1950 in Wales
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This article is about the particular significance of the year 1950 to Wales and its people.
Events
- 23 February – 1950 United Kingdom general election: For the first time ever, the Labour Party contests all Parliamentary seats in Wales. Following the election, Wales has 27 Labour MPs, 4 Liberals, 3 Conservatives and one National Liberal/Conservative.
- The University of Wales seat is abolished at the dissolution, W. J. Gruffydd having been the last holder.
- Roderic Bowen is re-elected for Cardiganshire, with the largest Liberal majority in the country.
- David Ormsby-Gore, the future Lord Harlech, becomes MP for Oswestry.
- Lynn Ungoed-Thomas, following the abolition of his Llandaff and Barry constituency, is elected MP for Leicester North East.
- Roy Jenkins, whose Southwark seat has been abolished, is elected for Birmingham Stechford.
- Elwyn Jones becomes MP for West Ham South.
- Following the election, Ness Edwards becomes Postmaster-General. During his time in the office, he introduces the greetings telegram.
- Abertillery's Labour MP, George Daggar, dies on 14 October, to be replaced by Llywelyn Williams.
- 12 March – Llandow air disaster: 80 of the 83 people on board an Avro Tudor V aircraft are killed when it crashes on approach to Llandow in Glamorgan, making it the world's worst air disaster at this time.[1]
- 30 March – William Havard is elected Bishop of St David's.[2]
- 1 June – The Welsh Air Service, the world's first scheduled helicopter service, begins operating between Cardiff, Wrexham and Liverpool.[3]
- 27 August – Six people are killed in a rail collision at Penmaenmawr railway station.[4]
- 9 September – In Swansea, following heavy rain, three houses collapse, killing seven people.[5]
- Ysgol Syr Thomas Jones opens in Amlwch on Anglesey as Britain's first purpose-built comprehensive school.
- Maes Hyfryd and Bryn Teg housing estates at Beaumaris, designed by Colwyn Foulkes, are built.[6]
- Glanllyn is acquired as a permanent site for meetings of Urdd Gobaith Cymru.
- In the Honours lists
- Physicist Ezer Griffiths is awarded the O.B.E.
- Agriculturist Thomas James Jenkin is awarded the C.B.E.
- Industrialist Herbert Henry Merrett is knighted.
- Margaret Haig Thomas, Viscountess Rhondda, becomes President of University College, Cardiff.
Arts and literature
- 21 February – Dylan Thomas arrives in the United States, his first visit to America.[7]
- The first Welsh Drama Festival is held.
- American photojournalist W. Eugene Smith visits the UK to take photographs of working-class life; three of those published are of the South Wales valleys.[8]
Awards
- National Eisteddfod of Wales (held in Caerphilly) (first "all-Welsh" Eisteddfod)
- National Eisteddfod of Wales: Chair – Gwilym Tilsley
- National Eisteddfod of Wales: Crown – Euros Bowen
- National Eisteddfod of Wales: Prose Medal – withheld
New books
English language
- Sir Leonard Twiston Davies – Welsh furniture: an introduction
- Kathleen Freeman – Greek City States
- Llewelyn Wyn Griffith – The Welsh
- Elisabeth Inglis-Jones – Peacocks in Paradise[9]
- Thomas Jones (T. J.) – Welsh Broth
- Richard Llewellyn – A Few Flowers for Shiner[10]
- V. E. Nash-Williams – The Early Christian Monuments of Wales[11]
- Harold Henry Rowley – The Growth of the Old Testament
- Bertrand Russell – Unpopular Essays
- Raymond Williams – Reading and Criticism
Welsh language
- Ambrose Bebb – Machlud yr Oesoedd Canol[12]
- Aneirin Talfan Davies – Blodeugerdd o englynion
- Edward Morgan Humphreys – Gwŷr enwog gynt[13]
- Edgar Phillips – Caniadau Trefîn[14]
- Arthur Wade-Evans – Coll Prydain
- David Pryse Williams – Canmlwyddiant Libanus ... braslun o'r hanes[15]
- William Crwys Williams – Pedair Pennod[16]
Music
- Harry Parr Davies – Dear Miss Phoebe (musical)[17]
- Arwel Hughes – Dewi Sant (Saint David) (oratorio)
- Grace Williams – Three Traditional Ballads[18]
- W. S. Gwynn Williams – Breuddwyd Glyndwr
Film
- Glyn Houston makes his film debut in The Blue Lamp, which also stars Meredith Edwards and guest stars Tessie O'Shea.
- Ray Milland stars in Copper Canyon and A Woman of Distinction.
Sports
- Boxing
- 13 September – Eddie Thomas beats Cliff Curvis at St Helens to become British welterweight champion.[19]
- Football
- 27 October – Wales international Trevor Ford becomes the most expensive footballer in British history after joining Sunderland for £30,000.[20]
- Rugby union – Wales win their fourth Grand Slam.
- Bowls – The Welsh Ladies Indoor Bowling Association is founded.[21]
Births
- 23 January – John Greaves, Welsh bass player and songwriter
- 7 February – Dai Havard MP, politician
- 16 February (in Nairobi) – Peter Hain MP, politician
- 11 March – Terry Cooper, footballer
- 18 March – Lorraine Barrett AM, politician
- 27 March – Terry Yorath, footballer and football manager
- 3 May – Mary Hopkin, singer[22]
- 5 May (in Saint Kitts) – Pat Thomas, boxer
- 24 May – Geoff Ellis, cricketer
- 26 May – Myron Wyn Evans, chemist (died 2019)[23]
- 2 June – Jonathan Evans MEP, businessman and politician[24]
- 14 June – Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury[25]
- 25 August (in Dublin) – Brian Gibbons AM, politician
- 8 September – Martyn Woodroffe, swimmer[26]
- 10 September – Tich Gwilym, guitarist (d. 2005)
- 11 October – Robert Pugh, actor
- 16 November – Chris O'Brien, rugby league player
- 28 November – Meic Povey, screenwriter, playwright and actor (d. 2017) [27]
- 8 December – Stephen Richards, judge
- 10 December – John Parsons, footballer