1981 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 1981 to Wales and its people.
- Secretary of State for Wales – Nicholas Edwards[1]
- Archbishop of Wales – Gwilym Williams, Bishop of Bangor[2]
- Archdruid of the National Eisteddfod of Wales
- Geraint (outgoing)[3]
- Jâms Nicholas (incoming)[4]
Events
- January - First phase of St. David's Shopping Centre, Cardiff, opens to the public.[5]
- 26 March - Roy Jenkins co-founds the Social Democratic Party (UK) in London. Welsh Labour MPs defecting to the new party are: Tom Ellis (Wrexham), Ednyfed Hudson Davies (Caerphilly) and Jeffrey Thomas (Abertillery).
- 24 February - Buckingham Palace announces the engagement of the Prince of Wales to Lady Diana Spencer.[6]
- 5 April - UK census: Results reveal that the percentage of Welsh language speakers has fallen to an all-time low of 18.9% of the Welsh population and Gwynedd is the only Welsh county with a Welsh-speaking majority.[7]
- 11 June - Britain's first Urban Enterprise Zone is created in Lower Swansea Valley.[8]
- 29 July - Wedding of the Prince of Wales and Lady Diana Spencer at St Paul's Cathedral in London.
- November - Joan Ruddock becomes Chair of CND.[9]
- Independent film company Teliesyn begins producing programmes for S4C, BBC Wales and HTV.[10]
Arts and literature
- 6 June - The Alarm play their first gig under their new name, at the Victoria Hotel, Prestatyn.[11]
- Theatre Wales is established.
- Harry Secombe receives a knighthood.
Awards
- National Eisteddfod of Wales (held in Machynlleth)
- National Eisteddfod of Wales: Chair - John Gwilym Jones, "Y Frwydr"[12]
- National Eisteddfod of Wales: Crown - Siôn Aled, "Wynebau"[13]
- National Eisteddfod of Wales: Prose Medal - John Griffith Jones, "Cysgodion ar y Pared"[14]
New books
English language
- Clive Jenkins & Barrie Sherman - The Leisure Shock[15]
- Eiluned Lewis - The Old Home
- Kenneth O. Morgan - Rebirth of a Nation: Wales 1880-1980[16]
- R. S. Thomas - Between Here and Now
Welsh language
- Irma Chilton - Y Cwlwm Gwaed[17]
- Eigra Lewis Roberts - Merch yr oriau mawr
Drama
- J. R. Evans - Brawd am Byth
Music
- Dafydd Iwan - "Yma o Hyd"
- Daniel Jones - Symphony no. 10
- William Mathias - Let the people praise Thee, O God
Film
English-language films
- The Mouse and the Woman, starring Huw Ceredig.
- Dragonslayer, with exterior scenes filmed in Wales.
Welsh-language films
Broadcasting
English-language television
- 4 March–29 April – The Life and Times of David Lloyd George, written by Elaine Morgan and starring Philip Madoc (BBC Wales)
- 24 September–18 December – Taff Acre (Harlech Television)
Welsh-language television
- Croeso i S4C, presented by Owen Edwards[18]
Sport
- BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year – John Toshack[19]
- Boxing - Neville Meade becomes British heavyweight champion.
- Football - Neville Southall joins Everton F.C.
Births
- 12 January – Sarah Thomas, field hockey player
- 13 March – Ryan Jones, rugby player
- 17 March - Leigh De-Vulgt, footballer
- 28 March – Gareth David-Lloyd, actor
- 6 April – Robert Earnshaw, footballer
- 23 May – Gwenno Saunders, singer
- 24 May – Darren Moss, footballer
- 25 May – Huw Stephens, radio and TV presenter
- 18 November – Sian Reese-Williams, actress[20]
- 19 November – Mark Wallace, cricketer
- 16 December – Gareth Williams Scottish-Welsh footballer