1979 in Wales

This article is about the particular significance of the year 1979 to Wales and its people.

Incumbents

*Prince of Wales - Charles, Prince of Wales
*Princess of Wales - "vacant"
*Secretary of State for Wales - Nicholas Edwards
*Archbishop of Wales - Gwilym Owen Williams
*Archdruid of the National Eisteddfod of Wales - Geraint

Events

*1 March - The devolution referendum rejects the Wales Act 1978 (which would have established a Welsh Assembly) by four to one.
*The Parliamentary Select Committee on Welsh Affairs is established.
*7 June - In the elections for the European Parliament, Ann Clwyd and Win Griffiths are among the newly-elected MEPs. Plaid Cymru win no seats.
*8 June - A Cessna aircraft crashes into a mountain in Snowdonia, killing all six occupants.
*12 December - Four holiday homes in rural Wales are the target of arson attacks by political activists.
*Annie Powell of Rhondda becomes Britain's first Communist mayor.

Arts and literature

*

Awards

*Michael Bogdanov is named "Director of the Year" for the Royal Shakespeare Company production of "The Taming of the Shrew".

*National Eisteddfod of Wales (held in Caernarfon)
**National Eisteddfod of Wales: Chair - "withheld"
**National Eisteddfod of Wales: Crown - Meirion Evans
**National Eisteddfod of Wales: Prose Medal - Robyn Lewis

New books

*Gillian Clarke - "The Sundial"
*Pennar Davies - "Mabinogi Mwys"
*Wendy Davies - "The Llandaff Charters"
*Marion Eames - "I Hela Cnau"
*James Hanley - "A Kingdom"
*Emyr Humphreys - "The Best of Friends"
*Sian James - "A Small Country"
*Dic Jones - "Storom Awst"
*Tristan Jones - "The Incredible Voyage"
*Anna Kashfi - "Brando for Breakfast"
*Leslie Norris - "Sliding"
*John Rowlands - "Tician, Tician"
*Gwyn Alf Williams - "The Merthyr Rising"
*Raymond Williams - "The Fight for Manod"

Music

*Dave Edmunds - "Repeat When Necessary" (album)
*Bonnie Tyler - "Diamond Cut" (album)

Film

*Rachel Roberts wins the BAFTA award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in "Yanks".
*Emlyn Williams' play, "The Corn is Green", is filmed for the second time, starring Katharine Hepburn.

Welsh-language films

*"None"

Broadcasting

*BBC Radio Cymru is launched.
*New Home Secretary William Whitelaw rejects the idea of a Welsh fourth channel on behalf of the Conservative government.

Welsh-language television

*

English-language television

*Colin Jeavons stars in Dennis Potter's classic play, "Blue Remembered Hills".

port

*Rugby union - Wales win the Five Nations Championship and take the Triple Crown.
*Snooker - Terry Griffiths wins the World Championship in his first year as a professional.

Births

*17 May - Michaela Breeze, weightlifting champion
*3 June - Christian Malcolm, athlete
*4 June - Celyn Jones, actor
*13 July - Craig Bellamy, footballer

Deaths

*7 February - Charles Tunnicliffe, painter on Anglesey
*14 May - Jean Rhys, novelist
*12 December - Goronwy Rees, writer
*"date unknown"
**Hugh Bevan, academic
**Dilys Cadwaladr, poet
**Dilys Davies, actress
**Harold Finch, politician
**Eiluned Lewis, novelist
**Nansi Richards, harpist
**Jennie Thomas, children's author