1951 in Wales

Updated on Dec 07, 2024

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Centuries: 18th19th20th21st
Decades: 1930s1940s1950s1960s1970s

This article is about the particular significance of the year 1951 to Wales and its people.

Incumbents

Prince of Wales – vacant

Princess of Wales – vacant

Archbishop of Wales – John Morgan, Bishop of Llandaff

Archdruid of the National Eisteddfod of Wales – Cynan

Events

3 May - Josef Herman's Miners, a mural commissioned for the Minerals of the Island Pavilion at the Festival of Britain, is displayed for the first time.

14 May - The Talyllyn Railway is reopened by the Talyllyn Railway Preservation Society, generally considered to be the world's first such voluntary body to operate a railway.

17 July - The Chancellor of the Exchequer opens the Abbey Works at Margam, Europe's largest steel plant.

31 July–11 August - Festival Ship Campania is on show in Cardiff Docks as part of the Festival of Britain. Steam tug Earl capsizes while assisting her to berth.

12 October - Penrhyn Castle and estate, given to HM Treasury in lieu of death duties, is accepted by the National Trust.

28 October - Sir David Maxwell Fyfe is appointed the first-ever Minister for Welsh Affairs.

20 November - Snowdonia becomes a National Park.

Abbey Works at Port Talbot Steelworks opened.

Brynmawr Rubber Factory completed.

Awards

National Eisteddfod of Wales (held in Llanrwst)

National Eisteddfod of Wales: Chair - Brinley Richards

National Eisteddfod of Wales: Crown - T. Glynne Davies

National Eisteddfod of Wales: Prose Medal - Islwyn Ffowc Elis

New books

Ambrose Bebb - Machlud yr Oesoedd Canol

Edward Tegla Davies - Y Foel Faen

Islwyn Ffowc Elis - Cyn Oeri'r Gwaed

Eynon Evans - Prize Onions

W. F. Grimes - The Prehistory of Wales

Thomas Jones - Memoirs of Thomas Jones, Penkerrig, Radnorshire, 1803

Donald Peers - Pathway

John Cowper Powys - Porious: A Romance of the Dark Ages

Lynette Roberts - Gods with Stainless Ears: a Heroic Poem

Richard Vaughan - Moulded in Earth

Ronald Welch - The Gauntlet

New drama

Peter Philp - Castle of Deception

Music

Mai Jones - "Rhondda Rhapsody" (theme from the radio programme, Welsh Rarebit)

D. Afan Thomas - Magnificat in F

Grace Williams - The Dancers

Film

David, the Welsh cinematic contribution to the Festival of Britain. It is based on the real-life story of the poet David Rees Griffiths (Amanwy), who plays himself [1].

Broadcasting

28 May - Sir Harry Secombe stars in the first broadcast of Crazy People (later renamed The Goon Show).

Welsh Rarebit transfers from stage to radio.

Sport

Boxing - February 21: Eddie Thomas wins the European welterweight title.

Births

5 February - Geraint Watkins, musician

7 March - Boyd Clack, actor and screenwriter (in Vancouver, Canada)

31 March

Henry Spinetti, musician

Sir Wyn Lewis Williams, judge

13 April - Leszek Borysiewicz, immunologist

17 May - Simon Hughes, politician

28 May - Phil Rogers, potter and author

8 June - Bonnie Tyler (born Gaynor Hopkins), singer

15 August - Berwyn Price, athlete

3 September - Ray Gravell, rugby player and radio presenter (d. 2007)

11 September - Gareth Jenkins, Wales rugby coach

18 November - David Llewellyn, golfer

24 November - Graham Price, rugby player

3 December - Nicky Stevens, pop singer

24 December - Nick Griffiths, Australian politician, in Barry, Wales

Undated

Menna Elfyn, poet

Tich Gwilym, guitarist (d. 2005)

Richard Parry-Jones, engineering manager

Deaths

23 January - Charlie Pugh, Wales international rugby player

25 February - Percy Malcolm Stewart, industrialist

28 February - Evan Lloyd, Wales international rugby player

6 March - Ivor Novello, composer, actor and singer

19 March - Jack Jones, Welsh international rugby player

3 July - Gwendoline Davies, philanthropist

13 August - David Jenkins, Wales national rugby player

27 September - Robert Thomas, politician

29 September - Evan Roberts, preacher

30 November - Dai Fitzgerald, Wales international rugby union player

References

1951 in Wales Wikipedia

(Text) CC BY-SA

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