1951 in Wales

← 1950 1949 1948 1951 in Wales → 1952 1953 1954
Centuries:	18th 19th 20th 21st
Decades:	1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s
See also:	List of years in Wales 1951 in The United Kingdom Ireland Scotland

This article is about the particular significance of the year 1951 to Wales and its people.

Incumbents

• Prince of Wales – vacant
• Princess of Wales – vacant
• Archbishop of Wales – John Morgan, Bishop of Llandaff
• Archdruid of the National Eisteddfod of Wales – Cynan

Events

• 3 May - Josef Herman's Miners, a mural commissioned for the Minerals of the Island Pavilion at the Festival of Britain, is displayed for the first time.
• 14 May - The Talyllyn Railway is reopened by the Talyllyn Railway Preservation Society, generally considered to be the world's first such voluntary body to operate a railway.
• 17 July - The Chancellor of the Exchequer opens the Abbey Works at Margam, Europe's largest steel plant.^[1]
• 31 July–11 August - Festival Ship Campania is on show in Cardiff Docks as part of the Festival of Britain. Steam tug Earl capsizes while assisting her to berth.
• 12 October - Penrhyn Castle and estate, given to HM Treasury in lieu of death duties, is accepted by the National Trust.
• 28 October - Sir David Maxwell Fyfe is appointed the first-ever Minister for Welsh Affairs.
• 20 November - Snowdonia becomes a National Park.
• Abbey Works at Port Talbot Steelworks opened.
• Brynmawr Rubber Factory completed.

Arts and literature

Awards

• National Eisteddfod of Wales (held in Llanrwst)
• National Eisteddfod of Wales: Chair - Brinley Richards
• National Eisteddfod of Wales: Crown - T. Glynne Davies
• National Eisteddfod of Wales: Prose Medal - Islwyn Ffowc Elis

New books

• Ambrose Bebb - Machlud yr Oesoedd Canol
• Edward Tegla Davies - Y Foel Faen
• Islwyn Ffowc Elis - Cyn Oeri'r Gwaed
• Eynon Evans - Prize Onions
• W. F. Grimes - The Prehistory of Wales
• Thomas Jones - Memoirs of Thomas Jones, Penkerrig, Radnorshire, 1803^[2]
• Donald Peers - Pathway
• John Cowper Powys - Porious: A Romance of the Dark Ages
• Lynette Roberts - Gods with Stainless Ears: a Heroic Poem
• Richard Vaughan - Moulded in Earth
• Ronald Welch - The Gauntlet

New drama

• Peter Philp - Castle of Deception

Music

• Mai Jones - "Rhondda Rhapsody" (theme from the radio programme, Welsh Rarebit)
• D. Afan Thomas - Magnificat in F
• Grace Williams - The Dancers

Film

• David, the Welsh cinematic contribution to the Festival of Britain. It is based on the real-life story of the poet David Rees Griffiths (Amanwy), who plays himself .

Broadcasting

• 28 May - Sir Harry Secombe stars in the first broadcast of Crazy People (later renamed The Goon Show).
• Welsh Rarebit transfers from stage to radio.

Sport

• Boxing - February 21: Eddie Thomas wins the European welterweight title.

Births

• 5 February - Geraint Watkins, musician
• 7 March - Boyd Clack, actor and screenwriter (in Vancouver, Canada)
• 31 March
  • Henry Spinetti, musician
  • Sir Wyn Lewis Williams, judge
• 13 April - Leszek Borysiewicz, immunologist
• 17 May - Simon Hughes, politician
• 28 May - Phil Rogers, potter and author
• 8 June - Bonnie Tyler (born Gaynor Hopkins), singer
• 15 August - Berwyn Price, athlete
• 3 September - Ray Gravell, rugby player and radio presenter (d. 2007)
• 11 September - Gareth Jenkins, Wales rugby coach
• 18 November - David Llewellyn, golfer
• 24 November - Graham Price, rugby player
• 3 December - Nicky Stevens, pop singer
• 24 December - Nick Griffiths, Australian politician, in Barry, Wales
• Undated
  • Menna Elfyn, poet
  • Tich Gwilym, guitarist (d. 2005)
  • Richard Parry-Jones, engineering manager

Deaths

• 23 January - Charlie Pugh, Wales international rugby player
• 25 February - Percy Malcolm Stewart, industrialist
• 28 February - Evan Lloyd, Wales international rugby player
• 6 March - Ivor Novello, composer, actor and singer
• 19 March - Jack Jones, Welsh international rugby player
• 28 May - Phil Rogers, Potter and author
• 3 July - Gwendoline Davies, philanthropist
• 13 August - David Jenkins, Wales national rugby player
• 27 September - Robert Thomas, politician
• 29 September - Evan Roberts, preacher
• 30 November - Dai Fitzgerald, Wales international rugby union player

References

1. Port Talbot Historical Society. "Time Line 20th C". Retrieved 2010-08-18.
2. Sumner, Ann (2003). "Who was Thomas Jones? The life, death and posthumous reputation of Thomas Jones of Pencerrig". In Sumner, Ann; Smith, Greg (ed). Thomas Jones (1742–1803): An Artist Rediscovered. New Haven; London: Yale University Press.