1981 in Wales
| |||||
| Centuries: |
| ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Decades: |
| ||||
| See also: |
| ||||
This article is about the particular significance of the year 1981 to Wales and its people.
Incumbents
- Prince of Wales – The Prince Charles
- Princess of Wales – Diana (from 29 July)
- Secretary of State for Wales – Nicholas Edwards
- Archbishop of Wales – Gwilym Williams, Bishop of Bangor
- Archdruid of the National Eisteddfod of Wales
- Geraint (outgoing)
- Jâms Nicholas (incoming)
Events
- January - First phase of St. David's Shopping Centre, Cardiff, opens to the public.
- January–March - Roy Jenkins co-founds the Social Democratic Party (UK).
- 24 February - Buckingham Palace announces the engagement of the Prince of Wales.
- 5 April - Census (UK): Results reveal that the percentage of Welsh language speakers has fallen to an all-time low of 18.9% of the Welsh population and Gwynedd is the only Welsh county with a Welsh-speaking majority.
- 29 July - The Prince of Wales marries Lady Diana Spencer.
- Joan Ruddock becomes Chair of CND.
Arts and literature
- 6 June - The Alarm play their first gig, at the Victoria Hotel, Prestatyn.
- Theatre Wales is established.
- Harry Secombe receives a knighthood.
Awards
- National Eisteddfod of Wales (held in Machynlleth)
- National Eisteddfod of Wales: Chair - John Gwilym Jones
- National Eisteddfod of Wales: Crown - Siôn Aled
- National Eisteddfod of Wales: Prose Medal - John Griffith Jones
New books
English language
- Clive Jenkins & Barrie Sherman - The Leisure Shock
- Eiluned Lewis - The Old Home
- R. S. Thomas - Between Here and Now
Welsh language
- Irma Chilton - Y Cwlwm Gwaed
- Eigra Lewis Roberts - Merch yr oriau mawr
Drama
- J. R. Evans - Brawd am Byth
Music
- Daniel Jones - Symphony no. 10
- William Mathias - Let the people praise Thee, O God
Film
English-language films
- The Mouse and the Woman, starring Huw Ceredig.
- Dragonslayer, with exterior scenes filmed in Wales.
Welsh-language films
Broadcasting
English-language television
- The Life and Times of David Lloyd George, written by Elaine Morgan and starring Philip Madoc
Welsh-language television
Sport
- Boxing - Neville Meade becomes British heavyweight champion.
- Football - Neville Southall joins Everton F.C.
Births
- 12 January – Sarah Thomas, field-hockey player
- 13 March – Ryan Jones, rugby player
- 28 March – Gareth David-Lloyd, actor
- 6 April – Robert Earnshaw, footballer
- 23 May – Gwenno Saunders, singer
- 24 May – Darren Moss, footballer
- 19 November – Mark Wallace, cricketer
- 16 December – Gareth Williams Scottish-Welsh footballer
- date unknown – Sian Reese-Williams, actress
Deaths
- January - Leslie Jones, footballer, 69
- 1 March - Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones, theologian, 81
- 8 March - Nigel Birch, Baron Rhyl, politician, 74
- 3 April - Will Owen, miner and politician, 80
- 13 April - Gwyn Thomas, author, 67
- 16 June - Billy Hughes, footballer, 63
- 17 June - Ike Fowler, dual-code international rugby union player, 86
- 23 July - Goronwy Roberts, Baron Goronwy-Roberts, politician, 67
- 6 August - George Lewis, footballer, 67
- 18 September - Brinley Richards, poet, author and archdruid
- 30 September - Roy John, Wales and British Lions international rugby union player, 55
- date unknown
- Tom Griffiths, Welsh international footballer
- Dai Francis, miners' leader
- J. E. Meredith, Presbyterian minister and writer
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Friday, January 23, 2015. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.