1966 in Wales

This article is about the particular significance of the year 1966 to Wales and its people.

Incumbents

*Prince of Wales - Charles, Prince of Wales
*Princess of Wales - "vacant"
*Secretary of State for Wales - Cledwyn Hughes
*Archbishop of Wales - Edwin Morris

Events

*14 July - In the Carmarthen by-election, caused by the death of Megan Lloyd George, Gwynfor Evans wins Plaid Cymru's first Parliamentary seat.
*22 July - Fifteen people are drowned at Penmaenpool in the Mawddach estuary.
*22 July - The M4 motorway Port Talbot by-pass is opened.
*8 September - The Severn Bridge is opened.
*21 October - At Aberfan, following heavy rain, a colliery waste tip collapses onto the village's primary school, killing 116 children and 28 adults.

Arts and literature

*

Awards

*British Press Awards - Special Award for Journalism - David Rhys Davies, "Merthyr Express"

*National Eisteddfod of Wales (held in Aberavon)

*National Eisteddfod of Wales: Chair - Dic Jones
*National Eisteddfod of Wales: Crown - Dafydd Jones
*National Eisteddfod of Wales: Prose Medal - "withheld"

New books

*Pennar Davies - "Caregl Nwyf"
*Charles Jones - "The Challenger"
*Thomas John Morgan - "Amryw Flawd"
*Raymond Williams - "Modern Tragedy"

New drama

*Gwenlyn Parry - "Saer Doliau (Doll Doctor)"

Music

*Alun Hoddinott - "Concerto no. 3", op. 44

Film

*Richard Burton stars in "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" alongside his wife Elizabeth Taylor. The performance wins him a BAFTA Best Actor award.

Broadcasting

*BBC Wales opens new studios in Llandaff.

Welsh-language television

*

English-language television

*Hywel Bennett makes an impact in his first major TV role in "Where the Buffalo Roam", a Wednesday Play.

port

*Athletics - Lynn Davies becomes the first person to hold the European, Commonwealth and Olympic long jump titles simultaneously.
*Football - Ivor Allchurch plays his final game for Wales, against Chile.
*Rugby union - Phil Bennett makes his first appearance for Llanelli RFC.
*Tennis - Future rugby star J.P.R. Williams wins the junior championship at Wimbledon.
*BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year - Lynn Davies

Births

*21 March - Matthew Maynard, cricketer
*24 March - Mark Williams MP, politician
*14 April - Lloyd Owen, actor
*29 April - Carl Dale, footballer
*3 May - Darren Morgan, snooker player
*16 August - Helen Thomas, Greenham Common campaigner
*1 September - Elin Jones AM, politician
*21 October - Phillip Price, golfer
*"date unknown"
**Niall Griffiths, novelist
**Guto Harri, broadcaster

Deaths

*20 January - Gordon Macdonald MP, politician, 81
*27 January - Ronald Armstrong-Jones, barrister, 66
*18 February - Thomas Williams, 1st Baron Williams, 73
*14 May - Megan Lloyd George MP, politician, 64
*"date unknown"
**Wilfred Mitford Davies, illustrator
**Simon Bartholomew Jones, minister and poet
**Elizabeth Watkin Jones, children's author