1953 in Wales

Centuries:	18th; 19th; 20th; 21st; ;
Decades:	1930s; 1940s; 1950s; 1960s; 1970s;
See also:	List of years in Wales; 1953 in The United Kingdom Scotland

This article is about the particular significance of the year 1953 to Wales and its people.

Incumbents[]

Archbishop of Wales – John Morgan, Bishop of Llandaff
Archdruid of the National Eisteddfod of Wales
- Cynan (outgoing)
- Dyfnallt (incoming)

Events[]

The Royal Badge of Wales with its 1953 augmentation of honour

7 March – A "Saint David's Day" pageant is held by the London Welsh Association in the streets of London.
11 March – The Royal Badge of Wales is granted an augmentation of honour including the motto Y Ddraig goch ddyry cychwyn ("The red dragon inspires action").^[1]
1 June – In the Queen's Coronation Honours List, Victoria Cross recipient Ted Chapman is awarded the British Empire Medal.^[2]
9 July – Elizabeth II makes her first visit to Wales since her 2 June Coronation.
10 July – The royal tour of Wales concludes with a ceremony at Caernarfon Castle and visits to the National Eisteddfod site at Rhyl, Wrexham and the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod.^[3]
2 December – Llandudno experiences unusually warm weather as a result of the "foehn effect".
date unknown
- The Royal College of General Practitioners is established in Wales.
- Goronwy Rees becomes Principal of the University of Wales, Aberystwyth.^[4]
- is knighted.^[5]

Arts and literature[]

July 6 – Dorothy Squires marries Roger Moore in the United States.^[6]
date unknown
- Thomas Parry (later Sir Thomas) becomes head of the National Library of Wales.
- Waldo Williams leaves the Baptist denomination and becomes a Quaker.^[7]
- Robert Frank photographs a Glamorgan mining village for U.S.Camera.
- Susan Williams-Ellis joins her father, Sir Clough Williams-Ellis, in his work on the village of Portmeirion.

Awards[]

Emyr Humphreys wins the Somerset Maugham Prize for Hear and Forgive.^[8]
National Eisteddfod of Wales (held in Rhyl)
National Eisteddfod of Wales: Chair – , "Y Ffordd"^[9]
National Eisteddfod of Wales: Crown – Dilys Cadwaladr, "Y Llen"^[10]
National Eisteddfod of Wales: Prose Medal – withheld^[11]

New books[]

English language[]

Jack Jones – Time and the Business^[12]
Bertrand Russell – Satan in the Suburbs and Other Stories

Welsh language[]

Islwyn Ffowc Elis
- Cysgod y Cryman^[13]
- Ffenestri Tua'r Gwyll^[14]
David John Williams – Hen dŷ ffarm^[15]

Music[]

8 June – Geraint Evans appears in the première of Benjamin Britten's Gloriana.

Film[]

Rachel Thomas and Clifford Evans co-star in Valley of Song.
Richard Burton stars in The Robe.
Rachel Roberts stars in The Limping Man.

Broadcasting[]

6 January – The Broadcasting Council for Wales meets for the first time.^[16]
January – Edward Williamson, Bishop of Swansea and Brecon, broadcasts a lecture on Henry Vaughan on BBC radio.
9 December – In the UK Parliament, the Postmaster General, Earl De La Warr, confirms that none of the first independent television stations will be located in Wales.^[17]

Welsh-language television[]

1 March – First broadcast of a television programme entirely in Welsh: a religious service from the Tabernacle Baptist Chapel, Cardiff.

English-language television[]

The National Eisteddfod of Wales is broadcast on BBC television, with English commentary by Hywel Davies.^[18]

Sport[]

Archery – The North Wales Archery Society is founded.^[19]
Rugby – In December, Wales defeat New Zealand 13-8 at Cardiff Arms Park.

Births[]

10 February – Jeffrey John, Dean of St Albans^[20]
15 March - Alan Couch, footballer
11 April – Rhodri Glyn Thomas AM, politician
12 April – Huw Edwards, Labour politician, MP for Monmouth 1991–1992 and 1997–2005
26 April – Andy Secombe, voice actor and fantasy novelist
8 June – Bonnie Tyler, singer^[21]
11 July – Nigel Rees, footballer
20 July – Dave Evans, singer
10 August – Gillian Elisa, actress, singer and comedian
2 September – Keith Allen, comedian and actor
28 October – Phil Dwyer, footballer
16 November – Griff Rhys Jones, actor, comedian and television presenter^[22]
In Australia – Shani Rhys James, painter

Deaths[]

10 January – Howell Elvet Lewis ("Elved"), poet and Archdruid, 92^[23]
7 March – Jack Williams, Victoria Cross recipient, 66
20 March – Fred Parfitt, Wales international rugby player, 83
24 March – Mary of Teck, Princess of Wales 1910–1936, queen consort of the United Kingdom 1936–1952, 85^[24]
6 April – Idris Davies, poet, 48^[25]
30 April – Sir David Rocyn-Jones, medical practitioner and President of the WRU, 90^[26]
2 May – Thomas Mardy Rees, author, 81/82^[27]
23 May – Henry McLaren, 2nd Baron Aberconway, industrialist, horticulturalist and politician, 74^[28]
5 June – Elizabeth Mary Jones ("Moelona"), novelist, 75^[29]
18 June – Reg Plummer, Wales and British Lion rugby union player, 64
26 August – Rachel Barrett, Welsh editor and suffragette, 77^[30]
9 November – Dylan Thomas, poet, 39^[31]
11 November – John Glyn Davies, poet and children's writer, 83^[32]
26 November – Sir Ivor Atkins, organist and choirmaster, 83^[33]
27 November – T. F. Powys, Anglo-Welsh writer, 77^[34]
17 December – David Rees Griffiths, poet, 71

References[]

^ Carr, H. Gresham (1961). Flags of the World. London: Warne. p. 66.
^ The London Gazette. H.M. Stationery Office. 1953. p. 2978.
^ "The Queen At Eisteddfod: Visit To Wales Concluded, Caernarvon Castle Ceremony". The Times. No. 52671. London. 1953-07-11. p. 6.
^ Goronwy Rees (2001). Goronwy Rees: Sketches in Autobiography. University of Wales Press. p. xvi. ISBN 978-0-7083-1676-4.
^ The London Gazette. H.M. Stationery Office. 1953. p. 3677.
^ Everett Aaker (16 May 2017). Television Western Players, 1960-1975: A Biographical Dictionary. McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers. p. 308. ISBN 978-1-4766-2856-1.
^ James Nicholas (1975). Waldo Williams. University of Wales Press; the Welsh Arts Council. p. 65. ISBN 9780708305850.
^ Wilson library bulletin. 1952. p. 60.
^ "Winners of the Chair". National Eisteddfod of Wales. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
^ "Winners of the Crown". National Eisteddfod of Wales. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
^ "Winners of the Prose Medal". National Eisteddfod of Wales. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
^ Keri Edwards; Welsh Arts Council (1974). Jack Jones. University of Wales Press [for] the Welsh Arts Council. p. 64. ISBN 9780708305522.
^ Proceedings of the Harvard Celtic Colloquium. Department of Celtic Languages and Literatures, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Harvard University. 1998. p. 439. ISBN 9780674023840.
^ Bwletin Y Bwrdd Gwybodau Celtaidd. University of Wales Press. 1987. p. 56.
^ Eurwyn Wiliam (1986). The Historical Farm Buildings of Wales. John Donald Publishers. p. 184. ISBN 978-0-85976-136-9.
^ British Broadcasting Corporation (1954). Annual Report and Accounts.
^ Jamie Medhurst (1 June 2010). A History of Independent Television in Wales. University of Wales Press. pp. 25–. ISBN 978-0-7083-2308-3.
^ Radio Times. G. Newnes. 1953. p. 24.
^ The British Archer. 1957. p. 241.
^ "John, Very Rev. Jeffrey Philip Hywel". UK Who's Who. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
^ Fred Bronson (1985). The Billboard book of number one hits. Billboard Publications. p. 1980. ISBN 978-0-8230-7522-5.
^ David Housham; John Frank-Keyes; Tiger Television (30 November 1992). Funny business. Boxtree. p. 170. ISBN 978-1-85283-792-1.
^ National Library of Wales (1951). Annual Report Presented by the Council to the Court of Governors. National Library of Wales. p. 12.
^ "1953: Queen Mary dies peacefully after illness", BBC News, retrieved 29 May 2018
^ Idris Davies; Dafydd Johnston (1994). The complete poems of Idris Davies. University of Wales Press. p. xxix. ISBN 978-0-7083-1272-8.
^ Royal Society of Health (Great Britain) (1953). Journal: Supplement to V. ... p. 466.
^ Evan David Jones. "Rees, Thomas Mardy (1871-1953), Independent minister, historian and author". Dictionary of Welsh Biography. National Library of Wales. Retrieved 12 March 2019.
^ Ray Desmond (25 February 1994). Dictionary Of British And Irish Botanists And Horticulturists Including plant collectors, flower painters and garden designers. CRC Press. p. 456. ISBN 978-0-85066-843-8.
^ David Jenkins. "Jones, Elizabeth Mary ('Moelona'; 1877-1953), teacher and novelist". Dictionary of Welsh Biography. National Library of Wales. Retrieved 12 March 2019.
^ Morrell, Caroline. "Rachel Barrett". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/63825. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
^ "Dylan Thomas: Death of a Poet". BBC Wales. 6 November 2008. Retrieved 15 July 2012.
^ Robert Geraint Gruffydd. "Davies, John Glyn (1870-1953), scholar, songwriter and poet". Dictionary of Welsh Biography. National Library of Wales. Retrieved 12 March 2019.
^ Moore, Jerrold Northrop (May 2008). "Atkins, Sir Ivor Algernon (1869–1953)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford University Press. Retrieved 2009-02-05.
^ J. Lawrence Mitchell (2005). T. F. Powys: aspects of a life. Brynmill Press Ltd. p. 163. ISBN 978-0-907839-86-6.

[1] Carr, H. Gresham (1961). Flags of the World. London: Warne. p. 66.

[2] The London Gazette. H.M. Stationery Office. 1953. p. 2978.

[3] "The Queen At Eisteddfod: Visit To Wales Concluded, Caernarvon Castle Ceremony". The Times. No. 52671. London. 1953-07-11. p. 6.

[4] Goronwy Rees (2001). Goronwy Rees: Sketches in Autobiography. University of Wales Press. p. xvi. ISBN 978-0-7083-1676-4.

[5] The London Gazette. H.M. Stationery Office. 1953. p. 3677.

[6] Everett Aaker (16 May 2017). Television Western Players, 1960-1975: A Biographical Dictionary. McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers. p. 308. ISBN 978-1-4766-2856-1.

[7] James Nicholas (1975). Waldo Williams. University of Wales Press; the Welsh Arts Council. p. 65. ISBN 9780708305850.

[8] Wilson library bulletin. 1952. p. 60.

[9] "Winners of the Chair". National Eisteddfod of Wales. Retrieved 7 November 2019.

[10] "Winners of the Crown". National Eisteddfod of Wales. Retrieved 7 November 2019.

[11] "Winners of the Prose Medal". National Eisteddfod of Wales. Retrieved 7 November 2019.

[12] Keri Edwards; Welsh Arts Council (1974). Jack Jones. University of Wales Press [for] the Welsh Arts Council. p. 64. ISBN 9780708305522.

[13] Proceedings of the Harvard Celtic Colloquium. Department of Celtic Languages and Literatures, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Harvard University. 1998. p. 439. ISBN 9780674023840.

[14] Bwletin Y Bwrdd Gwybodau Celtaidd. University of Wales Press. 1987. p. 56.

[15] Eurwyn Wiliam (1986). The Historical Farm Buildings of Wales. John Donald Publishers. p. 184. ISBN 978-0-85976-136-9.

[16] British Broadcasting Corporation (1954). Annual Report and Accounts.

[Medhurst2010-17] Jamie Medhurst (1 June 2010). A History of Independent Television in Wales. University of Wales Press. pp. 25–. ISBN 978-0-7083-2308-3.

[18] Radio Times. G. Newnes. 1953. p. 24.

[19] The British Archer. 1957. p. 241.

[20] "John, Very Rev. Jeffrey Philip Hywel". UK Who's Who. Retrieved 7 November 2019.

[21] Fred Bronson (1985). The Billboard book of number one hits. Billboard Publications. p. 1980. ISBN 978-0-8230-7522-5.

[22] David Housham; John Frank-Keyes; Tiger Television (30 November 1992). Funny business. Boxtree. p. 170. ISBN 978-1-85283-792-1.

[23] National Library of Wales (1951). Annual Report Presented by the Council to the Court of Governors. National Library of Wales. p. 12.

[24] "1953: Queen Mary dies peacefully after illness", BBC News, retrieved 29 May 2018

[25] Idris Davies; Dafydd Johnston (1994). The complete poems of Idris Davies. University of Wales Press. p. xxix. ISBN 978-0-7083-1272-8.

[26] Royal Society of Health (Great Britain) (1953). Journal: Supplement to V. ... p. 466.

[27] Evan David Jones. "Rees, Thomas Mardy (1871-1953), Independent minister, historian and author". Dictionary of Welsh Biography. National Library of Wales. Retrieved 12 March 2019.

[28] Ray Desmond (25 February 1994). Dictionary Of British And Irish Botanists And Horticulturists Including plant collectors, flower painters and garden designers. CRC Press. p. 456. ISBN 978-0-85066-843-8.

[29] David Jenkins. "Jones, Elizabeth Mary ('Moelona'; 1877-1953), teacher and novelist". Dictionary of Welsh Biography. National Library of Wales. Retrieved 12 March 2019.

[30] Morrell, Caroline. "Rachel Barrett". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/63825. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)

[31] "Dylan Thomas: Death of a Poet". BBC Wales. 6 November 2008. Retrieved 15 July 2012.

[32] Robert Geraint Gruffydd. "Davies, John Glyn (1870-1953), scholar, songwriter and poet". Dictionary of Welsh Biography. National Library of Wales. Retrieved 12 March 2019.

[33] Moore, Jerrold Northrop (May 2008). "Atkins, Sir Ivor Algernon (1869–1953)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford University Press. Retrieved 2009-02-05.

[34] J. Lawrence Mitchell (2005). T. F. Powys: aspects of a life. Brynmill Press Ltd. p. 163. ISBN 978-0-907839-86-6.

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1953 in Wales

Contents

Incumbents[]

Events[]

Arts and literature[]

Awards[]

New books[]

English language[]

Welsh language[]

Music[]

Film[]

Broadcasting[]

Welsh-language television[]

English-language television[]

Sport[]

Births[]

Deaths[]

See also[]

References[]