This article is about the particular significance of the year 1971 to Wales and its people.
Incumbents
Secretary of State for Wales – Peter Thomas Archbishop of Wales Glyn Simon, Bishop of Llandaff (retired) Gwilym Williams, Bishop of Bangor (elected) Archdruid of the National Eisteddfod of Wales – Tilsli
Events February - Harold Charles becomes Bishop of St Asaph.The Times, 4 February 1971; pg. 16; Issue 58090; col D Church news 6 May - Singer Dickie Valentine is killed in a car accident on the Glangrwyney bridge near Crickhowell. 28 May - Opening of the Llanberis Lake Railway. 1 August - It becomes legal to register marriages in the Welsh language. date unknown The Welsh Nursery Schools Movement is founded in Aberystwyth. Anglesey Aluminium opens its smelting plant on the outskirts of Holyhead. Wylfa Nuclear Power Station becomes operational. Arts and literature Mary Hopkin marries record producer Tony Visconti. Welsh performers participate in the first Festival Interceltique de Lorient in Brittany.
Awards
National Eisteddfod of Wales (held in Bangor) National Eisteddfod of Wales: Chair - Emrys Roberts, "Y Chwarelwr" National Eisteddfod of Wales: Crown - Bryan Martin Davies, "Y Golau Caeth" National Eisteddfod of Wales: Prose Medal - Ifor Wyn Williams
New books English language Rhys Davies - Nobody Answered the Bell John L. Hughes - Tom Jones Slept Here
Welsh language Islwyn Ffowc Elis - Y Gromlech yn yr Haidd Gwynfor Evans - Aros Mae Tudor Wilson Evans - Ar Gae'r Brêc Beti Hughes - Aderyn o Ddyfed Alan Llwyd - Y March Hud Eluned Phillips - Cofiant Dewi Emrys Gwyn Thomas - Y Bardd Cwsg a'i Gefndir
Music John Cale & Terry Riley - Church of Anthrax Man - Do You Like It Here Now, Are You Settling In? Iris Williams - Pererin Wyf (single)
Film Merthyr Tydfil is one of the locations used for the filming of 10 Rillington Place. Ruth Madoc appears in the film version of Fiddler on the Roof.
Welsh-language films None
Broadcasting
Welsh-language television Max Boyce appears on the Welsh-language music show, Disc a Dawn.
English-language television Comedy duo Ryan Davies and Ronnie Williams transfer their successful Welsh language show to BBC1. 22 March - Sesame Streets UK debut is on HTV. 14 April - Nerys Hughes gets her big break in The Liver Birds, first aired on this date.
Sport BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year - John Dawes, Wales national rugby union teen and Welsh Lions Cricket - May: In a Glamorgan home match at Sophia Gardens, Roger Davis is struck on the temple while fielding at short leg and survives largely thanks to the intervention of Dr Colin Lewis (grandfather of Rhydian Roberts). Gymnastics - Pam Hopkins wins the British Women's Championship. Rugby union - Wales win their sixth Grand Slam. Sailing - Nicolette Milnes-Walker becomes the first woman to sail non-stop single-handed across the Atlantic.
Births 11 January - Tom Ward, actor 16 January - Damian Walford Davies and Jason Walford Davies (twins), academics and poets 23 January - Scott Gibbs, rugby player 19 March (in Taunton) - Kirsty Williams, politician 2 April - Chico Slimani, singer 18 June - Lucy Owen, née Cohen, television news presenter 8 July - Neil Jenkins, rugby player 18 August (in Limerick) - Aphex Twin, musician 8 September - Martyn Margetson, footballer 3 October - Zoe Lyons, comedian 26 October - Damon Searle, footballer 5 November Chris Addison, Cardiff-born comedian"Chris Addison: The thinking man's comic adjusts to fame" The Independent (13 November 2011). Retrieved 30 September 2019 Rob Jones, footballer 18 December - Jason Hughes, actor date unknown Eleri Siôn, née Jones, media presenter
Deaths 2 January – Harold Jones, convicted murderer, 64 12 January – Gwenan Jones, historian and politician, 81 4 March – Ifan Gruffydd ("Y Gŵr o Baradwys"), author, 75 8 March – Harold Lloyd, American comedy actor of Welsh descent, 77 18 March – Jack Gore, Wales international rugby player, 71 9 April – Dewi Morgan, poet, scholar and journalist, 93 19 April – Thomas Evan Nicholas (Niclas y Glais), writer and political activist, 91 18 May – William Mainwaring MP, miners' leader 20 May – Waldo Williams, poet, 66 29 May – Howell Lewis, Wales international rugby player, 83 5 June – Clifford Dyment, poet, 57 5 July – Idris Jones, chemist and rugby player, 71 11 July – Brenda Chamberlain, poet and artist, 59 4 September – C. E. Vulliamy, author, 85 1 October – Bill Davies, cricketer, 65 9 November - Ceri Richards, artist, 68 27 November - Leslie Thomas, politician, 65 1 December - Jack Jenkins, Wales international rugby player, 91 date unknown James Conway Davies, historian and palaeographer, 79 Jack Evans, footballer
See also 1971 in Northern Ireland
References