1997 in Wales
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| See also: | List of years in Wales Timeline of Welsh history
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This article is about the particular significance of the year 1997 to Wales and its people.
Incumbents
- Prince of Wales – Charles
- Princess of Wales – vacant
- Secretary of State for Wales – William Hague (until 3 May); Ron Davies
- Archbishop of Wales – Alwyn Rice Jones, Bishop of St Asaph
- Archdruid of the National Eisteddfod of Wales – Dafydd Rowlands
Events
- 15 January - Diana, Princess of Wales calls for an international ban on landmines.[1]
- 21 January - Wales child abuse scandal: Over eighty people are named as child abusers in care homes in North Wales.[2]
- March - Launch of the "Welsh Language in Chubut" project.
- 13 March - Launch of the Aberystwyth Centre for the Book.
- 1 May - In the UK General Election, four female MPs are elected in Wales -- Julie Morgan, Ann Clwyd, Betty Williams and Jackie Lawrence. Lembit Öpik becomes MP for Montgomeryshire.
- 24 May - Robert Hardy officially opens the Judge's Lodging museum in Presteigne.[3]
- 31 August - Newsreader Martyn Lewis announces the death of Diana, Princess of Wales.
- 1 September - The Prince of Wales flies to Paris to bring home the body of his ex-wife. Bodyguard Trevor Rees-Jones, the only survivor of the crash in which Diana died, remains in a critical condition.
- 6 September - At the funeral of the former Princess of Wales, her coffin is carried into Westminster Abbey by a contingent of Welsh Guards.
- 18 September - The referendum on Welsh devolution results in a narrow "Yes" vote.
- 13 October - First section of the restored Welsh Highland Railway (60 cm (2 ft) gauge) officially opens over 5 km (3 mi) of former standard gauge trackbed between Caernarfon and Dinas.
- Alun Hoddinott receives the Glyndwr Award for an Outstanding Contribution to the Arts in Wales.
- Bryn Euryn, an archaeological site near Colwyn Bay, is identified as the probable base of Cynlas Goch, a 6th-century king.
- Cardiff Arms Park is demolished to make way for a new stadium.
- Welsh Sheepdog Society is founded.
- Jenny Pride becomes the first Welsh female to command a unit of the Royal Engineers.
Arts
- Sir Harry Secombe suffers a stroke.
- October - The Red Violin festival is held for the first time in Cardiff.
Awards
- Glyndŵr Award - Alun Hoddinott
- National Eisteddfod of Wales - held in Bala
- Chair - Ceri Wyn Jones
- Crown - Cen Williams
- Literature Prize - Angharad Tomos, Y Canol Llonydd
- Gwobr Goffa Daniel Owen - Gwyneth Carey
- Richard Burton Prize - Rhys ap Trefor
- Welsh Arts Council Book of the Year - Iwan Llwyd, Dan Ddylanwad (Under the Influence)
Books
- Rees Davies - The Revolt of Owain Glyn Dŵr
- Dai Jones - Fi Dai Sy' 'Ma[4]
- Angharad Tomos - Wele'n Gwawrio
- Gerwyn Williams - Cydio’n Dynn
Music
- L'Héritage des Celtes, featuring Elaine Morgan - Finisterre
- Bryn Terfel makes his debut at La Scala as Figaro.
Albums
- Acrimony - Tumuli Shroomaroom
- Manic Street Preachers - Everything Live
- Stereophonics release their first album, Word Gets Around.
- Gorky's Zygotic Mynci - Barafundle
- Iwcs a Doyle - Edrychiad Cynta’
Film
- Ioan Gruffudd and Bernard Fox appear in the blockbuster Titanic.
- Michael Sheen stars in Wilde.
- Horror film Darklands is filmed in Port Talbot.
Broadcasting
English-language television
- Visions of Snowdonia with Iolo Williams
Welsh-language television
- Ffermio
- Pam Fi Duw? starring Brian Hibbard
- Tylluan Wen starring John Ogwen
- Y Clwb Rygbi
Sport
- Boxing:
- 11 October - Joe Calzaghe beats Chris Eubank to become the Super Middleweight World Champion.
- 19 December - Barry Jones beats Wilson Palacio to become the WBO Super featherweight Champion.
- Cricket - Glamorgan win the County Championship.
Births
- 3 January - Joe Morrell, footballer
- 23 January - Shaheen Jafargholi, singer and actor
- 22 March - Harry Wilson, footballer
- 24 March - George Thomas, footballer
- 15 May - Maisie Potter, snowboarder
Deaths
- 9 March (in Los Angeles) - Terry Nation, screenwriter often credited with inventing the Daleks, 66
- 10 March - Wilf Wooller, cricketer, rugby player, journalist and sports administrator, 84
- 2 June - Eddie Thomas, boxing champion and manager, 70
- 10 July - Ivor Allchurch, footballer, 67
- 16 July - Ron Berry, writer, 77
- 2 August - Rhydwen Williams, poet, novelist, and minister, 80
- 20 August - Bernard Cowey, Wales international rugby union player, 85
- 30 August - Gwilym Tilsley, poet and archdruid, 86
- 31 August (in Paris) - Diana, Princess of Wales, 36
- 22 September - George Thomas, 1st Viscount Tonypandy, former Speaker of the House of Commons, 88
- 6 November - Ray Daniel, footballer, 69
- 13 November - Alexander Cordell, novelist, 83
- 16 November - Aubrey Edwards, cricketer, 79
- 16 December - Leon Eagles, actor, 65
- 28 December - Ronnie Williams, actor and comedian, 58
- date unknown
- David Gwerfyl Davies, organist and composer
- Alf Day, footballer
- Douglas Jones, footballer
- Reg Parker, footballer
- Alan Taylor, TV presenter
See also
References
- ^ "Princess Diana sparks landmines row". On This Day. BBC. 15 January 1997.
- ^ "Carers accused in child abuse inquiry". On This Day. BBC. 21 January 1997.
- ^ The Judge's Lodging: History
- ^ Dai Jones (1997). Cyfres y Cewri: 17. Fi Dai Sy' 'Ma. Gwasg Gwynedd. ISBN 9780860741428.