1997 in Wales

This article is about the particular significance of the year 1997 to Wales and its people.

Incumbents

*Prince of Wales - Charles, Prince of Wales
*Princess of Wales - "vacant"
*Secretary of State for Wales - Ron Davies
*Archbishop of Wales - Alwyn Rice Jones

Events

*January 15 - Diana, Princess of Wales calls for an international ban on landmines [http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/january/15/newsid_2530000/2530603.stm "Princess Diana sparks landmines row" BBC On This Day]
*January 21 - Wales child abuse scandal: Over 80 people are named as child abusers in care homes in North Wales [http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/january/21/newsid_2506000/2506835.stm "Carers accused in child abuse inquiry" BBC On This Day]
*March - Launch of the "Welsh Language in Chubut" project.
*March 13 - Launch of the Aberystwyth Centre for the Book.
*May 1 - In the UK General Election, four female MPs are elected in Wales -- Julie Morgan, Ann Clwyd, Betty Williams and Jackie Lawrence. Lembit Öpik becomes MP for Montgomeryshire.
*August 31 - Newsreader Martyn Lewis announces the death of Diana, Princess of Wales.
*September 1 - The Prince of Wales flies to Paris to bring home the body of his ex-wife. Bodyguard Trevor Rees-Jones, the only survivor of the crash in which Diana died, remains in a critical condition.
*September 6 - At the funeral of the former Princess of Wales, her coffin is carried into Westminster Abbey by a contingent of Welsh Guards.
*September 18 - the referendum on Welsh devolution results in a narrow "Yes" vote.
*Alun Hoddinott receives the Glyndwr Award for an Outstanding Contribution to the Arts in Wales.
*Bryn Euryn, an archaeological site near Colwyn Bay, is identified as the probable base of Cynlas Goch, a 6th century king.
*Cardiff Arms Park is demolished to make way for a new stadium.
*Welsh Sheepdog Society is founded.
*Jenny Pride becomes the first Welsh female to command a unit of the Royal Engineers.

Arts

*Sir Harry Secombe suffers a stroke.
*October - The Red Violin festival is held for the first time in Cardiff.

Awards

*National Eisteddfod of Wales - held in Bala
**Chair - Ceri Wyn Jones
**Crown - Cen Williams
**Literature Prize - Angharad Tomos, "Y Canol Llonydd"
**Gwobr Goffa Daniel Owen - Gwyneth Carey
**Richard Burton Prize - Rhys ap Trefor

*Welsh Arts Council Book of the Year - Iwan Llwyd, "Dan Ddylanwad (Under the Influence)"

Books

*Rees Davies - "The Revolt of Owain Glyn Dŵr"
*Gerwyn Williams - "Cydio’n Dynn"

Music

*L'Héritage des Celtes, featuring Elaine Morgan - "Finisterre"
*Bryn Terfel makes his debut at La Scala as Figaro.
*Stereophonics release their first album, "Word Gets Around".
*Gorky's Zygotic Mynci - "Barafundle"

Film

*Ioan Gruffudd and Bernard Fox appear in the blockbuster "Titanic".
*Michael Sheen stars in "Wilde".
*Horror film "Darklands" is filmed in Port Talbot.

National Eisteddfod

*Held at Bala

Broadcasting

English-language television

*

Welsh-language television

*"Pam Fi Duw?" starring Brian Hibbard
*"Y Clwb Rygbi"

port

*Cricket - Glamorgan win the County Championship.
*Rugby union - Wales win the Five Nations championship, since 2000 called the Six Nations Championship.

Deaths

*15 February - Billie-Jo Jenkins, foster daughter of Sion Jenkins
*9 March - Terry Nation, screenwriter often credited with inventing the Daleks
*10 March - Wilfred Wooller, cricketer, rugby player, journalist and sports administrator
*2 June - Eddie Thomas, boxing champion and manager
*10 July - Ivor Allchurch, footballer
*2 August - Rhydwen Williams, poet, novelist and minister
*31 August - Diana, Princess of Wales
*22 September - George Thomas, 1st Viscount Tonypandy, former Speaker of the House of Commons
*6 November - Ray Daniel, footballer
*13 November - Alexander Cordell, novelist
*16 December - Leon Eagles, actor
*28 December - Ronnie Williams, actor and comedian (suicide)
*"date unknown" - Alan Taylor, TV presenter