1931 in Wales
Encyclopedia
This article is about the particular significance of the year 1931 to Wales
and its people
.
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
and its people
Welsh people
The Welsh people are an ethnic group and nation associated with Wales and the Welsh language.John Davies argues that the origin of the "Welsh nation" can be traced to the late 4th and early 5th centuries, following the Roman departure from Britain, although Brythonic Celtic languages seem to have...
.
Incumbents
- Prince of WalesPrince of WalesPrince of Wales is a title traditionally granted to the heir apparent to the reigning monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the 15 other independent Commonwealth realms...
- Edward, Prince of WalesEdward VIII of the United KingdomEdward VIII was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth, and Emperor of India, from 20 January to 11 December 1936.Before his accession to the throne, Edward was Prince of Wales and Duke of Cornwall and Rothesay...
, son of King George V of the United KingdomGeorge V of the United KingdomGeorge V was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 through the First World War until his death in 1936.... - Princess of WalesPrincess of WalesPrincess of Wales is a British courtesy title held by the wife of The Prince of Wales since the first "English" Prince of Wales in 1283.Although there have been considerably more than ten male heirs to the throne, there have been only ten Princesses of Wales. The majority of Princes of Wales...
- vacant - Archbishop of WalesArchbishop of WalesThe post of Archbishop of Wales was created in 1920 when the Church in Wales was separated from the Church of England , and disestablished...
- Alfred George EdwardsAlfred George EdwardsAlfred George Edwards was elected the first Archbishop of the disestablished Church in Wales.The son of a priest of the Church of England, Edwards was born in Llanymawddwy in Gwynedd. He studied at Jesus College, Oxford before being appointed Warden of Llandovery College in 1875... - ArchdruidArchdruidThe Archdruid is the title used by the presiding official of the Gorsedd.The Archdruid presides over the most important ceremonies at the National Eisteddfod of Wales including the Crowning of the Bard, The Award of the Prose Medal and Chairing of the Bard. From 1932 only former winners of the...
of the National Eisteddfod of WalesNational Eisteddfod of WalesThe National Eisteddfod of Wales is the most important of several eisteddfodau that are held annually, mostly in Wales.- Organisation :...
- Pedrog
Events
- 3 March - Bertrand RussellBertrand RussellBertrand Arthur William Russell, 3rd Earl Russell, OM, FRS was a British philosopher, logician, mathematician, historian, and social critic. At various points in his life he considered himself a liberal, a socialist, and a pacifist, but he also admitted that he had never been any of these things...
succeeds to his father's earldomEarl RussellEarl Russell, of Kingston Russell in the County of Dorset, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created on 30 July 1861 for the prominent Liberal politician Lord John Russell. He was Home Secretary from 1835 to 1839, Foreign Secretary from 1852 to 1853 and 1859 to 1865 and Prime...
. - 14 April - A meteoriteMeteoriteA meteorite is a natural object originating in outer space that survives impact with the Earth's surface. Meteorites can be big or small. Most meteorites derive from small astronomical objects called meteoroids, but they are also sometimes produced by impacts of asteroids...
falls in Pontllynfi, near CaernarfonCaernarfonCaernarfon is a Royal town, community and port in Gwynedd, Wales, with a population of 9,611. It lies along the A487 road, on the east banks of the Menai Straits, opposite the Isle of Anglesey. The city of Bangor is to the northeast, while Snowdonia fringes Caernarfon to the east and southeast...
. - The Welsh School of Medicine is founded at Cardiff, later becoming the University of Wales College of MedicineUniversity of Wales College of MedicineThe University of Wales College of Medicine was a medical school based in the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, that formed a part of the University of Wales...
. - Nancy Astor addresses a meeting in CardiffCardiffCardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
on the subject of recruiting women into the police.
Awards
- National Eisteddfod of WalesNational Eisteddfod of WalesThe National Eisteddfod of Wales is the most important of several eisteddfodau that are held annually, mostly in Wales.- Organisation :...
(held in BangorBangor, GwyneddBangor is a city in Gwynedd, north west Wales, and one of the smallest cities in Britain. It is a university city with a population of 13,725 at the 2001 census, not including around 10,000 students at Bangor University. Including nearby Menai Bridge on Anglesey, which does not however form part of...
)
- National Eisteddfod of Wales: Chair - David James JonesDavid James JonesDavid James Jones , was a Welsh philosopher and academic. He should not be confused with David James Jones , a contemporary writer....
- National Eisteddfod of Wales: Crown - Albert Evans Jones
New books
- Eliot Crawshay-WilliamsEliot Crawshay-WilliamsEliot Crawshay-Williams , was a British author, officer, and Liberal Party politician. He was a Member of Parliament and Parliamentary Private Secretary to Prime Minister Lloyd George and Winston Churchill....
- Night in the Hotel - John Jenkins (Gwili)John Jenkins (Gwili)John Jenkins , known by his bardic name of Gwili, was a Welsh poet and theologian, and served as Archdruid of the National Eisteddfod of Wales from 1932 to 1936.-Early life and education:...
- Hanfod Duw a Pherson Crist - MoelonaMoelonaMoelona was the pen-name of Elizabeth Mary Jones , a Welsh novelist and translator who wrote novels for children and other works in Welsh....
- Beryl - Bertrand RussellBertrand RussellBertrand Arthur William Russell, 3rd Earl Russell, OM, FRS was a British philosopher, logician, mathematician, historian, and social critic. At various points in his life he considered himself a liberal, a socialist, and a pacifist, but he also admitted that he had never been any of these things...
- The Scientific Outlook - Jennie Thomas – Llyfr Mawr y Plant (first appearance of Wil Cwac CwacWil Cwac CwacWil Cwac Cwac or Will Quack Quack is a Welsh-language cartoon based on a series of children's books written in the 1920s by Jennie Thomas and J. O. Williams . The cartoon series ran from 1984 to 1986. Both book and cartoon series take place in rural Wales...
)
Film
- Ray MillandRay MillandRay Milland was a Welsh actor and director. His screen career ran from 1929 to 1985, and he is best remembered for his Academy Award–winning portrayal of an alcoholic writer in The Lost Weekend , a sophisticated leading man opposite a corrupt John Wayne in Reap the Wild Wind , the murder-plotting...
appears in The Bachelor Father, Strangers May Kiss, Just a Gigolo, Son of India, Bought, Ambassador Bill, and Blonde Crazy.
Broadcasting
- The BBCBBCThe British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
's DaventryDaventryDaventry is a market town in Northamptonshire, England, with a population of 22,367 .-Geography:The town is also the administrative centre of the larger Daventry district, which has a population of 71,838. The town is 77 miles north-northwest of London, 13.9 miles west of Northampton and 10.2...
radio transmitter increases its Welsh languageWelsh languageWelsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
output from a monthly to a fortnightly "Welsh interest" programme and includes a regular religious service broadcast entirely in Welsh.
Sport
- Rugby unionRugby unionRugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
- WalesWales national rugby union teamThe Wales national rugby union team represent Wales in international rugby union tournaments. They compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with England, France, Ireland, Italy and Scotland. Wales have won the Six Nations and its predecessors 24 times outright, second only to England with...
, under the captaincy of Jack BassettJack BassettJack Bassett was a Welsh international rugby union full back who played club rugby for Penarth. He won 15 caps for Wales and was selected for the 1930 British Lions tour of Australia and New Zealand...
, win the Five Nations Championship.- 7 February Wales beat Scotland 13–8 at the Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff.
Births
- 10 January - Rosalind Howells, Baroness Howells of St DavidsRosalind Howells, Baroness Howells of St DavidsRosalind Patricia-Anne Howells, Baroness Howells of St Davids, OBE is a Labour member of the House of Lords.She was made a Life peer as Baroness Howells of St Davids, of Charlton in the London Borough of Greenwich in 1999. The name St Davids refers to the parish in Grenada where she was brought...
, politician - 2 February - Glynn EdwardsGlynn EdwardsGlynn Edwards is a British actor.Edwards was born in Malaya and trained as an actor at Joan Littlewood's Theatre Workshop. He is probably best known for his role as Dave 'the barman' Harris, owner of the Winchester Club in the TV show Minder...
, actor - 20 March - Orig WilliamsOrig WilliamsOrig Williams was a Welsh professional wrestler and wrestling promoter. Williams spent his wrestling career in the persona of a villainous heel under the pseudonym "El Bandito", and after retiring as a fighter he became a promoter, manager and television presenter...
, wrestler and TV presenter - 22 March - Leslie ThomasLeslie ThomasLeslie Thomas, OBE is a British author.- Virgin Soldiers :His novels about 1950s British National Service such as "The Virgin Soldiers" spawned two film versions, in 1969 and 1977, whilst his Tropic of Ruislip and Dangerous Davies, The Last Detective have been adapted for television Leslie...
, novelist - 11 April - Lewis Jones, rugby player
- 23 June - Brian SparksBrian SparksBrian Anthonie Sparks is a former Welsh rugby union and professional rugby league footballer of the 1950s who at representative level has played rugby union for Wales, at invitational level for Barbarian F.C., and at club level for Neath RFC, Pontypool RFC, Bridgend RFC, and Glamorgan Police RFC,...
, Wales international rugby union player - 2 July - Frank WilliamsFrank Williams (actor)Frank Williams is an English actor.Williams was educated at Ardingly College. He starred in The Army Game and as the Vicar in Dad's Army. In 1970, he starred in the short-lived sitcom As Good Cooks Go...
, actor - 13 July - Philip JonesPhilip Jones (civil servant)Sir Philip Jones CB was a Welsh businessman and civil servant. After a career in the civil service, he was chairman of Total Oil Marine from 1990 to 1998 and Total Oil Holdings from 1991 to 1998...
, businessman and civil servant (d. 2000) - 1 September - Mair Wynn Hughes, children's author
- 25 September - Dafydd Rowlands, Eisteddfod-winning author (d. 2001)
- 5 November - John Morris, Baron Morris of AberavonJohn Morris, Baron Morris of AberavonJohn Morris, Baron Morris of Aberavon, KG, PC, QC is a retired British politician. He was a Labour Member of Parliament from 1959 to 2001 and Secretary of State for Wales from 1974 to 1979.-Background and education:...
, politician - 27 November - Gareth GriffithsGareth Griffiths (rugby player)Gareth Meredith Griffiths is a former international rugby union player.Griffiths made his debut for Wales on 17 January 1953 versus England and was selected for the 1955 British Lions tour to South Africa. He played club rugby for Cardiff RFC.- References :...
, Wales and British Lions rugby union player - 27 December - John CharlesJohn CharlesWilliam John Charles, CBE , commonly known as John Charles, was a Welsh international footballer best remembered for spells with Leeds United and Juventus. Rated by many as the greatest all-round footballer ever to come from Wales, he was equally adept at centre-forward or centre-back...
, footballer (d. 2004) - date unknown - Christopher EvansChristopher Evans (computer scientist)Dr Christopher Riche Evans was a British psychologist, computer scientist, and author.-Biography:Born in Aberdovey, he spent his childhood in Wales and was educated at Christ College, Brecon . He spent two years in the RAF , and worked as a science journalist and writer until 1957 when he began a...
, computer scientist (d. 1979)
Deaths
- 22 February - Sir Hugh VincentHugh VincentSir Hugh Corbet Vincent was a Welsh rugby union and association football player. He played club rugby for Bangor RFC and club football for Bangor City F.C. as well as a single international for the Wales national rugby union team...
, solicitor and Wales international rugby player, 68 - 3 March - Frank Russell, 2nd Earl RussellFrank Russell, 2nd Earl RussellJohn Francis Stanley Russell, 2nd Earl Russell known as Frank Russell, was the elder surviving son of Viscount Amberley and his wife the Honourable Katharine Stanley, and was raised by his paternal grandparents after his non-conventional parents both died young...
, 65 - 13 March - Vernon HartshornVernon HartshornVernon Hartshorn was a Welsh trades unionist and Labour Party politician who served as a Member of Parliament from 1918 until his death....
MPMember of ParliamentA Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
, miners' leader and politician - 13 March - Edward Thomas John, politician
- 14 April - John Bryn RobertsJohn Bryn RobertsJohn Bryn Roberts was a Welsh lawyer, later a judge and Liberal politician.-Family and education:Roberts was born the eldest son of Daniel Roberts from Llanddeilionen, near Bangor, a Caernarfonshire tenant farmer on the Vaynol estate and Anne Jones of Plas Gwanas, Merionethshire. The family were...
, lawyer and politician, 88 - 19 April - Evan RichardsEvan RichardsEvan Sloane Richards was a Welsh international rugby union forward who played club rugby for Swansea, captaining the club through three seasons during the 1880s. Richards' father was Member of Parliament for Ceredigion, Evan Matthew Richards.- Rugby career :Richards first came to prominence within...
, Wales international rugby player, 69 - 12 May - Beddoe ReesBeddoe ReesSir William Beddoe Rees, usually known simply as Beddoe Rees was a Welsh industrialist and Liberal politician.-Family and education:...
, industrialist and politician - 22 June - Sir Henry ReichelHenry ReichelSir Henry Rudolf Reichel , was a founder of the University of Wales. Born in Belfast, Reichel was educated at Oxford University and in 1884 was appointed the first principal of the University College of North Wales, in Bangor...
, academic - 28 July - John Neale DaltonJohn Neale DaltonCanon John Neale Dalton KCVO CMG was a chaplain to Queen Victoria and tutor to King George V of the United Kingdom.-Life history:...
, chaplain and tutor to the British royal family, settled in South Wales, 91 - 7 October - William John Griffith, author
- 26 October - Edward Perkins AlexanderEdward Perkins AlexanderEdward Perkins Alexander was a Welsh international rugby union forward who played club rugby for Cambridge University and London Welsh and international rugby for Wales. Alexander also represented several cricket teams, including Llandovery College.-Early life:Alexander was born in 1863 at...
, Wales rugby international, 68 - 2 November - Arthur CookA. J. Cook (trade unionist)Arthur James Cook , known as A. J. Cook, was a British coal miner and trade union leader. He is remembered as one of the United Kingdom's best known miners’ leaders and a key component of the National Minority Movement around the General Strike of 1926.-Early years:A.J...
, miners' leader, 47 - 27 December - Alfred Perceval GravesAlfred Perceval GravesAlfred Perceval Graves , was an Anglo-Irish poet, songwriter, and school inspector . His first marriage to Jane Cooper, eldest daughter of James Cooper of Cooper Hill, Co. Limerick, resulted in five children: the journalist Philip Graves, Mary, Richard, Alfred, and Susan...
, Irish author settled in Wales, 85