1980 in Wales
Encyclopedia
This article is about the particular significance of the year 1980 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...
- Charles, Prince of WalesCharles, Prince of WalesPrince Charles, Prince of Wales is the heir apparent and eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Since 1958 his major title has been His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales. In Scotland he is additionally known as The Duke of Rothesay... - 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 - Secretary of State for WalesSecretary of State for WalesThe Secretary of State for Wales is the head of the Wales Office within the British cabinet. He or she is responsible for ensuring Welsh interests are taken into account by the government, representing the government within Wales and overseeing the passing of legislation which is only for Wales...
- Nicholas Edwards - 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...
- Gwilym Owen WilliamsGwilym Owen WilliamsGwilym Owen Williams was Bishop of Bangor from 1957 to 1982 and Anglican Archbishop of Wales from 1971 to 1982.... - 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 :...
- GeraintGeraint Bowen (poet)Geraint Bowen was a Welsh language poet.He was the nephew of Carmarthenshire minister David Bowen, and the brother of poet Euros Bowen. He was a Welsh nationalist, and during the Second World War was a conscientious objector, undertaking farming...
Events
- 2 January - Workers at British SteelBritish SteelBritish Steel was a major British steel producer. It originated as a nationalised industry, the British Steel Corporation , formed in 1967. This was converted to a public limited company, British Steel PLC, and privatised in 1988. It was once a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index...
go on strike over pay. - May - Plaid CymruPlaid Cymru' is a political party in Wales. It advocates the establishment of an independent Welsh state within the European Union. was formed in 1925 and won its first seat in 1966...
leader Gwynfor EvansGwynfor EvansDr Richard Gwynfor Evans , was a Welsh politician, lawyer and author. President of Plaid Cymru for thirty six years, he was the first Member of Parliament to represent Plaid Cymru at Westminster ....
announces his intention to go on hunger strikeHunger strikeA hunger strike is a method of non-violent resistance or pressure in which participants fast as an act of political protest, or to provoke feelings of guilt in others, usually with the objective to achieve a specific goal, such as a policy change. Most hunger strikers will take liquids but not...
in protest against the government's failure to honour its promise of a fourth Welsh-language television channel. The government backs down on September 17, a few weeks before Evans's deadline. - 8 June - Dr Martyn Lloyd-JonesMartyn Lloyd-JonesDavid Martyn Lloyd-Jones was a Welsh Protestant minister, preacher and medical doctor who was influential in the Reformed wing of the British evangelical movement in the 20th century. For almost 30 years, he was the minister of Westminster Chapel in London...
preaches for the last time, at Barcombe Baptist Chapel. - John MaddoxJohn MaddoxSir John Royden Maddox, FRS was a British science writer. He was an editor of Nature for 22 years, from 1966–1973 and 1980-1995.-Career:...
becomes editor of NatureNature (journal)Nature, first published on 4 November 1869, is ranked the world's most cited interdisciplinary scientific journal by the Science Edition of the 2010 Journal Citation Reports...
. - The Church in WalesChurch in WalesThe Church in Wales is the Anglican church in Wales, composed of six dioceses.As with the primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church, the Archbishop of Wales serves concurrently as one of the six diocesan bishops. The current archbishop is Barry Morgan, the Bishop of Llandaff.In contrast to the...
votes to ordain women deacons.
Arts and literature
- Richard BurtonRichard BurtonRichard Burton, CBE was a Welsh actor. He was nominated seven times for an Academy Award, six of which were for Best Actor in a Leading Role , and was a recipient of BAFTA, Golden Globe and Tony Awards for Best Actor. Although never trained as an actor, Burton was, at one time, the highest-paid...
makes one of his last stage appearances, in the musical CamelotCamelot (musical)Camelot is a musical by Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe . It is based on the King Arthur legend as adapted from the T. H. White tetralogy novel The Once and Future King....
. - Michael BogdanovMichael BogdanovMichael Bogdanov , is a British theatre director known for his work with new plays, modern reinterpretations of Shakespeare, musicals and work for Young People.-Early years:...
becomes Associate Director of the Royal National Theatre. - Bobi JonesBobi JonesEmeritus Professor Robert Maynard Jones , generally known as Bobi Jones, is a Welsh Christian academic, one of the most prolific writers in the history of the Welsh language. A versatile master of poetry, fictional prose and criticism, he is now in his seventies and still producing work of a high...
is appointed to the professorial Chair in Welsh at University of Wales, AberystwythUniversity of Wales, AberystwythAberystwyth University is a university located in Aberystwyth, Wales. Aberystwyth was a founding Member Institution of the former federal University of Wales. As of late 2006, the university had over 12,000 students spread across seventeen academic departments.The university was founded in 1872 as...
.
Awards
- National Eisteddfod of Wales (held in GorseinonGorseinonGorseinon is a town in southwest Wales, near the Loughor estuary. It was a small village until the late 19th century when it grew around the coal mining and tinplate industries. It is situated in the north west of Swansea, around north west of the city centre...
)
- National Eisteddfod of Wales: Chair - Donald EvansDonald Evans (Welsh poet)Donald Evans is a Welsh poet, who writes in the Welsh language.Evans comes from Talgarreg in Ceredigion. Between 1966 and 1972 he produced the periodical Y Cardi. He won the "double" of crown and chair twice, once at the 1977 National Eisteddfod of Wales and again in 1980. In 2006 he was awarded...
- National Eisteddfod of Wales: Crown - Donald EvansDonald Evans (Welsh poet)Donald Evans is a Welsh poet, who writes in the Welsh language.Evans comes from Talgarreg in Ceredigion. Between 1966 and 1972 he produced the periodical Y Cardi. He won the "double" of crown and chair twice, once at the 1977 National Eisteddfod of Wales and again in 1980. In 2006 he was awarded...
- National Eisteddfod of Wales: Prose Medal - R. Gerallt Jones
New books
- Irma Chilton - Yr Iâr Goch
- D. Tecwyn Lloyd - Bore Da, Lloyd
- Alan Wilson - Arthur, King of Glamorgan and Gwent
Film
- The Mouse and the Woman, based on a novel by Dylan ThomasDylan ThomasDylan Marlais Thomas was a Welsh poet and writer, Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 11 January 2008. who wrote exclusively in English. In addition to poetry, he wrote short stories and scripts for film and radio, which he often performed himself...
, written by Vincent KaneVincent KaneVincent Kane, OBE, is a Welsh broadcaster and writer, and the Chairman of the Wales Quality Centre, the International Festival of Musical Theatre and the Cardiff Initiative....
and directed by Karl FrancisKarl FrancisKarl Francis is a Welsh film and television director, producer and screenwriter, associated with left-wing political causes. His work is inspired by the likes of Chris Marker and Ken Loach and has included output in both the English and Welsh languages.-Biography:Francis was born in Bedwas in...
, co-stars Huw CeredigHuw CeredigHuw Ceredig, born Huw Ceredig Jones was a Welsh television actor best known for playing Reg Harries in the Welsh soap opera, Pobol y Cwm.-Personal life:...
, Beti Lloyd-Jones and Dafydd Hywel.
Sport
- BoxingBoxingBoxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
- 28 February - Johnny OwenJohnny OwenJohnny Owen was a professional boxer from Wales. His fragile appearance earned him many epithets, including ‘the Bionic Bantam’ and ‘the Merthyr Matchstick’. During his brief career, he held the Bantamweight Championships of Great Britain and Europe and became the first ever Welsh holder of the...
defeats Juan Francisco RodriguezJuan Francisco RodríguezJuan Francisco Rodríguez Márquez is a retired boxer from Spain, who twice represented his native country during the 1970s at the Summer Olympics. He reached the quarterfinals in 1972...
at Ebbw ValeEbbw ValeEbbw Vale is a town at the head of the valley formed by the Ebbw Fawr tributary of the Ebbw River, south Wales. It is the largest town and the administrative centre of Blaenau Gwent county borough...
to win the European bantamweight championship. - 28 June - Johnny OwenJohnny OwenJohnny Owen was a professional boxer from Wales. His fragile appearance earned him many epithets, including ‘the Bionic Bantam’ and ‘the Merthyr Matchstick’. During his brief career, he held the Bantamweight Championships of Great Britain and Europe and became the first ever Welsh holder of the...
defeats John Feeny at the Empire Pool, Wembley. - 19 September - Johnny OwenJohnny OwenJohnny Owen was a professional boxer from Wales. His fragile appearance earned him many epithets, including ‘the Bionic Bantam’ and ‘the Merthyr Matchstick’. During his brief career, he held the Bantamweight Championships of Great Britain and Europe and became the first ever Welsh holder of the...
fights Lupe PintorLupe PintorJose Guadalupe Pintor Guzman , better known as Lupe Pintor, is a former world boxing champion from Cuajimalpa, Mexico. Nicknamed El Indio De Cuajimalpa or The Indian From Cuajimalpa, he started boxing professionally in 1974...
in Los Angeles. Owen is knocked out and goes into a coma from which he never emerges, being pronounced dead on 4 November.
- 28 February - Johnny Owen
- 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...
- Fifteen Welsh players are included in the squad of 38 for the 1980 British Lions tour to South Africa1980 British Lions tour to South AfricaIn 1980 the British Lions rugby union team toured South Africa . The tour was not a success in terms of international results, the Lions losing the first three tests before salvaging some pride with a win in the fourth...
: Elgan ReesElgan ReesHarold Elgan Rees is a former Welsh international rugby union player. He toured with the British Lions to New Zealand in 1977, when he had yet to be capped by Wales, and South Africa in 1980 and at the time played club rugby for Neath...
, Ray GravellRay GravellRaymond William Robert "Ray" Gravell was a Welsh rugby union centre who played club rugby for Llanelli RFC. At international level Gravell earned 23 caps for Wales and was selected for the 1980 British Lions tour to South Africa.In his later career he would become a respected broadcaster and...
, David RichardsDavid Richards (rugby player)David "Dai" Richards is a former Welsh international rugby union player. In 1980 he toured South Africa with the British Lions and at the time played club rugby for Swansea.-Rugby career:...
, Peter MorganPeter Morgan (rugby player)Peter Morgan is a former Welsh international rugby union player. In 1980 he toured South Africa with the British Lions and at the time played club rugby for Llanelli RFC.-Playing career:...
, Gareth Davies, Terry HolmesTerry HolmesTerence David Holmes is a Welsh former dual-code international rugby union and professional rugby league footballer who won 25 caps for as a scrum-half and later played rugby league for Bradford Northern....
, Clive WilliamsClive WilliamsClive Williams is a former international rugby union player. He toured twice with the British and Irish Lions, to New Zealand in 1977 and to South Africa in 1980....
, Ian StephensIan Stephens (rugby player)Ian Stephens is a former international rugby union player. A prop, he toured twice with the British and Irish Lions, to South Africa in 1980 and New Zealand in 1983 and at the time played club rugby for Bridgend RFC.-References:...
, Graham PriceGraham PriceGraham Price MBE is a former Welsh rugby union player who won 41 caps for as a prop forward.- Education :...
, Alan PhillipsAlan PhillipsAlan John Phillips is a former international rugby union player. A hooker, he played his club rugby for Cardiff RFC his modern game of forward play being so impressive that Cardiff selectors played him straight out of youth rugby . Scored 162 tries in 481 appearances for Cardiff RFC...
, Allan MartinAllan MartinAllan Jeffery Martin is a former Aberavon RFC and Welsh international rugby union player. He was noted for his long distance goal-kicking.-Biography:...
, Jeff SquireJeff SquireJeffrey Squire in Newport, Monmouthshire, is a former Welsh international rugby union player and British Lion.-Club career:...
, Stuart LaneStuart LaneStuart Lane is a former international rugby union player. In 1980 he toured South Africa with the British and Irish Lions and at the time played club rugby for Cardiff RFC.-British and Irish Lions:...
, Derek QuinnellDerek QuinnellDerek Leslie Quinnell , won 23 rugby union caps for Wales both as a lock-forward and as a number eight.Educated at Coleshill Secondary Modern School, Llanelli, Derek Quinnell first played for Llanelli RFC in 1967 and made his international debut for Wales against France in 1972...
and Gareth Powell WilliamsGareth Powell WilliamsGareth Williams is a former international rugby union player who played club rugby for Bridgend RFC. In 1980 he toured South Africa with the British Lions as a replacement for the injured Stuart Lane.-Notes:...
. - 18 October - 1 November: 1980 New Zealand rugby union tour of Wales1980 New Zealand rugby union tour of WalesThe 1980 New Zealand tour of Wales was a collection of friendly rugby union games undertaken by the New Zealand All Blacks against Wales that also took in two international games in North America en route to South Wales...
- 1 November: 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...
3-23 New Zealand
- 1 November: Wales
- Fifteen Welsh players are included in the squad of 38 for the 1980 British Lions tour to South Africa
Births
- 23 March - Ryan DayRyan Day-External links:* * *...
, snooker player - 29 March - Andy Scott-LeeAndy Scott-LeeAndy Scott-Lee is a Welsh pop star, who is an ex-member of the group 3SL. After the group broke up, he appeared in the second series of Pop Idol, making it to the final seven. Scott-Lee is now a member of the group G*Mania. Scott-Lee's estranged wife is the former Liberty X member, Michelle Heaton...
, singer - 29 June - Katherine JenkinsKatherine JenkinsKatherine Jenkins is a Welsh mezzo-soprano. She is a classical-popular crossover singer who performs across a spectrum of operatic arias, popular songs, musical theatre and hymns.-Early life and education:...
, singer - 28 July - Noel SullivanNoel SullivanNoel Sullivan , is a Welsh singer and actor. He was a member of the British pop group Hear'Say. Like the other members of the group, he won his part through the talent show Popstars.-Early life and career:...
, pop singer - 13 August - Bari MorganBari MorganBari Morgan is a Welsh footballer currently playing for Welsh Premier League side Aberystwyth Town where he is the club captain. His uncle, Alan, is a former professional footballer and is currently his manager at Aberystwyth Town.-Career:Morgan began his career with Swansea City as a trainee...
, footballer - 19 August - Paul ParryPaul ParryPaul Ian Parry is a Welsh professional footballer and former Wales international who currently plays for Football League One side Preston North End...
, footballer - 20 August - Enzo MaccarinelliEnzo MaccarinelliEnzo Maccarinelli is a Welsh professional boxer who fights in the light heavyweight division. He is a former World Boxing Organization cruiserweight title holder and also held the European title at that weight limit...
, boxer - 17 November - Gethin JenkinsGethin JenkinsGethin Jenkins is a Wales and British Lions international rugby union player, currently playing for Cardiff Blues. He is the most capped prop-forward for Wales.-Early career:...
, rugby player - 16 December - Kevin Aherne-EvansKevin Aherne-EvansKevin Aherne-Evans is a Welsh former professional footballer and Wales Under-21 international. Prior to 2003 he was known as Kevin Evans.-Career:...
, footballer - date unknown - Catrin FinchCatrin FinchCatrin Anna Finch is a Welsh harpist born in Llanon, Ceredigion, Wales. She was the Official Harpist to the Prince of Wales from 2000 to 2004 and is Visiting Professor at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama and the Royal Academy of Music...
, harpist
Deaths
- 25 February - Caradog PrichardCaradog PrichardCaradog Prichard was a Welsh poet and novelist writing in Welsh. His daughter, Mari Prichard, was married to the late Humphrey Carpenter....
, author - 14 May - Hugh GriffithHugh GriffithHugh Emrys Griffith was a Welsh film, stage and television actor.-Early life:Griffith was born in Marianglas, Anglesey, Wales, the son of Mary and William Griffith. He was educated at Llangefni County School and attempted to gain entrance to university, but failed the English examination...
, actor - 4 June - Don TarrDon TarrDonald "Don" James Tarr was a Welsh international hooker who played club rugby for Swansea and Cardiff, county rugby for Hampshire and invitational rugby for the Barbarians...
, Wales international rugby player - 15 September - Bill EvansBill EvansWilliam John Evans, known as Bill Evans was an American jazz pianist. His use of impressionist harmony, inventive interpretation of traditional jazz repertoire, and trademark rhythmically independent, "singing" melodic lines influenced a generation of pianists including: Chick Corea, Herbie...
, American jazz pianist of Welsh descent - 4 November - Johnny Owen, boxer
- 26 November - Rachel RobertsRachel Roberts (British actress)Rachel Roberts was a Welsh actress noted for her fervour and passion; Roberts is best remembered for her forthright screen performances in two key films of the 1960s, Saturday Night and Sunday Morning and This Sporting Life, in both of which she played the older mistress of the central male...
, actress - date unknown - Aneirin Talfan DaviesAneirin Talfan DaviesAneirin Talfan Davies was a Welsh poet, broadcaster and literary critic.Talfan Davies was brought up in Gorseinon. During the 1930s Davies worked in London as a pharmacist before returning to Wales and settling in Swansea. He was the brother of Alun Talfan Davies, with whom he founded the...
, BBC executive