 5 September - Holly Stuckey, a pupil at Ysgol Maesteg School, is taken to hospital suffering from an allergic reaction, but dies shortly afterwards. Her parents later claim she was severely bullied at the school.^[22]
• 13 September – Archaeologists working at Caerleon announce the discovery of a suit of Roman armour.
• 4 November – The accident report on the Kenfig air crash of March 2009 is released. The AAIB makes no safety recommendations, referring instead to the recommendations made in January's Ministry of Defence inquiry report.
• 16 November – Buckingham Palace confirms that Prince William of Wales will marry Catherine Middleton in 2011. Her title following the marriage will be dependent on whether an additional title is conferred on the prince.
• 19 November - The Welsh Pony and Cob Society opens a museum at its new headquarters near Felinfach.^[23]
• 28 December – Andrew Craig, of Caernarfon, completes the challenge of climbing Snowdon every week for a year, thus earning £15000 for charity.^[24]

Arts and literature

• 13 May – Only Men Aloud! win the Album of the Year award at the Classical BRIT Awards.^[25]
• 31 March – Wenvoe transmitting station turns off its remaining analogue television signals, officially completing the switchover to digital television in Wales.^[26]
• 20 September – David Essex marries Welsh actress Susan Hallam-Wright at St Cross Church in Talybont, near Bangor.^[27]
• 8 October – Cardiff-based author Belinda Bauer wins the Crime Writers' Association Gold Dagger for her debut novel Blacklands.^[28]

Awards

• Glyndŵr Award - David Nash
• National Eisteddfod of Wales: Chair – Tudur Hallam
• National Eisteddfod of Wales: Crown – Glenys Mair Glyn Roberts
• National Eisteddfod of Wales: Drama Medal - withheld
• National Eisteddfod of Wales: Prose Medal – Jerry Hunter
• Gwobr Goffa Daniel Owen – Grace Roberts
• Wales Book of the Year:
  • English language: Philip Gross - I Spy Pinhole Eye
  • Welsh language: John Davies - Cymru: Y 100 lle i’w gweld cyn marw
• Dylan Thomas Prize: Elyse Fenton - Clamor^[29]
• Kyffin Art Prize:

New books

English language

• Gladys Mary Coles - Clay
• J. Graham Jones - David Lloyd George and Welsh Liberalism
• Patrick McGuinness - Jilted City
• M. Wynn Thomas - In the Shadow of the Pulpit
• Stan Stennett - Fully Booked
• Nikolai Tolstoy - The Oldest British Prose Literature: the Compilation of the Four Branches of the Mabinogi

Welsh language

• Hywel Griffiths - Dirgelwch y Bont
• Angharad Price - Caersaint
• Dewi Prysor - Lladd Duw

Music

Classical

• Huw Watkins - Violin Concerto

Albums

• Attack! Attack! - The Latest Fashion
• Charlotte Church - Back to Scratch
• Colorama - BOX
• Duffy - Endlessly
• Katherine Jenkins - Katherine Jenkins: Believe Live From The O2
• Tom Jones - Praise & Blame
• Al Lewis - In the Wake
• Manic Street Preachers - Postcards From a Young Man
• Y Niwl - Y Niwl

Singles

• Duffy (singer) - "Well, Well, Well"
• Katherine Jenkins - "Tell Me I'm Not Dreaming"

Film

English-language

• Rhys Ifans plays the title role in Mr. Nice, as Howard Marks.
• Michael Sheen stars in Unthinkable
• Third Star, set in Pembrokeshire

Welsh-language

• Patagonia

Broadcasting

Welsh-language television

• Only Men Aloud

English-language television

• Hidden Houses of Wales (with Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen)
• Rhod Gilbert's Work Experience
• Sherlock, produced by BBC Wales
• The Special Relationship (TV film) starring Michael Sheen as Tony Blair.
• Snowdonia 1890

Sport

• 18 September - Boxer Nathan Cleverly defeats Karo Murat at the LG Arena in Birmingham in an eliminator for the WBO light heavyweight title.
• October - At the 2010 Commonwealth Games, Wales wins medals in several sports:

Medal Name Sport Event Date 01 ! Gold Dai Greene Athletics Men's 400 m hurdles October 10 01 ! Gold Robert Weale Lawn bowls Men's singles October 13 02 ! Silver Jazmin Carlin Aquatics Women's 200 m freestyle October 5 02 ! Silver Carys Parry Athletics Women's Hammer Throw October 6 02 ! Silver Becky James Cycling Women's sprint October 7 02 ! Silver Michaela Breeze Weightlifting Women's 63 kg October 7 02 ! Silver Jenny McLoughlin Athletics Women's 100m T37 October 8 02 ! Silver Sean McGoldrick Boxing Bantamweight October 13 02 ! Silver Francesca Jones Gymnastics Women's rhythmic individual hoop October 14 03 ! Bronze Becky James Cycling Women's 500 m Time Trial October 5 03 ! Bronze Jemma Lowe Aquatics Women's 100 m Butterfly October 7 03 ! Bronze Jazmin Carlin Aquatics Women's 400 m freestyle October 7 03 ! Bronze Georgia Beth Davies Aquatics Women's 50 m backstroke October 7 03 ! Bronze Christian Malcolm Athletics Men's 200 m October 10 03 ! Bronze Rhys Williams Athletics Men's 400 m hurdles October 10 03 ! Bronze Anwen Butten & Hannah Smith Lawn bowls Women's pairs October 11 03 ! Bronze Keiran Harding Boxing Middleweight (75kg) October 11 03 ! Bronze Jermaine Asare Boxing Light Heavyweight (81kg) October 11 03 ! Bronze Johanne Brekke Shooting Women's 50m Rifle Prone (Singles) October 12 5 December - Gareth Bale wins the BBC Cymru Wales Sports Personality of the Year award [30] 27 December - The Welsh National steeplechase, scheduled to be held at Chepstow, is postponed from its traditional spot because of adverse weather conditions. Deaths 2 January - John Rhys Evans, operatic baritone, 79 4 January – Hywel Teifi Edwards, writer and broadcaster, 74 20 January – Jack Parry, footballer, 86 9 February - Malcolm Vaughan, singer and actor, 80 11 February – Brian Godfrey, footballer, 69 14 February – Dick Francis, jockey and novelist, 89 22 February - Robin Davies, actor, 56 23 February - Wyn Morris, conductor, 81 3 March – Michael Foot, politician, 96 10 March – Micky Jones, musician, 63 13 March - Neville Meade, heavyweight boxer, 61 31 March - Keith Kissack, historian of Monmouth, 96 9 April - John Griffiths, former curator of London's Science Museum, 57 14 April Tom Ellis, politician, 86 Frank Jackett, footballer, 82 30 April – Gwyn Rowlands, rugby union international, 81 May - Harold Rubens, pianist and human rights activist, 91 8 May – Alan Watkins, political journalist, 77 28 May – Iwan Llwyd, poet and musician, 52 7 June – Stuart Cable, musician and television presenter, 40 22 June - Pennant Roberts, TV producer, 69 23 June – Peter Walker, Baron Walker of Worcester, former Secretary of State for Wales, 78 July - Jimmy Singer, footballer, 72 20 July - Iris Gower, novelist, 75 August - Gareth Williams, intelligence officer, ?30 10 August - Brian Clark, former Cardiff City footballer, 67 13 August - A. J. R. Russell-Wood, historian, 70 30 August - Owen Edwards, broadcaster, 76[31] 16 September - Richard Livsey, Baron Livsey of Talgarth, politician, 75 18 October - Mel Hopkins, footballer, 75 27 October - William Griffiths, hockey player, 88 28 October - Robert Dickie, British champion boxer, 46 (heart attack)[32] 9 December - Meirion Pennar, poet and academic, 65 26 December - Vivien Jones, lacrosse player, 59[33] References ↑ "Ex-HSBC boss made CBE in honours". BBC News. 31 December 2009.  ↑ http://www.denbighshirefreepress.co.uk/news/83494/warning-to-commuters.aspx ↑ "Pilots 'did not see each other'". BBC News. 7 January 2010.  ↑ "New snow arrives as grit rationed". BBC News. 12 January 2010.  ↑ "M4 set to be 'hydrogen highway'". BBC News. 12 February 2010.  ↑ "Dame Tanni nominated for peerage". BBC News. 5 February 2010.  ↑ Gardner, Alan (14 February 2010). "Andy Powell arrested over golf buggy after Wales win over Scotland". The Guardian (London).  ↑ "Wales drop Andy Powell from team". BBC News. 15 February 2010.  ↑ Powys, Betsan (2010-03-01). "'Support grows' for full law-making Wales assembly". BBC News. Retrieved 2010-06-27.  ↑ "Quarry losses hit Snowdonia town". BBC News. 17 March 2010.  ↑ "Unemployment rate highest in UK". BBC News. 17 March 2010.  ↑ http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2010/04/16/porthcawl-crash-car-sliced-in-two-91466-26259707 ↑ "David Cameron appoints Cheryl Gillan as Welsh Secretary". BBC Wales. 12 May 2010. Retrieved 15 January 2012.  ↑ "Daily Post North Wales - News - North Wales News - Welsh referendum on more powers in 2011 says Cheryl Gillan". Dailypost.co.uk. Retrieved 2010-06-27.  ↑ http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/walesarts/2010/06/eisteddfod_gorsedd_of_bards_members_honoured.html ↑ B.T. afslører Helle Thorning og manden : Scorer kassen i skattely, B.T., 23 June 2010 (in Danish) ↑ http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2010/06/29/archbishop-unveils-pit-disaster-statue-91466-26745825/ ↑ The Welsh Trusts launch Archwilio ↑ "Faenol Festival near Bangor off after low ticket sales". BBC Wales. 5 August 2010. Archived from the original on 14 August 2010. Retrieved 5 August 2010.  ↑ "Body of MI6 worker Gareth Williams 'locked in bag'". BBC News. 1 September 2010. Archived from the original on 1 September 2010. Retrieved 1 September 2010.  ↑ Sam Jones and Helen Pidd "'British spy' found dead identified as Foreign Office worker", The Guardian, 25 August 2010 ↑ Wales Online 12 April 2012. Accessed 5 May 2014 ↑ BBC Mid Wales, "Welsh Pony and Cob museum ready for the off", 19 November 2012. Accessed 30 October 2012 ↑ McCarthy, James (2011-01-02). "A year of climbing Snowdon for walker". WalesOnline. Retrieved 2012-10-16.  ↑ ↑ "Wales is first UK nation to switch fully to digital TV". BBC News. 2010-03-31. Retrieved 2012-10-16.  ↑ Jones, Ciaran (2010-09-22). "David Essex marries Welsh actress". WalesOnline. Retrieved 2012-10-16.  ↑ "The Writers of Wales Database: Belinda Bauer". literaturewales.org. Retrieved 2012-01-15.  ↑ Price, Karen (24 June 2011). "Dylan Thomas Prize winner Elyse Fenton on how it changed her life". Western Mail. Walesonline. Retrieved 11 January 2012.  ↑ BBC Sport ↑ BBC Wales News ↑ "Robert Dickie Trust launched in Llanelli boxer's honour". BBC News. 2 April 2011. Retrieved 22 May 2011.  ↑ "International Women's Lacrosse Legend Vivien Jones Dies at 59". insidelacrosse.com. 4 January 2011. Retrieved 17 May 2012.