This article is about the particular significance of the year 1981 to Wales and its people.
Incumbents
Secretary of State for Wales – Nicholas Edwards Archbishop of Wales – Gwilym Williams, Bishop of Bangor Archdruid of the National Eisteddfod of Wales Geraint (outgoing) Jâms Nicholas (incoming)
Events January - First phase of St. David's Shopping Centre, Cardiff, opens to the public. 26 March - Roy Jenkins co-founds the Social Democratic Party (UK) in London. Welsh Labour MPs defecting to the new party are: Tom Ellis (Wrexham), Ednyfed Hudson Davies (Caerphilly) and Jeffrey Thomas (Abertillery). 24 February - Buckingham Palace announces the engagement of the Prince of Wales to Lady Diana Spencer. 5 April - UK census: Results reveal that the percentage of Welsh language speakers has fallen to an all-time low of 18.9% of the Welsh population and Gwynedd is the only Welsh county with a Welsh-speaking majority. 11 June - Britain's first Urban Enterprise Zone is created in Lower Swansea Valley. 29 July - Wedding of the Prince of Wales and Lady Diana Spencer at St Paul's Cathedral in London. November - Joan Ruddock becomes Chair of CND. Independent film company Teliesyn begins producing programmes for S4C, BBC Wales and HTV.
Arts and literature 6 June - The Alarm play their first gig under their new name, at the Victoria Hotel, Prestatyn. Theatre Wales is established. Harry Secombe receives a knighthood.
Awards National Eisteddfod of Wales (held in Machynlleth) National Eisteddfod of Wales: Chair - John Gwilym Jones, "Y Frwydr" National Eisteddfod of Wales: Crown - Siôn Aled, "Wynebau" National Eisteddfod of Wales: Prose Medal - John Griffith Jones, "Cysgodion ar y Pared"
New books English language Clive Jenkins & Barrie Sherman - The Leisure Shock Eiluned Lewis - The Old Home Kenneth O. Morgan - Rebirth of a Nation: Wales 1880-1980 R. S. Thomas - Between Here and Now
Welsh language Irma Chilton - Y Cwlwm Gwaed Eigra Lewis Roberts - Merch yr oriau mawr
Drama J. R. Evans - Brawd am Byth
Music Dafydd Iwan - "Yma o Hyd" Daniel Jones - Symphony no. 10 William Mathias - Let the people praise Thee, O God
Film English-language films The Mouse and the Woman, starring Huw Ceredig. Dragonslayer, with exterior scenes filmed in Wales.
Welsh-language films
Broadcasting English-language television 4 March–29 April – The Life and Times of David Lloyd George, written by Elaine Morgan and starring Philip Madoc (BBC Wales) 24 September–18 December – Taff Acre (Harlech Television)
Welsh-language television Croeso i S4C, presented by Owen Edwards
Sport BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year – John Toshack Boxing - Neville Meade becomes British heavyweight champion. Football - Neville Southall joins Everton F.C.
Births 12 January – Sarah Thomas, field hockey player 13 March – Ryan Jones, rugby player 17 March - Leigh De-Vulgt, footballer 28 March – Gareth David-Lloyd, actor 6 April – Robert Earnshaw, footballer 23 May – Gwenno Saunders, singer 24 May – Darren Moss, footballer 25 May – Huw Stephens, radio and TV presenter 18 November – Sian Reese-Williams, actress 19 November – Mark Wallace, cricketer 16 December – Gareth Williams Scottish-Welsh footballer
Deaths January - Leslie Jones, footballer, 69 March - Dai Francis, miners' leader 1 March - Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones, theologian, 81 8 March - Nigel Birch, Baron Rhyl, politician, 74 3 April - Will Owen, miner and politician, 80 13 April - Gwyn Thomas, author, 67 15 May - J. E. Meredith, Presbyterian minister and writer, 76 16 June - Billy Hughes, footballer, 63 17 June - Ike Fowler, dual-code international rugby union player, 86 23 July - Goronwy Roberts, Baron Goronwy-Roberts, politician, 67 6 August - George Lewis, footballer, 67 18 September - Brinley Richards, poet, author and archdruid 30 September - Roy John, Wales and British Lions international rugby union player, 55 25 December - Tom Griffiths, Welsh international footballer, 75
See also 1981 in Northern Ireland
References