1968 in Wales

1968 in Wales

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1968 in: The United Kingdom • Ireland

Other events of 1968

This article is about the particular significance of the year 1968 to Wales and its people.

Incumbents

• Prince of Wales - Charles, Prince of Wales
• Princess of Wales - vacant
• Secretary of State for Wales - George Thomas
• Archbishop of Wales - Glyn Simon

Events

• The Welsh Office acquires responsibility for historic monuments, and for the water supply in Wales.
• In the referendum on the Sunday opening of public houses, the counties of Anglesey, Caernarfon, Cardigan, Carmarthen and Merioneth vote to stay "dry".
• The Gittins Report recommends that all primary school children in Wales should have the opportunity to learn the Welsh language.
• The first bilingual (Welsh/English) postage stamp is issued.
• Hugh Cudlipp becomes Chairman of the International Publishing Corporation.
• 17 December - Official opening of first phase of the Royal Mint's new Llantrisant plant.

Arts and literature

• Welsh National Opera acquires a professional chorus.
• Cefn Cwrt Farm, Llangrannog, is purchased for use by the Urdd Gobaith Cymru.
• The Drama Tent is introduced to the Eisteddfod field.
• Cwmni Theatr Cymru is formed in Bangor.
• Rachel Thomas is awarded the OBE for services to Wales.
• Teenager Mary Hopkin rises to stardom after her appearance on Opportunity Knocks.
• In His Own Write, by John Lennon, makes its stage debut at the National Theatre in a version co-authored by and directed by Victor Spinetti.

Awards

• National Eisteddfod of Wales (held in Barry)
• National Eisteddfod of Wales: Chair - Bryn Williams
• National Eisteddfod of Wales: Crown - Haydn Lewis
• National Eisteddfod of Wales: Prose Medal - Eigra Lewis Roberts

New books

• Ewart Alexander - Omri's Burning
• Irma Chilton - Cusanau
• Pennar Davies - Meibion Darogan
• Islwyn Ffowc Elis - Y Blaned Dirion
• Menna Gallie - Travels with a Duchess
• Glyn Jones - The Dragon Has Two Tongues
• Gwyn Thomas - A Few Selected Exits
• Emlyn Williams - Beyond Belief: A Chronicle of Murder and its Detection
• Urien Wiliam - Dirgelwch y rocedi

Music

• "Delilah", "Help Yourself" and "Love Me Tonight" are hits for Tom Jones.
• "Bend Me, Shape Me" and "High in the Sky" are hits for Amen Corner.
• Badfinger sign for the Beatles' Apple label.

Film

• Richard Burton and Donald Houston appear in Where Eagles Dare.
• Anthony Hopkins makes his first big-screen impact in The Lion in Winter, appearing alongside Timothy Dalton.
• Hywel Bennett stars in Twisted Nerve.
• Harry Secombe appears in Oliver!.
• Timothy Dalton turns down the role of James Bond, feeling that he is too young for the part.

Broadcasting

• HTV takes over the commercial television franchise from TWW. Wynford Vaughan-Thomas, one of the founders of the new company, becomes Director of Programmes.

Sport

• BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year - Martyn Woodroffe
• Boxing - Howard Winstone wins the World Featherweight title.
• Cricket - August 31: During a match between Glamorgan and Nottinghamshire at Swansea, Gary Sobers hits six sixes off one over bowled by Malcolm Nash.
• Football - Cardiff City reach the semi-finals of the European Cup Winners Cup, losing to Hamburg.
• 1968 Summer Olympics
  • Richard Meade wins a gold medal as part of the British equestrian team in the Team Three-Day Event
  • David Broome takes a bronze in the Individual Show Jumping Grand Prix.
  • Martyn Woodroffe is the only British swimmer to win a medal - a silver in the men's 200 m butterfly.
• Rugby union - Jeff Young makes his international debut against Scotland.

Births

• 28 March - Jon Lee, musician (d. 2002)
• 28 May - Kylie Minogue, actress and singer (in Melbourne, of maternal Welsh origin)
• 29 May - Jessica Morden, politician
• 22 July - Rhys Ifans, actor
• 13 June - David Gray, musician
• 26 June - Iwan Roberts, footballer
• 27 July - Carl Sergeant, politician
• 30 July - Sean Moore, musician
• 19 August - Roger Freestone, footballer
• 23 September - Adam Price, politician
• 12 October - Mark Donovan, actor
• 13 December - Steve Robinson, Featherweight boxer
• date unknown
  • Rakie Ayola, actress
  • Trevor Rees-Jones, bodyguard to Diana, Princess of Wales

Deaths

• 13 January - William Williams (Crwys), poet
• 6 February - James Gomer Berry, 1st Viscount Kemsley
• 3 May - Ness Edwards, politician
• 16 July - William Evans (Wil Ifan), poet
• 24 August - Bailey Davies, Wales international rugby union player, 83
• 28 August - Arthur Henderson, Baron Rowley, politician
• 17 November - Carey Morris, artist
• 20 November - David Grenfell, politician
• 14 December - David James Jones (Gwenallt), poet
• date unknown
  • Arthur Horner, politician
  • Dafydd Jones (Isfoel), poet