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:1968 in Wales

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{{Year in Wales header|1968}}

This article is about the particular significance of the year 1968 to Wales and its people.

Incumbents

{{For|United Kingdom incumbents|1968 in the United Kingdom#Incumbents}}

Events

  • 9 May – County borough and district elections take place, with the Labour Party losing its majority on Newport Borough Council after 16 years.{{cite news|title=Labour hammered in S. Wales polls |work=South Wales Echo |date=10 May 1968 |page=13 }}
  • 10 August – Gulf Oil's new refinery at Milford Haven is officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom.{{cite book|title=Board of Trade Journal|publisher=H.M. Stationery Office|year=1968|page=457}}
  • September – In response to the news that Harold Wilson's government has proposed to use part of the disaster fund set up to help the people of Aberfan to meet the costs of removing the tip that caused the Aberfan disaster, Merthyr MP S. O. Davies says: "I have never known a prime minister to behave so disgracefully in all my 34 years in the House of Commons".{{cite book|last= Griffiths|first= Robert|author-link=Robert Griffiths (politician)|title=S. O. Davies: A Socialist Faith|publisher= Gomer Press|location= Llandysul, Dyfed|year=1983|isbn=978-0-85088-887-4|pages=278–79}} (quoted from The Western Mail, 14 September 1968)
  • October – Trawsfynydd nuclear power station, the only nuclear power station to be located in a national park, is opened.
  • November – In the referendum on the Sunday opening of public houses, the counties of Anglesey, Caernarfon, Cardigan, Carmarthen and Merioneth vote to stay "dry".
  • 17 December – Official opening of first phase of the Royal Mint's new Llantrisant plant.{{cite book|title=Daily Mail Year Book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Kw0yAQAAIAAJ|year=1985|publisher=Associated Newspapers Groups, Limited|isbn = 9780851442662}}
  • The Welsh Office acquires responsibility for historic monuments, and for the water supply in Wales.
  • The first bilingual (Welsh/English) postage stamp is issued, in recognition of the Prince of Wales's forthcoming investiture.{{cite book|author=Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons|title=Parliamentary Debates (Hansard).: House of Commons Official report|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=80seAQAAMAAJ|year=1969|publisher=H.M. Stationery Office}}
  • Hugh Cudlipp becomes Chairman of the International Publishing Corporation.

Arts and literature

  • Welsh National Opera acquires a professional chorus.{{cite book|author=Richard Fawkes|title=Welsh National Opera|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EvsXAQAAIAAJ|year=1986|publisher=Julia MacRae|isbn=978-0-86203-184-8}}
  • Cefn Cwrt Farm, Llangrannog, is purchased for use by the Urdd Gobaith Cymru.
  • The Drama Tent is introduced to the Eisteddfod field.{{cite book|title=Reference Wales|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-j0ro22GZU8C|year=1994|publisher=University of Wales Press|isbn=978-0-7083-1234-6}}
  • Cwmni Theatr Cymru is formed in Bangor.{{cite book|author=Meic Stephens|title=The Oxford companion to the literature of Wales|url=https://archive.org/details/oxfordcompaniont00meic|url-access=registration|date=April 1986|publisher=Oxford University Press|page=[https://archive.org/details/oxfordcompaniont00meic/page/153 153]}}
  • Actress Rachel Thomas is awarded the OBE for services to Wales.
  • Teenager Mary Hopkin rises to stardom after her appearance on Opportunity Knocks.
  • In His Own Write, by John Lennon, makes its stage debut at Britain's National Theatre in a version co-authored by and directed by Victor Spinetti.{{cite web|url=https://www.beatlesbible.com/1968/06/18/premiere-of-in-his-own-write-stage-play/|title=Première of the In His Own Write stage play|date=18 June 1968|website=Beatles Bible|access-date=28 March 2020}}

=Awards=

  • National Eisteddfod of Wales (held in Barry)
  • National Eisteddfod of Wales: Chair – Bryn Williams, "Awdl Foliant i'r Morwr"{{cite web|url=https://eisteddfod.wales/archive/eisteddfod-winners/winners-chair|title=Winners of the Chair|website=National Eisteddfod of Wales|date=17 November 2019}}
  • National Eisteddfod of Wales: Crown – Haydn Lewis, "Meini"{{cite web|url=https://eisteddfod.wales/archive/eisteddfod-winners/crown-winners|title=Winners of the Crown|website=National Eisteddfod of Wales|date=17 November 2019}}
  • National Eisteddfod of Wales: Prose Medal – Eigra Lewis Roberts, Y Drych Creulon{{cite web|url=https://eisteddfod.wales/archive/eisteddfod-winners/winners-prose-medal|title=Winners of the Prose Medal|website=National Eisteddfod of Wales|access-date=28 March 2019}}

=New books=

==English language==

  • Menna Gallie – Travels with a Duchess{{cite book|author=Meic Stephens|title=Cydymaith i lenyddiaeth Cymru|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WoMYAAAAIAAJ|year=1998|publisher=University of Wales Press|isbn=978-0-7083-1383-1|page=257}}
  • Glyn Jones – The Dragon Has Two Tongues{{cite book|author=Tim Woods|title=Who's Who of Twentieth Century Novelists|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=d9xaDOHuzgQC&pg=PA184|date=21 February 2008|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-134-70991-5|pages=184}}
  • A. J. R. Russell-Wood – Fidalgos and Philanthropists: The Santa Casa da Misericórdia of Bahia, 1550–1755
  • Gwyn Thomas – A Few Selected Exits{{cite book|title=The Cambridge History of Welsh Literature|publisher=Cambridge University Press|year=2019|isbn=9781107106765|page=403}}

==Welsh language==

  • Irma Chilton – Cusanau
  • Pennar Davies – Meibion Darogan{{cite book|author=Europa Publications|title=International Who's Who of Authors and Writers 2004|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=phhhHT64kIMC&pg=PA132|year=2003|publisher=Psychology Press|isbn=978-1-85743-179-7|pages=132}}
  • Islwyn Ffowc Elis – Y Blaned Dirion{{cite book|author=Meic Stephens|title=Cydymaith i lenyddiaeth Cymru|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WoMYAAAAIAAJ|year=1998|publisher=University of Wales Press|isbn=978-0-7083-1383-1|page=214}}
  • Urien Wiliam – {{lang|cy|Dirgelwch y rocedi}}

==Drama==

  • Ewart Alexander – Omri's Burning{{cite book|author=Meic Stephens|title=Cydymaith i lenyddiaeth Cymru|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WoMYAAAAIAAJ|year=1998|publisher=University of Wales Press|isbn=978-0-7083-1383-1|page=9}}

=Music=

Film

Broadcasting

  • HTV takes over the commercial television franchise from TWW. Wynford Vaughan-Thomas, one of the founders of the new company, becomes Director of Programmes.

=Welsh-language TV and radio=

  • Helo Sut Dach Chi?, presented by Hywel Gwynfryn, is the first Welsh-language pop programme on radio.

=English-language television=

Sport

  • BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year – Martyn Woodroffe{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/wales/20670643|title=BBC Wales Sport Personality winners|website=BBC Sport|access-date=28 March 2020}}
  • Boxing – Howard Winstone wins the World Featherweight title.
  • Cricket – August 31: During a match between Glamorgan and Nottinghamshire at Swansea, Gary Sobers hits six sixes off one over bowled by Malcolm Nash.
  • Football – Cardiff City reach the semi-finals of the European Cup Winners Cup, losing to Hamburg.
  • 1968 Summer Olympics
  • Richard Meade wins a gold medal as part of the British equestrian team in the Team Three-Day Event.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/jan/12/richard-meade|title=Richard Meade obituary|date=12 January 2015|author=Victoria Spicer|website=Guardian|access-date=12 February 2025}}
  • David Broome takes a bronze in the Individual Show Jumping Grand Prix.{{cite web|url=https://www.teamgb.com/athlete/david-broome/4cQnIdy3MuQJGQNdIfLBTD|title=David Broome|website=Team GB|access-date=12 February 2025}}
  • Martyn Woodroffe is the only British swimmer to win a medal – a silver in the men's 200 m butterfly.{{cite book|author=James Coote|title=Olympic Report 1968: Mexico & Grenoble|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kEUTAQAAIAAJ|year=1968|publisher=Hale|page=8}}
  • Rugby union – Jeff Young makes his international debut against Scotland.

Births

Deaths

  • 13 January – William Williams (Crwys), poet and Archdruid, 93{{cite web|url=https://biography.wales/article/s2-WILL-WIL-1875|title=WILLIAMS, WILLIAM ('Crwys'; 1875–1968), poet, preacher, archdruid|author=William Rhys Nicholas|website=Dictionary of Welsh Biography|publisher=National Library of Wales|access-date=3 March 2019}}
  • 25 January – Louie Myfanwy Thomas (Jane Ann Jones), novelist, 59{{cite web|url=https://biography.wales/article/s2-THOM-MYF-1908|title=THOMAS, LOUIE MYFANWY ('Jane Ann Jones'; 1908–1968), novelist|author=Hedd ab Emlyn|website=Dictionary of Welsh Biography|publisher=National Library of Wales|access-date=3 March 2019}}
  • 6 February – Gomer Berry, 1st Viscount Kemsley, 84,{{cite web|url=https://biography.wales/article/s2-BERR-BUC-1847|title=BERRY (family) (Lords Buckland, Camrose and Kemsley), industrialists and newspaper proprietors|author=Mary Auronwy James|website=Dictionary of Welsh Biography|publisher=National Library of Wales|access-date=3 March 2019}} in Monaco
  • 3 May – Ness Edwards, politician, 71{{cite web|url=https://biography.wales/article/s2-EDWA-NES-1897|title=EDWARDS, NESS (1897–1968), trade unionist and Member of Parliament|author=John Davies|website=Dictionary of Welsh Biography|publisher=National Library of Wales|access-date=3 March 2019}}
  • 16 July – William Evans (Wil Ifan), poet, 85{{cite DWB|id=s2-EVAN-WIL-1883|title=Evans, William ('Wil Ifan'; 1883-1968), minister (Congl.), poet and writer in Welsh and English|author=Gerallt Jones|year=2001|publisher=National Library of Wales|access-date=3 March 2019}}
  • 24 August – Bailey Davies, Wales international rugby union player, 83
  • 28 August – Arthur Henderson, Baron Rowley, politician, 75{{Who's Who | title=Rowley | id = U48583 | type = was | volume = 2018 | edition = online}}
  • 4 September – Arthur Horner, politician, 74{{cite book|author=Rajani Palme Dutt|title=Labour Monthly|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xbNZAAAAYAAJ|year=1968|publisher=Labour Publishing Company|page=469}}
  • 10 November – Tommy Rees, Wales dual-code rugby player, 64
  • 17 November – Carey Morris, artist, 86
  • 20 November – David Grenfell, politician, 87{{cite DWB|id=s8-GREN-RHY-1881|title=Grenfell, David Rhys ('Dai') (1881–1968), Labour politician|author=John Graham Jones|year=2013|publisher=National Library of Wales|access-date=3 March 2019}}
  • 24 December – D. Gwenallt Jones, poet, 69{{cite DWB|id=s2-JONE-JAM-1899|title=Jones, David James ('Gwenallt'; 1899-1968), poet, critic and scholar|author=Brynley Francis Roberts|year=2001|access-date=15 March 2022}}
  • date unknown
  • Dafydd Jones (Isfoel), poet
  • Manfri Wood, last known speaker of the Welsh-Romani language{{cite book|last=Kenrick|first=Donald|date=2010|title=The A to Z of the Gypsies (Romanies)|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Yoqi_Q0ch3wC&pg=PA289&dq=%22Wales+Manfri+Wood%22#q=%22Wales%20Manfri%20Wood%22|location=Toronto|publisher=Scarecrow Press|page=289|isbn=9780810875616}}

See also

References

{{reflist}}

Wales

Wales

Category:1968 in Europe

Category:1960s in Wales