This article is about the particular significance of the year 1956 to Wales and its people.
Incumbents
Archbishop of Wales – John Morgan, Bishop of Llandaff Archdruid of the National Eisteddfod of Wales – Dyfnallt
Events April – One of the last Welsh-built naval vessels afloat, former iron screw frigate , built at Pembroke Dock, arrives in Belgium to be broken up. 2 April – Huw Wheldon marries Jacqueline Clarke. 24 April – A 250,000 signature petition is presented to the Westminster parliament by the all-party Parliament for Wales Campaign. 9 May – The Gower Peninsula becomes the first area in the British Isles to be designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. 9 July – Mettoy introduce Corgi Toys model cars, manufactured at Fforestfach in South Wales. September – Bangor Normal College and Trinity College, Carmarthen, introduce courses in Welsh-medium teaching. 4 September – Opening of the first Welsh-medium secondary school in Wales – Ysgol Glan Clwyd, Rhyl. 22 November – In a mining accident at Lewis Merthyr Colliery, seven men are killed. exact date unknown – Aberystwyth's town clock is demolished as unsafe.
Arts and literature Welsh language periodical Y Faner is bought by Huw T. Edwards and thus saved from going out of business. Morecambe and Wise are reunited by chance at the Swansea Empire Theatre. 22 November – The New Scientist is launched by Percy Cudlipp, who becomes its first editor.
Awards
National Eisteddfod of Wales (held in Aberdare) National Eisteddfod of Wales: Chair – Mathonwy Hughes, "Gwraig" National Eisteddfod of Wales: Crown – withheld National Eisteddfod of Wales: Prose Medal – W. T. Gruffydd, "Y Pwrpas Mawr"
New books
English language Margiad Evans – A Candle Ahead Bertrand Russell – Portraits from Memory and Other Essays
Welsh language Huw T. Edwards – Tros y Tresi Islwyn Ffowc Elis – Yn Ôl i Leifior David Rees Griffiths – Caneuon Amanwy Kate Roberts – Y Byw sy'n Cysgu Waldo Williams – Dail Pren
Music February – Release of Shirley Bassey's first single, Burn My Candle (At Both Ends) William Mathias – Suite for Trumpet and Piano, Op.4 Grace Williams – Symphony No. 2
Film Richard Burton stars in Alexander the Great; William Squire also appears. Glynis Johns stars in The Court Jester. Edmund Gwenn makes his last film appearance. Moby Dick partly filmed at Lower Fishguard.
Broadcasting The BBC Light Programme becomes available on VHF from Wenvoe.
Welsh-language television Granada Television begins producing up to an hour a week of current affairs and education programmes in Welsh to serve the overlap audience in north Wales.
English-language television June – First televised English-language play produced in Wales, Wind of Heaven.
Sport Boxing 27 August – Joe Erskine defeats Johnny Williams in Cardiff to win the vacant British heavyweight title. Rugby Union Wales under the captaincy of Cliff Morgan, win the Five Nations Championship for the fifth time this decade. 24 March – Wales beat France 5–3 in a game held at the National Stadium, Cardiff BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year – Joe Erskine
Births 7 January – Johnny Owen, boxer (died 1980) 7 April – Christine Chapman AM, politician May – Iwan Bala, artist 14 June – Keith Pontin, international footballer (died 2020) 22 July – Richard Gwyn writer 7 September – Byron Stevenson, footballer (died 2007) 3 November – Carl Harris, international footballer 4 December – Nia Griffith MP, politician, born in Ireland 19 December – John Griffiths, politician 23 December – Robert Gwilym, actor date unknown – David Nott, surgeon
Deaths
4 January – Robert Williams Parry, poet, 71 10 January – Jack Johns, cricketer, 70 14 January – Sam Ramsey, Wales international rugby union player 23 January – William Harris, academic and translator, 71 1 February – John Lloyd-Jones, academic, 70 22 February – Nathaniel Walters, Wales international rugby player, 80 27 February – Tudor Rees, lawyer, judge and Liberal politician, 75Obituary, The Times, 28 February 1956 19 May – Peter Freeman, politician, 67 8 June – Walter Rice, 7th Baron Dynevor, soldier, civil servant and politician, 82 5 July – Fred Birt, Welsh international rugby union player, 69 11 June – Frank Brangwyn, artist, 89 17 August – William Havard, Bishop of St. Davids and international rugby player, 66 31 August – Winifred Coombe Tennant, politician and philanthropist, 81 13 September – David Davies, footballer, 77 20 September – Arthur Tysilio Johnson, farmer and author, 83 1 October – J. O. Francis, dramatist, 74 11 October David James Davies, economist and politician, 63 Harry Parry, jazz musician, 44 16 October – Robert Evans (Cybi), historian, 84 22 November – Rhys Hopkin Morris MP, politician, 68 16 December – Nina Hamnett, artist, 66 28 December – John Dyfnallt Owen, poet and archdruid, 83
See also 1956 in Northern Ireland
References