1969 in Wales

Centuries:	18th; 19th; 20th; 21st; ;
Decades:	1940s; 1950s; 1960s; 1970s; 1980s;
See also:	List of years in Wales; 1969 in The United Kingdom Ireland Scotland

This article is about the particular significance of the year 1969 to Wales and its people.

Incumbents[]

Secretary of State for Wales – George Thomas
Archbishop of Wales – Glyn Simon, Bishop of Llandaff^[1]
Archdruid of the National Eisteddfod of Wales
- E. Gwyndaf Evans (outgoing)^[2]
- Tilsli (incoming)^[3]

Events[]

1 April – Registration of births and deaths in the Welsh language is allowed for the first time.^[4]
May – Deep mining of slate at Oakeley Quarry, Blaenau Ffestiniog, ceases.^[5]
22 May – Engineer Morien Morgan becomes Director of the Royal Aircraft Establishment at Farnborough, Hampshire, having been knighted in the New Year Honours.^[6]
1 June – The South Wales Constabulary is created by merging the police forces of Glamorgan, Cardiff, Swansea and Merthyr Tydfil.
11 June – The Prince of Wales' new standard is flown for the first time.
20 June – Llandudno Cable Car opened, the longest gondola lift system in the UK.
30 June – Two members of the Mudiad Amddiffyn Cymru (Movement for the Defence of Wales) are killed whilst placing a bomb outside government offices in Abergele in an attempt to disrupt the following day's events.^[7]
1 July
- The Prince of Wales, is invested with his title at Caernarfon Castle.^[8]^[9]^[10]
- Six members of the Free Wales Army are convicted in Swansea of public order and firearms offences; three are imprisoned.
3 July – Swansea is granted city status.
25 July – The Development of Tourism Act 1969 paves the way for creation of the Wales Tourist Board.
22 August – Closure of Dinorwic slate quarry.
November – Clashes between police and anti-apartheid protesters occur when the touring South African rugby team play Swansea.^[11] A silent protest takes place at an Ebbw Vale match.
December – Serious damage at Lluest-wen Reservoir requires emergency evacuation and repairs.

Arts and literature[]

Dafydd Iwan co-founds Sain Recordiau Cyf, which would become the major Welsh-language record label.

Awards[]

National Eisteddfod of Wales (held in Flint)
National Eisteddfod of Wales: Chair – James Nicholas
National Eisteddfod of Wales: Crown – Dafydd Rowlands
National Eisteddfod of Wales: Prose Medal –

New books[]

– Angau yn y Crochan
Pennar Davies – Meibion Darogan
Rhys Davies – Print of a Hare's Foot
T. Glynne Davies – Hedydd yn yr Haul
R. F. Delderfield – Come Home, Charlie, and Face Them
Raymond Garlick – A Sense of Europe
Glyn Jones – The Dragon Has Two Tongues
T. J. Morgan – Dydd y Farn Ac Ysgrifau Eraill
Dennis Selby – Sanctity: or There's No Such Thing as a Naked Sailor
John Griffith Williams – Pigau'r Sêr

Drama[]

Urien Wiliam – Cawl Cennin

Poetry[]

John Fitzgerald – Cadwyn Cenedl
D. Gwenallt Jones – Y Coed
Gwilym R. Jones – Cerddi
John Ormond – Requiem and Celebration
Penguin Book of Welsh Verse

Music[]

Albums[]

Amen Corner – Explosive Company (album)
Blonde on Blonde – Contrasts (album)
Man – 2 Ozs of Plastic with a Hole in the Middle

Singles[]

– Dŵr ("Water") (protest song)

Classical music[]

Jeffrey Lewis – Mutations I
Mansel Thomas – Mini-Variations on a Welsh Theme
David Wynne – Cymric Rhapsody no. 2

Film[]

English-language films[]

Richard Burton stars in Anne of the Thousand Days.
Hywel Bennett stars in The Virgin Soldiers.

Broadcasting[]

Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg (the Welsh Language Society) publishes a pamphlet entitled Broadcasting in Wales: To Enrich or Destroy Our National Life?

English-language television[]

Philip Madoc has roles in Manhunt!, The Avengers, Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased), The Champions and The Detective, among others.

Welsh-language television[]

Miri Mawr (children's)

Sport[]

BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year – Tony Lewis^[12]
Cricket – Glamorgan win the County Championship.
Rugby union – Wales win the Five Nations Championship and take the Triple Crown.
football – Cardiff City win the Welsh Cup.

Births[]

6 January – Nicholas A'Hern, race walker
20 January – Nicky Wire, musician
5 February – Michael Sheen, actor^[13]
10 February – Francesca Rhydderch, novelist and academic
13 February – Gareth Abraham, footballer
21 February – James Dean Bradfield, musician^[14]
24 February – Gareth Llewellyn, rugby player
1 March – Dafydd Ieuan, musician
11 April – Cerys Matthews, singer^[15]
4 June – Julie Gardner, television producer
26 July – Tanni Grey-Thompson, born Carys Grey, wheelchair athlete
4 August – Tony Roberts, footballer
4 September – Sasha, DJ and record producer^[16]
8 September – Gary Speed, footballer and national manager (died 2011)
25 September – Catherine Zeta-Jones, actress^[17]
8 October – David Abruzzese, footballer
23 October – Chris Fry, footballer
6 December – Anthony Davies, snooker player
date unknown – Dyfed Wyn-Evans, operatic baritone

Deaths[]

20 January – Roy Evans, footballer, 25 (car crash)
3 February – Trevor Thomas, dual-code rugby player, 61
14 February – Ernest Roberts, judge, 78^[18]
10 March – Jimmy Wilde, boxer, 76^[19]
18 March – Llewellyn Alston, Royal Welch Fusiliers, 78
20 March – Arthur E. Powell, Theosophist writer, 86
26 March (in Australia) – Elizabeth Williams Berry, jockey of Welsh parentage, 114^[20]
27 March – David Lloyd, tenor, 56^[21]
31 March – Percy Jones, Wales international rugby player, 82
5 April – Mal Griffiths, footballer, 50
15 April
- John Davies, dual code rugby player, 28 (heart attack)^[22]
- Cowboy Morgan Evans, Texan rodeo rider of Welsh descent, 66
20 April – Watkin Roberts, missionary, 82^[23]
4 May – Albert Stock, Wales international rugby player, 72
7 May – Stan Awbery, trade unionist and politician, 80^[24]
21 May – Ben Beynon, Welsh rugby union international and Swansea Town player, 75^[25]
23 May – Sir Evan Owen Williams, English-born Welsh engineer, 79
28 May – Rhys Williams, actor, 71^[26]
7 July – William David Davies, theologian, 72^[27]
26 July – Noel Hopkins, clergyman and organist, 77^[28]
12 August – Air Commodore James Bevan Bowen, RAF officer, 86^[29]
19 August – Percy Thomas, architect, 85^[30]
1 October – Dai Richards, footballer, 62^[31]
5 October – Sir Edward John Davies, judge in colonial service, 71^[32]
15 October – Charlie Phillips, footballer, 59^[33]
18 October – Emrys Hughes, politician, 75^[34]
11 November – Robert Thomas Jenkins, historian, 88^[35]
21 November – D. B. Wyndham-Lewis, author, 78
7 December
- Bill Roberts, Wales international rugby union player, 60
- (in London) Hugh Williams, dramatist, 65
20 December – Eleanor Evans, actress, singer and director, 76^[36]

References[]

^ Who was who. A. & C. Black. 1971. p. 728.
^ Reference Wales. University of Wales Press. 1994. ISBN 978-0-7083-1234-6.
^ Meic Stephens (April 1986). The Oxford companion to the literature of Wales. Oxford University Press. p. 589.
^ Halsbury's Statutes of England. 1985.
^ Isherwood, J. G. (1980). Candles to Caplamps: the Story of Gloddfa Ganol. Gloddfa Ganol.
^ Flight International. IPC Transport Press Limited. January 1969.
^ Shipton, Martin (2008-11-20). "'Militants' key role in coming of devolution left ignored deliberately'". WalesOnline. Retrieved 2010-07-22.
^ John S. Ellis (2008). Investiture: Royal Ceremony and National Identity in Wales, 1911-1969. University of Wales Press. ISBN 978-0-7083-2000-6.
^ "From the Archives (July 2, 1969): Charles crowned Prince of Wales". The Hindu. 2019-07-02. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2019-07-02.
^ Furness, Hannah (2019-07-01). "Prince Charles celebrates 50th anniversary of investiture as Prince of Wales - with cake". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2019-07-02.
^ Martin Polley (11 September 2002). Moving the Goalposts: A History of Sport and Society in Britain since 1945. Routledge. p. 31. ISBN 978-1-134-76688-8.
^ "BBC Wales Sport Personality winners". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
^ Editors of Chase's Calendar of Events (14 October 2011). Chases Calendar of Events, 2012 Edition. McGraw Hill Professional. p. 117. ISBN 978-0-07-176673-9.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
^ Graham Betts (2006). Complete UK Hit Singles 1952-2006. Collins. p. 522. ISBN 978-0-00-720077-1.
^ Europa Europa Publications (2008). International Who's Who in Popular Music 2008. Routledge. p. 205. ISBN 978-1-85743-454-5.
^ Larkin, Colin (2000). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Nineties Music. London: Virgin. p. 340. ISBN 9780753504277.
^ "Catherine Zeta Jones: a profile". The Daily Telegraph. 13 April 2011. Archived from the original on 17 June 2012. Retrieved 7 February 2013.
^ Evan David Jones. "Roberts, Sir Ernest Handforth Goodman (1890-1969), judge". Dictionary of Welsh Biography. National Library of Wales. Retrieved 2 July 2019.
^ Peter Stead; Gareth Williams (2008). Wales and Its Boxers: The Fighting Tradition. University of Wales Press. p. 70. ISBN 978-0-7083-1915-4.
^ "Mother Berry Dies at 114". The Billings Gazette. 27 March 1969. Archived from the original on 6 July 2019. Retrieved 6 July 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
^ Huw Williams. "Lloyd, David George (1912-1969), singer". Dictionary of Welsh Biography. National Library of Wales. Retrieved 2 July 2019.
^ David Hyomes. "When derby victory was marred by tragedy". Dewsbury Rams. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
^ Conley, Joseph F. (2000), Drumbeats that Changed the World: A History of the Regions Beyond Missionary Union and the West Indies Mission, 1873-1999 (William Carey Library), p. 507
^ Michael Stenton (1976). Who's who of British Members of Parliament: A Biographical Dictionary of the House of Commons Based on Annual Volumes of Dod's Parliamentary Companion and Other Sources. Harvester Press. p. 11. ISBN 978-0-85527-335-4.
^ "Ben Beynon player profile". ESPN Scrum.com.
^ Ellenberger, Allan R. (2001). Celebrities in Los Angeles Cemeteries: A Directory. McFarland. p. 101. ISBN 9780786450190. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
^ Gomer Morgan Roberts. "Davies, William David [P.] (1897-1969), minister (Presb.), college tutor and author". Dictionary of Welsh Biography. National Library of Wales. Retrieved 25 December 2019.
^ The Times, Tuesday, 29 Jul 1969; pg. 8; Issue 57624; col G Obituary The Very Rev. N.T. Hopkins
^ Obituary (Obituaries) The Times Saturday, 16 Aug 1969; pg. 12; Issue 57640; col G
^ Norman Percy Thomas. "Thomas, Sir Percy Edward (1883-1969), architect and planning consultant". Dictionary of Welsh Biography. National Library of Wales. Retrieved 2 July 2019.
^ Matthews, Tony (1995). Birmingham City: A Complete Record. Derby: Breedon Books. p. 119. ISBN 978-1-85983-010-9.
^ "Davies, Sir (Edward) John", Who Was Who (online edition, Oxford University Press, December 2007). Retrieved 3 April 2018.
^ Matthews, Tony (1995). Birmingham City: A Complete Record. Derby: Breedon Books. pp. 117–18. ISBN 978-1-85983-010-9.
^ John Graham Jones. "Hughes, Emrys (1884-1969), politician, journalist and author". Dictionary of Welsh Biography. National Library of Wales. Retrieved 2 July 2019.
^ Williams, John Gwynn (2007). "Jenkins, Robert Thomas (1881–1969), historian, man of letters, editor of Y Bywgraffiadur Cymreig and the Dictionary of Welsh Biography". Dictionary of Welsh Biography. National Library of Wales. Retrieved 19 February 2009.
^ Stone, David. "Robert Gibson", Archived 1 October 2009 at the Wayback Machine Who Was Who in the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company, 26 August 2007, accessed 26 November 2009

[1] Who was who. A. & C. Black. 1971. p. 728.

[2] Reference Wales. University of Wales Press. 1994. ISBN 978-0-7083-1234-6.

[3] Meic Stephens (April 1986). The Oxford companion to the literature of Wales. Oxford University Press. p. 589.

[4] Halsbury's Statutes of England. 1985.

[5] Isherwood, J. G. (1980). Candles to Caplamps: the Story of Gloddfa Ganol. Gloddfa Ganol.

[6] Flight International. IPC Transport Press Limited. January 1969.

[7] Shipton, Martin (2008-11-20). "'Militants' key role in coming of devolution left ignored deliberately'". WalesOnline. Retrieved 2010-07-22.

[8] John S. Ellis (2008). Investiture: Royal Ceremony and National Identity in Wales, 1911-1969. University of Wales Press. ISBN 978-0-7083-2000-6.

[9] "From the Archives (July 2, 1969): Charles crowned Prince of Wales". The Hindu. 2019-07-02. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2019-07-02.

[10] Furness, Hannah (2019-07-01). "Prince Charles celebrates 50th anniversary of investiture as Prince of Wales - with cake". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2019-07-02.

[11] Martin Polley (11 September 2002). Moving the Goalposts: A History of Sport and Society in Britain since 1945. Routledge. p. 31. ISBN 978-1-134-76688-8.

[12] "BBC Wales Sport Personality winners". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 July 2021.

[13] Editors of Chase's Calendar of Events (14 October 2011). Chases Calendar of Events, 2012 Edition. McGraw Hill Professional. p. 117. ISBN 978-0-07-176673-9.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)

[14] Graham Betts (2006). Complete UK Hit Singles 1952-2006. Collins. p. 522. ISBN 978-0-00-720077-1.

[15] Europa Europa Publications (2008). International Who's Who in Popular Music 2008. Routledge. p. 205. ISBN 978-1-85743-454-5.

[16] Larkin, Colin (2000). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Nineties Music. London: Virgin. p. 340. ISBN 9780753504277.

[17] "Catherine Zeta Jones: a profile". The Daily Telegraph. 13 April 2011. Archived from the original on 17 June 2012. Retrieved 7 February 2013.

[18] Evan David Jones. "Roberts, Sir Ernest Handforth Goodman (1890-1969), judge". Dictionary of Welsh Biography. National Library of Wales. Retrieved 2 July 2019.

[19] Peter Stead; Gareth Williams (2008). Wales and Its Boxers: The Fighting Tradition. University of Wales Press. p. 70. ISBN 978-0-7083-1915-4.

[20] "Mother Berry Dies at 114". The Billings Gazette. 27 March 1969. Archived from the original on 6 July 2019. Retrieved 6 July 2019 – via Newspapers.com.

[21] Huw Williams. "Lloyd, David George (1912-1969), singer". Dictionary of Welsh Biography. National Library of Wales. Retrieved 2 July 2019.

[22] David Hyomes. "When derby victory was marred by tragedy". Dewsbury Rams. Retrieved 12 February 2021.

[23] Conley, Joseph F. (2000), Drumbeats that Changed the World: A History of the Regions Beyond Missionary Union and the West Indies Mission, 1873-1999 (William Carey Library), p. 507

[24] Michael Stenton (1976). Who's who of British Members of Parliament: A Biographical Dictionary of the House of Commons Based on Annual Volumes of Dod's Parliamentary Companion and Other Sources. Harvester Press. p. 11. ISBN 978-0-85527-335-4.

[25] "Ben Beynon player profile". ESPN Scrum.com.

[26] Ellenberger, Allan R. (2001). Celebrities in Los Angeles Cemeteries: A Directory. McFarland. p. 101. ISBN 9780786450190. Retrieved 18 July 2017.

[27] Gomer Morgan Roberts. "Davies, William David [P.] (1897-1969), minister (Presb.), college tutor and author". Dictionary of Welsh Biography. National Library of Wales. Retrieved 25 December 2019.

[28] The Times, Tuesday, 29 Jul 1969; pg. 8; Issue 57624; col G Obituary The Very Rev. N.T. Hopkins

[29] Obituary (Obituaries) The Times Saturday, 16 Aug 1969; pg. 12; Issue 57640; col G

[30] Norman Percy Thomas. "Thomas, Sir Percy Edward (1883-1969), architect and planning consultant". Dictionary of Welsh Biography. National Library of Wales. Retrieved 2 July 2019.

[31] Matthews, Tony (1995). Birmingham City: A Complete Record. Derby: Breedon Books. p. 119. ISBN 978-1-85983-010-9.

[32] "Davies, Sir (Edward) John", Who Was Who (online edition, Oxford University Press, December 2007). Retrieved 3 April 2018.

[33] Matthews, Tony (1995). Birmingham City: A Complete Record. Derby: Breedon Books. pp. 117–18. ISBN 978-1-85983-010-9.

[34] John Graham Jones. "Hughes, Emrys (1884-1969), politician, journalist and author". Dictionary of Welsh Biography. National Library of Wales. Retrieved 2 July 2019.

[35] Williams, John Gwynn (2007). "Jenkins, Robert Thomas (1881–1969), historian, man of letters, editor of Y Bywgraffiadur Cymreig and the Dictionary of Welsh Biography". Dictionary of Welsh Biography. National Library of Wales. Retrieved 19 February 2009.

[36] Stone, David. "Robert Gibson", Archived 1 October 2009 at the Wayback Machine Who Was Who in the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company, 26 August 2007, accessed 26 November 2009

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1969 in Wales

Contents

Incumbents[]

Events[]

Arts and literature[]

Awards[]

New books[]

Drama[]

Poetry[]

Music[]

Albums[]

Singles[]

Classical music[]

Film[]

English-language films[]

Broadcasting[]

English-language television[]

Welsh-language television[]

Sport[]

Births[]

Deaths[]

See also[]

References[]