1955 in Wales
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| See also: | List of years in Wales Timeline of Welsh history
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This article is about the particular significance of the year 1955 to Wales and its people.
Events
- 17 March – In the Wrexham by-election, brought about by the death of Labour Party Member of Parliament (MP) Robert Richards, who had held the seat since 1935, James Idwal Jones holds the seat for Labour with a majority of nearly 11,000 votes.[1]
- 18 April–28 May – Charles Evans leads the mountaineering expedition that conquers Kanchenjunga.[2]
- 6 August – The Usk Reservoir is completed, contributing to Swansea's water supply.[3]
- 31 October – The A48 road bridges over the River Neath at Briton Ferry (six years in the building) are officially opened by the Minister of Transport.
- 3 December – The Farmers' Union of Wales breaks away from the National Farmers Union.[4][5]
- 20 December – Cardiff becomes the official capital of Wales.[6]
Arts and literature
- The Gold Medal for Architecture is introduced to the National Eisteddfod.[7]
- Bertrand Russell retires to Plas Penrhyn, Penrhyndeudraeth.
- The Guild for the Promotion of Welsh Music is founded.[8]
Awards
- National Eisteddfod of Wales (held in Pwllheli)
- National Eisteddfod of Wales: Chair – Gwilym Ceri Jones, "Gwrtheyrn"[9]
- National Eisteddfod of Wales: Crown – W. J. Gruffydd, "Ffenestri"[10]
- National Eisteddfod of Wales: Prose Medal – M. Selyf Roberts, Deg o'r Diwedd[11]
- Emyr Humphreys wins the Somerset Maugham Award for Hear and Forgive.
New books
English language
- Kingsley Amis – That Uncertain Feeling[12]
- (Edwin) Stuart Evans – Elegy for the Death of a Clown (poem)
- Elisabeth Inglis-Jones – The Story of Wales
- T. E. Lawrence – The Mint (posthumously published)[13]
- Dylan Thomas – A Child's Christmas in Wales (posthumously published)[14]
- R. S. Thomas – Song at the Year's Turning (poems)[15]
- Richard Vaughan – Son of Justin
Welsh language
- Gwilym Thomas Hughes – Ei Seren tan Gwmwl
- Robert Lloyd – Y Pethe[16]
- Louie Myfanwy Thomas writing as Jane Ann Jones – Plant y Foty[17]
New drama
- Saunders Lewis – Siwan
Music
- Grace Williams – Penillion
Film
- Stanley Baker plays Richmond in Laurence Olivier's film of Richard III.
- The Constant Husband, starring Rex Harrison, with opening scenes filmed on location at New Quay and Aberaeron in 1954, includes some Welsh dialogue.
Broadcasting
- The Welsh Home Service becomes available on VHF from Wenvoe
Welsh-language television
- January – First televised Welsh-language play, Cap Wil Tomos
English-language television
Sport
- Cricket – Wilf Wooller becomes an England Test selector.
- Rugby Union
- 22 January – Ken Jones becomes Wales's most capped player (36) in a game against England.
- 12 March – Wales beat Ireland 21–3 at the National Stadium, Cardiff.
- 26 March – Wales win the Five Nations Championship for the fourth time this decade.
- BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year – John Disley[18]
Births
- 22 January – Clive Griffiths, footballer (died 2022)
- 30 January – Ian Edwards, footballer
- 23 February – Howard Jones, English-born musician of Welsh parentage[19]
- 4 March – Joey Jones, footballer[20]
- 17 March – John David Lewis, political scientist and historian
- 2 May – Peter Sayer, footballer
- 17 May – Nicola Heywood-Thomas, broadcaster and journalist (died 2023)
- 22 May – Maggie Jones, Baroness Jones of Whitchurch, politician
- 9 June – Alun Pugh, politician[21]
- 21 June (in Sunderland) – Janet Ryder, politician[22]
- 22 June – Green Gartside (Paul Julian Strohmeyer), musician
- 2 August – Alun Davies, biologist
- 3 August – Gordon Davies, footballer
- 4 August – Steve Jones, marathon runner
- 3 September – Eirian Williams, snooker referee
- 29 September – Gareth Davies, rugby player
- 12 October – Brian Flynn, footballer and manager[23]
- 17 November – Amanda Levete, architect
- 7 December – Mihangel Morgan, author and academic[24]
- date unknown
- Aled Gruffydd Jones, social historian, Librarian of National Library of Wales
- Martyn Jones, painter[25]