1961 in Wales
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 1961 in Wales |
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| 1961 in: The United Kingdom • Ireland |
| Other events of 1961 |
This article is about the significance of the year 1961 to Wales and its people.
Contents |
[edit] Incumbents
- Prince of Wales - Charles, Prince of Wales
- Princess of Wales - vacant
- Archbishop of Wales - Edwin Morris
- Archdruid of the National Eisteddfod of Wales - Trefin
[edit] Events
- 16 February - The BP Explorer, a loaded tanker barge bound for Sharpness from Swansea, turns over in the Severn Estuary.
- 17 February - The BP Explorer is seen bouncing upside down through the wrecked Severn Railway Bridge. Her crew of five men were killed.[1]
- 8 November - In a referendum on Sunday opening of public houses, the counties of Anglesey, Cardiganshire, Caernarfonshire, Carmarthenshire, Denbighshire, Merionethshire, Montgomeryshire and Pembrokeshire all vote to stay "dry".
- 9 November - Rosemarie Frankland, originally from Rhosllanerchrugog, wins the Miss World title.
- 19 November - During construction of the Severn Bridge three men fall into the river. A rescue boat crewed by two men sets sail from Chepstow, not knowing that the three men have been picked up safely by a ferry, the Severn Princess. Two empty tanker barges coming down from Sharpness collide with the rescue boat, which has no navigation lights. One member of the rescue boat crew is drowned.
- Atlantic College is established at St Donat's.
- The Llyn Celyn reservoir is constructed in the valley of the River Tryweryn in North Wales to provide water for Liverpool, destroying the village of Capel Celyn.
- Gwynfor Evans becomes president of the Celtic League.
[edit] Arts and literature
- Portmeirion Pottery is founded by Susan Williams-Ellis.
- Keith Baxter makes his Broadway debut as King Henry VIII in A Man for All Seasons.
[edit] Awards
- National Eisteddfod of Wales (held in Rhosllanerchrugog)
- National Eisteddfod of Wales: Chair - Emrys Edwards
- National Eisteddfod of Wales: Crown - L. Haydn Lewis
- National Eisteddfod of Wales: Prose Medal - withheld
[edit] New books
- Dannie Abse - The Eccentric
- Pennar Davies - Yr Efrydd o Lyn Cynon
- Islwyn Ffowc Elis - Tabyrddau'r Tabongo
- W. J. Gruffydd (Elerydd) - Ffenestri
- Richard Hughes - The Fox in the Attic
- Caradog Prichard - Un Nos Ola Leuad
- Bertrand Russell - Fact and Fiction
- Dave Waldo - Beat the Drum Slowly
- Emlyn Williams - George
- Raymond Williams - The Long Revolution
[edit] Music
- Alun Hoddinott - Concerto for Piano, Winds and Percussion
[edit] Film
- Ronald Lewis stars in Scream of Fear and Stop Me Before I Kill.
- Victor Spinetti makes his screen debut in The Gentle Terror.
- Clifford Evans stars in The Curse of the Werewolf.
[edit] Broadcasting
[edit] Welsh-language television
- Ambell i Gan
- Pwt o'r Papur
- Gair o Gyngor
[edit] English-language television
[edit] Sport
- Boxing - Howard Winstone wins the British featherweight title.
- BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year - Bryn Meredith
[edit] Births
- 24 January - Tarki Micallef, former professional footballer
- 26 March - William Hague, Secretary of State for Wales 1995-97
- 15 April - Kevin Johns, Swansea-born actor, singer and comedian
- 1 July - Diana, Princess of Wales (d. 1997)
- 5 July - Gareth Jones ("Gaz Top"), TV presenter
- 7 July - Steve Brace, long-distance runner
- 8 August
- The Edge, guitarist (in Barking, London, to Welsh parents)
- Simon Weston, war hero
- 18 August - Huw Edwards, newsreader
- 30 August - Delyth Morgan, Baroness Morgan of Drefelin, charity worker and Labour peer
- 29 September (in Barry) - Julia Gillard, Prime Minister of Australia
- 20 October - Ian Rush, footballer
- 25 November - Nuccia Focile, star of Welsh National Opera
- date unknown - Twm Morys, poet
[edit] Deaths
- 18 April - John Evans, Welsh politician, 85
- 30 April - Charles Williams, academic, 55
- 28 June - Huw Menai, poet, 74
- 3 July - Albert Jenkin, Wales international rugby player, 88
- 1 August - David William Thomas, journalist and lawyer, 84
- 13 October - Augustus John, artist, 83
- 20 November - Edwin Thomas Maynard, Wales international rugby player, 83
- date unknown - Robert Lloyd, author
[edit] References
- ^ "A History of Gloucester Harbour Trustees". Gloucester Harbour Trustees. http://www.gloucesterharbourtrustees.org.uk/stoneshistory.pdf. Retrieved 18 May 2010.
