1997 in Wales
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Template:Short description Template:Year in Wales header This article is about the particular significance of the year 1997 to Wales and its people.
Incumbents
- Secretary of State for Wales – William Hague (until 3 May); Ron Davies
- Archbishop of Wales – Alwyn Rice Jones, Bishop of St Asaph
- Archdruid of the National Eisteddfod of Wales – Dafydd Rowlands
Events
- 15 January – Diana, Princess of Wales calls for an international ban on landmines.[1]
- 21 January – Wales child abuse scandal: Over eighty people are named as child abusers in care homes in North Wales.[2]
- March – Launch of the "Welsh Language in Chubut" project.
- 13 March – Launch of the Aberystwyth Centre for the Book.
- 1 May – In the UK general election, four female MPs are elected in Wales -- Julie Morgan, Ann Clwyd, Betty Williams and Jackie Lawrence. Lembit Öpik becomes MP for Montgomeryshire.[3]
- 24 May – Robert Hardy officially opens the Judge's Lodging museum in Presteigne.[4]
- 31 August – Newsreader Martyn Lewis announces the death of Diana, Princess of Wales.
- 1 September – The Prince of Wales flies to Paris to bring home the body of his ex-wife. Bodyguard Trevor Rees-Jones, the only survivor of the crash in which Diana died, remains in a critical condition.
- 6 September – At the funeral of the former Princess of Wales, her coffin is carried into Westminster Abbey by a contingent of Welsh Guards.[5]
- 18 September – The referendum on Welsh devolution results in a narrow "Yes" vote.
- 13 October – First section of the restored Welsh Highland Railway (60 cm (2 ft) gauge) officially opens over 5 km (3 mi) of former standard gauge trackbed between Caernarfon and Dinas.
- date unknown
- Alun Hoddinott receives the Glyndwr Award for an Outstanding Contribution to the Arts in Wales.
- Bryn Euryn, an archaeological site near Colwyn Bay, is identified as the probable base of Cynlas Goch, a 6th-century king.[6]
- Cardiff Arms Park is demolished to make way for a new stadium.
- Welsh Sheepdog Society is founded.
- Jenny Pride becomes the first Welsh female to command a unit of the Royal Engineers.
Arts
- Sir Harry Secombe suffers a stroke.
- October - The Red Violin festival is held for the first time in Cardiff.[7]
Awards
- Glyndŵr Award – Alun Hoddinott
- National Eisteddfod of Wales – held in Bala
- Chair – Ceri Wyn Jones, "Gwaddol"[8]
- Crown – Cen Williams, "Branwen"[9]
- Prose Medal – Angharad Tomos, Y Canol Llonydd[10]
- Gwobr Goffa Daniel Owen – Gwyneth Carey[11]
- Richard Burton Prize – Rhys ap Trefor
- Welsh Arts Council Book of the Year – Iwan Llwyd, Dan Ddylanwad (Under the Influence)
Books
- Rees Davies – The Revolt of Owain Glyn Dŵr
- Dai Jones – Fi Dai Sy' 'Ma[12]
- Angharad Tomos – Wele'n Gwawrio
- Gerwyn Williams – Cydio’n Dynn
Music
- L'Héritage des Celtes, featuring Elaine Morgan – Finisterre
- Bryn Terfel makes his debut at La Scala as Figaro.
Albums
- Acrimony – Tumuli Shroomaroom
- Manic Street Preachers – Everything Live
- Stereophonics release their first album, Word Gets Around.
- Gorky's Zygotic Mynci – Barafundle
- Iwcs a Doyle – Edrychiad Cynta’
Film
- Ioan Gruffudd and Bernard Fox appear in the blockbuster Titanic.
- Michael Sheen stars in Wilde.
- Horror film Darklands is filmed in Port Talbot.
Broadcasting
English-language television
- Visions of Snowdonia with Iolo Williams
Welsh-language television
- Ffermio
- Pam Fi Duw? starring Brian Hibbard
- Tylluan Wen starring John Ogwen
- Y Clwb Rygbi
Sport
- BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year – Scott Gibbs[13]
- Boxing:
- 11 October – Joe Calzaghe beats Chris Eubank to become the Super Middleweight World Champion.
- 19 December – Barry Jones beats Wilson Palacio to become the WBO Super featherweight Champion.
- Cricket – Glamorgan win the County Championship.
Births
- 3 January – Joe Morrell, footballer
- 23 January – Shaheen Jafargholi, singer and actor
- 22 March – Harry Wilson, footballer
- 24 March – George Thomas, footballer
- 15 May – Maisie Potter, snowboarder
Deaths
- January – Alan Taylor, TV presenter, 72[14]
- 10 March – Wilf Wooller, cricketer, rugby player, journalist and sports administrator, 84[15]
- 2 June – Eddie Thomas, boxing champion and manager, 70[16]
- 10 July – Ivor Allchurch, footballer, 67[17]
- 16 July – Ron Berry, writer, 77[18]
- 2 August – Rhydwen Williams, poet, novelist, and minister, 80[19]
- 20 August – Bernard Cowey, Wales international rugby union player, 85
- 30 August – Gwilym Tilsley, poet and archdruid, 86[20]
- 31 August (in Paris) – Diana, Princess of Wales, 36
- 22 September – George Thomas, 1st Viscount Tonypandy, former Speaker of the House of Commons, 88[21]
- 6 November – Ray Daniel, footballer, 69
- 13 November – Alexander Cordell, novelist, 83[22]
- 15 November – Alf Day, footballer, 90[23]
- 16 November – Aubrey Edwards, cricketer, 79
- 28 December – Ronnie Williams, actor and comedian, 58
- date unknown
- David Gwerfyl Davies, organist and composer
- Reg Parker, footballer
See also
References
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