1989 in Wales

1989 in Wales

Other years

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1989 in: The United Kingdom • Ireland • Scotland

Other events of 1989

This article is about the particular significance of the year 1989 to Wales and its people.

Incumbents

• Prince of Wales - Charles, Prince of Wales
• Princess of Wales - Diana, Princess of Wales
• Secretary of State for Wales - Peter Walker
• Archbishop of Wales - George Noakes
• Archdruid of the National Eisteddfod of Wales - Emrys Roberts

Events

• 22 February - While out canvassing for the Conservative Party in the Pontypridd by-election campaign, MP Sir Raymond Gower is taken ill and dies, occasioning a by-election in his own seat of the Vale of Glamorgan.
• 23 February - In a parliamentary by-election at Pontypridd, caused by the death of Labour MP Brynmor John, Dr Kim Howells retains the seat for Labour.
• 4 May - In the by-election for the Westminster Parliament brought about by the death of Sir Raymond Gower, John Smith wins the Vale of Glamorgan seat for the Labour Party after 38 years of Conservative control.
• June - New Penmaenbach Tunnel opens on A55 road.
• The Open University begins offering a course in Welsh.
• Newly-qualified doctors are allowed to take the Hippocratic oath in Welsh for the first time.
• The House of Lords ceremony for the swearing-in of a new QC is conducted in Welsh for the first time.
• The first purpose-built Sikh gurdwarah opens in Cardiff.
• Val Feld becomes head of the Equal Opportunities Commission in Wales.

Arts and literature

• Roger Rees becomes an American citizen.

Awards

• National Eisteddfod of Wales (held in Llanrwst)

• National Eisteddfod of Wales: Chair - Idris Reynolds
• National Eisteddfod of Wales: Crown - Selwyn Griffiths
• National Eisteddfod of Wales: Prose Medal -Irma Chilton

• Gwobr Goffa Daniel Owen -

New books

• Leo Abse - Margaret, Daughter of Beatrice
• Tony Conran - Blodeuwedd
• Donald Evans - Iasau
• Catherine Fisher - Immrana
• Ken Follett - The Pillars of the Earth
• Alan Llwyd - Yn y Dirfawr Wag
• D. Tecwyn Lloyd - John Saunders Lewis
• Christopher Meredith - Shifts
• Prys Morgan - Beibl i Gymru
• Leslie Norris - The Girl from Cardigan
• Nigel Wells - Wilderness/Just Balance
• Rhydwen Williams - Liwsi Regina

Music

Classical

• Alun Hoddinott - Star Children
• Jeffrey Lewis - Silentia Noctis

Albums

• Mary Hopkin - Spirit
• Bonnie Tyler - Heaven & Hell (album) (with Meat Loaf)

Film

• Christian Bale is lured back into films to appear in Kenneth Branagh's Henry V.

Welsh-language films

• None

Broadcasting

Welsh-language television

• Steddfod, Steddfod, with Caryl Parry Jones

English-language television

• The Great Little Trains of Wales
• Nineteen 96, directed by Karl Francis, co-stars Keith Allen and Brinley Jenkins.

Sport

• Golf - Stephen Dodd wins the British amateur championship.

Births

• 16 July - Gareth Bale, footballer
• 21 July - Chris Gunter, footballer
• 30 December - Aaron Morris, footballer

Deaths

• 5 February - Emrys James, actor, 60
• 19 February - Jack Bassett, Wales international rugby union player, 83
• 22 February - Sir Raymond Gower, politician, 72
• 3 May - William Squire, actor, 73
• 5 October - Elvet Jones, Wales and British Lions rugby international
• 20 October - Bill Tamplin, Wales rugby player and captain, 72
• 27 October - Frank Vining, potter, 75
• 4 December - Elwyn Jones, Baron Elwyn-Jones, former Lord Chancellor, 80
• 28 December - George Andrews, Wales dual-code rugby player, 85