This article is about the particular significance of the year 1959 to Wales and its people.
Incumbents
Minister of Welsh Affairs – Henry Brooke Archbishop of Wales – Edwin Morris, Bishop of Monmouth"Alfred Edwin Morris – Archbishop of Wales" in The Journal of Ecclesiastical History (1991), 42 : 527-528 CUP Archdruid of the National Eisteddfod of Wales – William Morris
Events
1 January – The 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards (informally known as the "Welsh Cavalry") is formed. February – The Queen makes the red dragon on a green and white background the official flag of Wales. 4 May – Aneurin Bevan is elected deputy leader of the Labour Party. 6 August – Huw T. Edwards leaves the Labour Party for Plaid Cymru in protest at the decision to flood the Tryweryn valley. 8 October – At the UK general election: Newly elected MPs include John Morris (Aberavon); Donald Box (Cardiff North); Ifor Davies (Gower) and Geraint Morgan (Denbigh). Poet Waldo Williams stands as a Plaid Cymru candidate. Hugh Dalton retires from Parliament. The Local Government Commission for Wales is set up, chaired by Sir Guildhaume Myrddin-Evans. Sir William Jones resigns from the Council for Wales and Monmouthshire in protest at the appointment of Henry Brooke. Will Paynter becomes Secretary of the National Union of Mineworkers (Great Britain). Gomer Berry, 1st Viscount Kemsley, sells his holdings in Kemsley Newspapers to Roy Thomson. Gilbern Sports Cars begin production of their kit cars at Llantwit Fardre, Pontypridd, Glamorgan.
Arts and literature
8 January – Sir Lewis Casson and Dame Sybil Thorndike celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary (last December) by appearing together in Eighty in the Shade, a play written especially for them, in London. 9 January – Shirley Bassey is the first Welsh singer to hit number one in the UK singles chart, with "As I Love You". December – Actress Siân Phillips marries Peter O'Toole in Dublin. Literature Wales is established as The Academi. Harry Secombe is voted Show Business Personality of the Year.
Awards
National Eisteddfod of Wales (held in Caernarfon) National Eisteddfod of Wales: Chair – T. Llew Jones National Eisteddfod of Wales: Crown – Tom Huws National Eisteddfod of Wales: Prose Medal – William Owen
New books English language Menna Gallie – Strike for a Kingdom Edgar Phillips – Edmund Jones, "The Old Prophet" Bertrand Russell – My Philosophical Development
Welsh language Albert Evans-Jones – Cerddi Cynan, y casgliad cyflawn D. Gwenallt Jones – Gwreiddiau Kate Roberts – Te yn y Grug
Music Grace Williams – All Seasons shall be Sweet
Film Rachel Thomas, Meredith Edwards and Megs Jenkins appear with John Mills and Hayley Mills in Tiger Bay. Hugh Griffith wins the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Ben-Hur.
Broadcasting Statistics show that 50% of households in Wales have television licences. The BBC Third Programme becomes available on VHF from Wenvoe.
Welsh-language television Ar Lin Mam (children's programme) Trysor o Gân (Treasury of Song)
English-language television Ivor the Engine (children's programme)
Sports Athletics – The Welsh Games are held for the first time. Boxing – Former world flyweight champion Jimmy Wilde is elected to the American Boxing Hall of Fame. BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year – Graham Moore
Births 30 January – Cynthia Carter, journalist, author and academic 25 February – Mike Peters, rock singer (died 2025) 21 March – Colin Jones, boxer 24 April – Paula Yates, television presenter (died 2000) 3 May – Eddie Niedzwiecki, footballer 8 May – Jillian Evans MEP, politician 20 May – Annabel Giles, model 28 May – Steve Strange, born Steven Harrington, pop singer/promoter (died 2015) 18 June – Jocelyn Davies AM, politician 5 September – Mike Ruddock, rugby coach 7 November – Richard Barrett, composer 26 November – Dai Davies MP, politician date unknown – Paul Henry, poet
Deaths
1 January – Daniel Jones, Wales international rugby player, 83 13 January – Henry Weale, Victoria Cross recipient, 61 3 February – Sir Evan Williams, 1st Baronet, industrialist, 87 21 February – Kathleen Freeman, classical scholar, 61 24 February – Sid Judd, international rugby player, 30 3 March – Billy Bancroft, rugby and cricket player, 88 21 April – David Bell, writer and curator, 43 26 May – Thomas Baker Jones, Wales international rugby player, 96 18 June – Nantlais Williams, poet and preacher, 84 2 July – Ivor Davies, rugby player, 67 7 July – Frank Williams, Wales international rugby player, 49 23 July – George Davies, international rugby player, 83 5 August – D. W. Davis, Governor of Idaho, 86 9 August – John Hart Evans, rugby player, 78Jack Evans rugby union Scrum.com 15 October – Thomas Wynford Rees, army officer, 61 23 October – Anthony Windham Jones, rugby player, 80Windham Jones player profile Scrum.com 16 November – Fanny Winifred Edwards, teacher and writer, 83 17 November – David Owen Morgan, zoologist, 66 27 November – Grenville Morris, footballer, 81 10 December – W. R. Davies, US academic of Welsh descent, 66 (heart attack)"Davies Leaves Inspiration"; The Spectator, December 17, 1959 28 December – David Brazell, singer, 84 30 December – Dick Duckfield, cricketer, 52
See also 1959 in Northern Ireland
References