1976 in Wales

This article is about the particular significance of the year 1976 to Wales and its people.

Incumbents Secretary of State for Wales – John Morris Archbishop of Wales – Gwilym Williams, Bishop of Bangor Archdruid of the National Eisteddfod of Wales – Bryn

Events 9 February - The Prince of Wales (now Charles III) becomes commander of . 17 February - Operation Julie is launched; it eventually results in the break-up of one of the largest LSD manufacturing operations in the world. March - The Welsh Regional Office of the European Community opens in Cardiff. June–September - 1976 United Kingdom heat wave: A very hot summer brings a major drought with water shortages. July - Miners’ leader Dai Francis challenges the Prince of Wales (now Charles III), in the election for Chancellor of the University of Wales. 25 July - Former Submarine Commander Neil Rutherford, DSC & Bar, murders four people at the Red Gables Hotel in Penmaenmawr.North Wales Weekly News, 30 September 1976. 4 October - The InterCity 125 high speed train runs for the first time between Swansea railway station and London Paddington. 7 December - Swansea-born former fashion model Lilian Davies marries Prince Bertil of Sweden at Drottningholm Palace after a 30-year relationship. date unknown - David Emanuel marries Elizabeth Weiner.

Arts and literature May 27 - Actor Stanley Baker is given a knighthood in the Prime Minister's Resignation Honours, a few months before his death.Ellen Baker, 'My Husband, My Love', Woman's Own Magazine, December 1976 accessed 26 May 2012 August - Dic Jones loses the National Eisteddfod chair on a technicality. October - Mistar Urdd is created by Wynne Melville Jones. unknown date - Griff Rhys Jones becomes Vice-President of the Cambridge University Footlights Dramatic Club.

Awards National Eisteddfod of Wales (held in Cardigan) National Eisteddfod of Wales: Chair - Alan Llwyd National Eisteddfod of Wales: Crown - Alan Llwyd National Eisteddfod of Wales: Prose Medal - Marged Prichard

New books

English language Ruth Bidgood - Not Without Homage Glyn Davies - Overseas Investment In Wales Kenneth O. Morgan - Keir Hardie Bernice Rubens - I Sent a Letter to My Love

Welsh language John Emyr - Enaid Clwyfus Alun Llywelyn-Williams - Gwanwyn yn y Ddinas Owain Owain - Y Dydd Olaf

Poetry J. M. Edwards - Cerddi Ddoe a Heddiw - Egin Donald Evans Geraint Jarman - Cerddi Alfred Street Gwilym R. Jones - Y Syrcas a Cherddi Eraill

New drama John Gwilym Jones - Gobaith Mawr y Ganrif

Music Edward H. Dafis - 'Sneb yn Becso Dam Alun Hoddinott - Murder the Magician (opera) Dafydd Iwan - Mae'r Darnau yn Disgyn i'w Lle (album) Geraint Jarman - Gobaith Mawr y Ganrif (album) Daniel Jones - Dance Fantasy Man - The Welsh Connection Bonnie Tyler - "Lost in France" (debut single)

Film

Welsh-language films Y Dieithryn, produced by Emlyn Williams

Broadcasting Sir Huw Wheldon is knighted for his services to broadcasting.

Welsh-language television Seren Wib, presented by Emyr Glasnant and Sharon Morgan Tybed? with Marged Esli Mae Gen i Stori

Welsh language radio Tros Fy Sbectol

English-language television How Green Was My Father: a Welsh Odyssey for 1976, with Ryan Davies and Max Boyce

Sport Football – The Wales national football team plays in the quarter-finals of UEFA Euro 1976. BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year – Mervyn Davies and the Wales national rugby union team. Rugby union – Wales win their seventh Grand Slam. Snooker 30 January – Ray Reardon wins the Masters. 23 April – Ray Reardon wins his fifth World Championship title.

Births 14 January - Scott Young, footballer 6 April - James Fox, singer 8 May - Ian Watkins, pop singer 13 May - Mark Delaney, footballer 16 June - Cian Ciaran, musician 25 June - Iestyn Harris, rugby player 14 July - Geraint Jones, cricketer 9 August - Aled Haydn-Jones, radio producer 1 November - Buffy Williams, politician 7 November - Andrew Davies, cricketer 20 December – Adam Powell, inventor date unknown - Steffan Cravos, musician and language activist

Deaths 3 January – Mal Evans, Beatles' former roadie and patron of Badfinger, 40 (shot) 23 January – Sir Tudor Thomas, ophthalmic surgeon, 82 26 January – Eric Francis, architect, 88 4 February – Roger Livesey, actor, 69 12 February – John Lewis, Marxist philosopher, 87 14 February - Tommy Scourfield, dual code rugby player, 66 29 March - Harold Davies, rugby player, 77 26 March - Duster Bennett, blues musician, 29 (car accident) 30 March - Jackie Mittell, footballer, 70 31 March - Billy Moore, rugby player, 66 18 April – Haydn Davies, politician, 70 28 April – Richard Hughes, novelist, 76 6 June – David Jacobs, athlete, 88 20 June – Sir Goronwy Edwards, historian, 84 28 June – Sir Stanley Baker, actor, 48 18 July – Jenkin Alban Davies, Wales international rugby captain, 90 22 July – Willie Evans, Welsh international footballer, 63 30 August - David Rees-Williams, 1st Baron Ogmore, politician, 72 10 October - David Lewis, 1st Baron Brecon, politician, 71 7 November - Glyn Davies, Wales international rugby union player, 49 22 November - Rupert Davies, actor, 60 (cancer) 24 November - Ambrose Baker, rugby player, ?79 date unknown Eveline Annie Jenkins, botanical artist, 82/83 Meirion Williams, songwriter

See also 1976 in Northern Ireland

References