This article is about the particular significance of the year 1984 to Wales and its people.
Incumbents
Secretary of State for Wales – Nicholas Edwards Archbishop of Wales – Derrick Childs, Bishop of Monmouth Archdruid of the National Eisteddfod of Wales Jâms Nicholas (outgoing) Elerydd (incoming)
Events 2 March – Carmarthen MP Dr Roger Thomas announces his resignation, having been prosecuted for importuning. 12 March – The miners' strike begins, with a solid turn out from all NUM mines in Wales. 31 March - The Guildford Crescent Baths close in Cardiff after 122 years, despite a campaign to keep them open. 3 May – At the Cynon Valley by-election brought about by the death of MP Ioan Lyonel Evans, Ann Clwyd retains the seat for Labour with an increased majority. 19 July – The Lleyn Peninsula earthquake, which strikes the Llŷn Peninsula at 06:56 UTC (07:56 BST), measuring 5.4 on the Richter scale, is the largest known onshore earthquake to occur in the UK since instrumental measurements began. 4 October – Dafydd Wigley resigns as leader of Plaid Cymru for domestic reasons. 30 November – Taxi driver David Wilkie is killed when a concrete block is dropped onto his car as he drives a strikebreaker to work on the M4 motorway. Dean Hancock and Russell Shankland of Rhymney are later convicted of murder. 3 December – First McDonald's hamburger fast food restaurant in Wales opens in Cardiff. date unknown Sam Edwards becomes Cavendish Professor of Physics at Cambridge. Clive Sinclair's C5 electric vehicle is manufactured at the Hoover works in Merthyr Tydfil. Border Breweries (Wrexham) ceases to brew in Wales. Creation of Cadw: Welsh Historic Monuments Executive Agency.
Arts and literature Awards Griff Rhys Jones wins the Laurence Olivier Theatre Award for Best Comedy Performance for his role in Charley's Aunt. National Eisteddfod of Wales (held in Lampeter) National Eisteddfod of Wales: Chair – Aled Rhys Wiliam National Eisteddfod of Wales: Crown – John Roderick Rees National Eisteddfod of Wales: Prose Medal – John Idris Owen Gwobr Goffa Daniel Owen – Richard Cyril Hughes, Castell Cyfaddawd
New books English language Duncan Bush – Aquarium Hywel Francis – Miners Against Fascism: Wales and the Spanish Civil War Sian James – Dragons and Roses Mike Jenkins – Empire of Smoke Robert Minhinnick – Life Sentences Leslie Thomas – In My Wildest Dreams
Welsh language Gwynn ap Gwilym – Gwales Geraint H. Jenkins – Hanes Cymru yn y Cyfnod Modern Cynnar: 1530–1760 Alun Jones – Oed Rhyw Addewid Gerwyn Williams – Colli cyswllt
Music Ar Log IV The Alarm – Declaration (debut studio album) Icons of Filth – Onward Christian Soldiers Shakin' Stevens records "Teardrops" with Hank Marvin on guitar. Phil Campbell joins Motörhead. First Brecon Jazz Festival staged.
Film Ray Milland makes his last film appearance in The Sea Serpent. Sian Phillips stars in Dune. Kevin Allen makes his big screen debut in The Man Who Shot Christmas.
Welsh-language films None
Broadcasting Gareth Gwenlan becomes Head of Comedy at the BBC.
Welsh-language television
English-language television The District Nurse starring Nerys Hughes
Sport Football – Ian Rush becomes the first Welshman to win the European Golden Boot award. BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year – Ian Rush Horse racing – Neil Doughty wins the Grand National on Hallo Dandy.
Births 27 February – Rhys Williams, athlete 9 March – Owain Wyn Evans, broadcast presenter 11 March – Tom James, Olympic gold medal-winning rower 22 June – Arron Davies, footballer 23 June – Duffy, singer 31 July – Craig Stiens, footballer 14 August – Rob Davies, table tennis player 15 September – Prince Harry, son of the Prince and Princess of Wales (Charles and Diana) 20 September – Byron Anthony, footballer 15 October – Owain Tudur Jones, footballer 24 November – Matthew Mason, cricketer date unknown – Gwawr Edwards, soprano
Deaths 4 January – Enoch Jenkins, sports shooter, 91 11 January – Gwyn Thomas, rugby player, 91 14 January – Ivan Lloyd-Phillips, colonial administrator, 73 26 January – Nathan Rocyn-Jones, doctor, international rugby player and President of the WRU, 81 10 February – Ioan Evans, politician, 56 11 April – John Lloyd Thomas, clergyman and teacher, 76Rev J. R. Lloyd Thomas. The Times (London, England), Thursday, 19 April 1984; p. 14; Issue 61810 15 April – Tommy Cooper, comedian, 63 (heart attack on stage) 21 April – Wilf Hughes, cricketer, 73 8 May – David Williams, geologist, 85 20 May – Meredith Thomas, flying ace, 91 13 June – David Evans, microbiologist, 74 18 June – Idris Foster, academic, 72 22 June – Dill Jones, jazz pianist, 60 29 June – Seiriol Evans, clergyman and writer, 89 6 July – Denys Val Baker, British writer and promoter of Celtic culture, 66 30 July – Peter Jones, surgeon, 67 5 August – Richard Burton, actor, 58 (brain haemorrhage) 17 August – Mostyn Thomas, operatic baritone, 88 27 August – Amabel Williams-Ellis, writer, 90 9 September – Margaret Phillips, actress, 61"Margaret Phillips Dies at 61; Veteran Broadway Actress" New York Times (11 September 1984). 23 September – Daniel Granville West, politician, 80 12 October – Sir Anthony Berry, politician and son of Gomer Berry, 1st Viscount Kemsley, 59 (killed in Brighton hotel bombing) 26 October – Seaborne Davies, lawyer and politician, 80 18 November – Thomas Jones, Baron Maelor, politician, 86 11 December (in Hendon) – Will Paynter, miners' leader, 81 date unknown – Arthur Fear, operatic bass-baritone
See also 1984 in Northern Ireland
References