Archbishop of Wales – Derrick Childs, Bishop of Monmouth (retired)
Archdruid of the National Eisteddfod of Wales – Elerydd
Events
21 April - Elizabeth II is presented with a kilo of Welsh gold for her 60th birthday, in the knowledge that supplies are becoming scarce.
May - Cardiff City and Swansea City are both relegated to the Football League Fourth Division in England. Swansea, who were in the First Division between 1981 and 1983, recently came close to going out of existence due to huge debts.
30 June - Mardy Colliery, the last pit in the Rhondda, is closed.
Summer - The Wales National Ice Rink opens in Cardiff.
November - Castles and Town Walls of King Edward in Gwynedd (Beaumaris, Caernarfon, Conwy and Harlech Castles and Caernarfon and Conwy town walls, designated collectively) become the first Welsh sites designated as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, in the first tranche of U.K. designations.
December - Bersham Colliery, the last deep mine in the Denbighshire Coalfield, is closed.
Arts and literature
Alternative rock band Manic Street Preachers formed at Oakdale Comprehensive School.
Ballet Cymru formed as Cwmni Ballet Gwent, a touring classical ballet company based in Newport.
The first Welsh Proms are held at St David's Hall, Cardiff.
The Old Devils, Kingsley Amis's novel set in Wales, wins the Booker Prize.
Publisher Honno is established in Aberystwyth to publish writing by the women of Wales.
Awards
National Eisteddfod of Wales (held in Fishguard)
National Eisteddfod of Wales: Chair - Gwynn ap Gwilym
National Eisteddfod of Wales: Crown - T James Jones
National Eisteddfod of Wales: Prose Medal - Ray Evans
Gwobr Goffa Daniel Owen - Robat Gruffudd, Llosgi
English language
Duncan Bush - Salt
Mary Jones - Resistance
Jenny Nimmo - The Snow Spider
Christopher Norris - Contest of Faculties
Oliver Reynolds - Skevington's Daughter
Alun Richards - Days of Absence
R. S. Thomas - Experimenting with an Amen
Gwyn Alf Williams - When Was Wales?
Raymond Williams - Loyalties
Welsh language
J. Eirian Davies - Cerddi
Bobi Jones - Hunllef Arthur
Dic Jones - Sgubo'r Storws
Rhiannon Davies Jones - Dyddiadur Mary Gwyn
Elyn L. Jones - Cyfrinach Hannah
Angharad Tomos - Yma o Hyd
Classical
Arwel Hughes - Gloria Patri
Daniel Jones - Cello Concerto
Colin Ross - Prelude for Piano
Albums
Y Cyrff - Dan y Cownter
Bonnie Tyler - Secrets Dreams And Forbidden Fire (album)
Chichester Psalms, featuring Aled Jones
Welsh-language films
Ibiza, Ibiza
Milwr Bychan
Rhosyn a Rhith (English: Coming Up Roses)
Welsh-language television
Sam Tân (Fireman Sam)
English-language television
A Child's Christmas in Wales (adaptation of a short story by Dylan Thomas)
BBC Wales wins awards for Penyberth and Ms Rhymney Valley 1985 (documentary) at the Celtic Film and Television Festival.
Chris Stuart - Cha Cha Chat Show
Sports
Athletics: Kirsty Wade becomes the first Welsh woman to win the gold medal in the 800m and 1500m at the Commonwealth Games.
Boxing:
9 April - Robert Dickie wins the British featherweight title.
Cricket: Greg Thomas is capped for England. Matthew Maynard becomes the youngest player ever to score 1000 runs for Glamorgan CCC.
Gymnastics: Andrew Morris becomes British men's champion for the third time.
Births
9 January - Craig Davies, footballer
21 February - Charlotte Church, singer
28 March - Jay Curtis, broadcaster and actor
11 April - Dai Greene, athlete
25 May - Geraint Thomas, cyclist
17 November - Joe Jacobson, footballer
Deaths
8 January - Mansel Thomas, conductor and composer, 76
9 January - Wilson Jones, footballer, 71
15 January - Alfred Bestall, illustrator, 93
16 February - John Tripp, poet, 58
28 February - Sir Thomas Williams, lawyer and politician, 70
March - Lewis Valentine, political activist, 92
1 March - Tommy Farr, boxer, 72
10 March - Ray Milland, actor, 79
14 March - Sir Huw Wheldon, television producer and presenter, 69
30 April - George Whitcombe, footballer, 84
5 June - John Bevan, Wales rugby union coach, 38
29 July - Gordon Mills, music industry manager, 51
29 August - Annie Powell, politician and Wales's first Communist mayor, 79
1 November - Tom Arthur, Wales national rugby player, 80
6 November (at Henley-on-Thames) - Howard Thomas, radio producer
