1977 in Wales

← 1976 1975 1974 1973 1972 1977 in Wales → 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982
Centuries:	18th 19th 20th 21st
Decades:	1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s
See also:	List of years in Wales Timeline of Welsh history 1977 in The United Kingdom Scotland Elsewhere

This article is about the particular significance of the year 1977 to Wales and its people.

Incumbents

For United Kingdom incumbents, see 1977 in the United Kingdom § Incumbents.

• Secretary of State for Wales – John Morris[1]
• Archbishop of Wales – Gwilym Williams, Bishop of Bangor[2]
• Archdruid of the National Eisteddfod of Wales – Bryn[3]

Events

• 6 January - Roy Jenkins becomes President of the European Commission.[4]
• 26 March - Operation Julie results in the break-up of a drugs ring centred on Llanddewi Brefi and the recovery of 1.5 kg of LSD.[5]
• date unknown
  • The Welsh Health Common Services Authority is created.[6]
  • Opening of the bilingual secondary school, Ysgol Uwchradd Bodedern, on Anglesey.[7]

Arts and literature

Awards

• Ian Parrott receives the John Edwards Memorial Award from the Guild for the Promotion of Welsh Music.[8]
• Jonathan Pryce wins a Tony award for his performance on Broadway in The Comedians.[9]
• National Eisteddfod of Wales (held in Wrexham)
• National Eisteddfod of Wales: Chair - Donald Evans
• National Eisteddfod of Wales: Crown - Donald Evans
• National Eisteddfod of Wales: Prose Medal - Robert Gerallt Jones
• Wales Book of the Year (Welsh language) - Owain Owain, Mical, (Gwasg Gomer)[10]

New books

English language

• Alice Thomas Ellis - The Sin Eater
• Paul Ferris - Dylan Thomas: The Biography
• Raymond Garlick - Incense
• Ellis Peters - A Morbid Taste for Bones (first in the Brother Cadfael series of novels)
• Craig Thomas - Firefox
• Gwyn Alf Williams - Goya and the Impossible Revolution

Welsh language

• Käte Bosse-Griffiths - Byd y Dyn Hysbys
• Zonia Bowen - Llydaweg i'r Cymro
• Jane Edwards - Dros Fryniau Bro Afallon
• Donald Evans - Egin
• Owain Owain - Mical
• R. J. Rowlands - Cerddi R. J. Rowlands y Bala
• Gwyn Thomas - Cadwynau yn y Meddwl

Music

• Injaroc - Halen Y Ddaear
• Dafydd Iwan - Carlo a Chaneuon Eraill, I'r Gad
• Punk rock band The Toilets is formed in Rhyl, predecessor of The Alarm.[11]

Film

• Richard Burton receives his sixth Best Actor nomination at the Academy Awards for his role in Equus.

Broadcasting

Welsh-language radio

• 3 January - BBC Radio Cymru begins broadcasting.[12]

Welsh-language television

• Glas Y Dorlan (sitcom)[13]

English-language television

• Kilvert's Diary[14]

Architecture

• Castell Gyrn (Denbighshire) is built by John Taylor of Chapman Taylor architects for himself.[15]

Sport

• Athletics - The first UK Athletics Championships are held at Cwmbran.
• BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year – Phil Bennett[16]
• Billiards - Clive Everton reaches the semi-finals of the World Championship.
• Boxing - Johnny Owen wins the British bantamweight title.
• Darts - Wales wins the Home International Series and the first Darts World Cup.
• Fencing - Wales wins the Quadrangular Tournament.
• Greyhound racing - Cardiff Greyhounds closes and the Welsh Greyhound Derby is run for the last time.
• Rugby union - Wales win the Triple Crown.
• Long-distance swimming - David Jones of Port Talbot becomes the first Welshman to swim the Bristol Channel.
• Formation of the Welsh Hang Gliding Association and the Welsh Federation of Coarse Anglers.
• Snooker - Doug Mountjoy wins the Masters,[17] defeating Ray Reardon in an all-Welsh final.

Births

• 3 February - Mike Powell, cricketer[18]
• 26 February - Shane Williams, rugby player[19]
• 4 March - Gareth Wyatt, rugby player
• 16 March - Steve Jones, TV presenter
• 18 March - Alex Jones, TV presenter
• 10 April - David Phelps, sport shooter[20]
• 12 April - Jason Price, footballer
• 20 April - Robert Wilfort, actor
• 27 April - Edward Elwyn Jones, organist and conductor[21]
• 30 April - Robert Evans, playwright
• 11 September
  • Jonny Buckland, English-born musician
  • Matthew Stevens, snooker player[22]
• 18 November - Deiniol Jones, rugby player[23]

Deaths

• 10 February - Grace Williams, composer, 70[24]
• 11 February - Thomas Ifor Rees, diplomat, 86[25]
• 22 February - Hubert William Lewis, Victoria Cross recipient, 80[26]
• 5 March - Tom Pryce, Formula One racing driver, 27[27]
• 20 March - Glyn Gething, rugby player, 84[28]
• 25 March - Aubrey Williams, army officer, 88[29]
• 30 March - Sir William Emrys Williams, 80[30]
• 5 April - Meirion Thomas, botanist and plant physiologist, 82[31]
• 18 April - Irene Steer, Olympic swimmer, 87[32]
• 22 April - Ryan Davies, entertainer, 40[33]
• 27 May - Jac L Williams, educationist
• 12 June - Ronnie James, British champion boxer, 59
• 27 June - Bert Day, Wales international rugby union player, 69
• 26 July - Sir Ben Bowen Thomas, civil servant and academic, 78[34]
• 10 August - Watcyn Thomas, rugby player, 71
• 16 August - (at Colchester) Hugh Iorys Hughes, engineer, 75[35]
• 27 September - Llewelyn Wyn Griffith, author of Up to Mametz, 87[36]
• 1 November - Jim Sullivan, rugby league player, 73
• 11 December - Neil Williams, Canadian-born aerobatics pilot, 33[37]
• date unknown - Cecil Smith, footballer

See also

• 1977 in Northern Ireland

References

1. Pryde, E. B.; Greenway, D. E.; Porter, S.; Roy, I. (1996-02-23). Handbook of British Chronology. Cambridge University Press. p. 157. ISBN 978-0-521-56350-5.
2. David Wilbourne (8 June 2018). "Archbishop Gwilym Owen Williams — "G. O.": His life and opinions by D. T. W. Price". Church Times. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
3. Dillwyn Miles (1992). The Secret of the Bards of the Isle of Britain. Gwasg Dinefwr Press. p. 193. ISBN 978-0-9519926-0-9.
4. Helen Drake (11 September 2002). Jacques Delors: Perspectives on a European Leader. Routledge. p. 69. ISBN 978-1-134-80399-6.
5. Ebenezer, Lyn (2012-08-02). Operation Julie: The World's Greatest LSD Bust. Y Lolfa. ISBN 978-1-84771-573-9.
6. Seifert, Roger V. (2013-11-11). Industrial Relations in the NHS. Springer. p. 41. ISBN 978-1-4899-3214-3.
7. "Ysgol Uwchradd Bodedern". Ysgol Uwchradd Bodedern. Archived from the original on 2018-12-15. Retrieved 2018-12-13.
8. "Emeritus Professor Ian Parrott MA, D Mus, FTCL, ARCO, FRSA (1916-2012)". Aberystwyth University. Archived from the original on 18 December 2019. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
9. Robert McG. Thomas Jr. (June 6, 1977). "'Annie' Sweeps 7 Tonys;'Shadow Box' Named Top Play". The New York Times. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
10. "Gwobrau". OwainOwain.net (in Welsh). 2011-06-15.
11. Strong, Martin C. (2000). The Great Rock Discography (5th ed.). Edinburgh: Mojo Books. pp. 12–13. ISBN 1-84195-017-3.
12. Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Welsh Affairs Committee (4 August 2009). Digital inclusion in Wales: thirteenth report of session 2008-09, report, together with formal minutes, oral and written evidence. The Stationery Office. p. 179. ISBN 978-0-215-54076-8.
13. Sharon Morgan (5 July 2012). Hanes Rhyw Gymraes (in Welsh). Y Lolfa. p. 128. ISBN 978-1-84771-547-0.
14. National Film and Television Archive (Great Britain); Simon Baker (1994). A for Andromeda to Zoo time: A to Z : the TV holdings of the National Film and Television Archive, 1936-1979. British Film Institute. p. 62. ISBN 978-0-85170-420-3.
15. Academi Gymreig (2008). The Welsh Academy Encyclopaedia of Wales. University of Wales Press. p. 472. ISBN 978-0-7083-1953-6.
16. "BBC Wales Sport Personality winners". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
17. "Profile: Doug Mountjoy". Eurosport. 3 December 2009. Retrieved 16 May 2019.
18. "Mike Powell". cricinfo. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
19. "Personnel Profile - Shane Williams". Ospreys. Archived from the original on 22 May 2007. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
20. "Athlete profile:David Phelps". Gold Coast 2018. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
21. "Edward Elwyn Jones". Bach Cantatas. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
22. "Profile for Matthew Stevens". Global Snooker. Archived from the original on 2010-09-28. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
23. "Cardiff Blues profile". Retrieved 7 October 2024.
24. Soundings. Department of Music, University College. 1978. p. 19.
25. Who was who. A. & C. Black. 1971. p. 659. ISBN 9780312877460.
26. David Harvey (1999). Monuments to courage: Victoria Cross headstones and memorials. Kevin and Kay Patience. p. 408.
27. Peter Jackson (6 October 2011). Triumph and Tragedy: Welsh Sporting Legends. Mainstream Publishing. p. 61. ISBN 978-1-78057-174-4.
28. "London Gazette death notices" (PDF). London Gazette. 19 April 1977. Retrieved 10 March 2019.
29. "Aubrey Williams". Isle of Wight Historical Society. Archived from the original on 26 October 2020. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
30. Arts Council of Great Britain (1976). Report. p. 44. ISBN 978-0-7287-0143-4.
31. Royal Society of Edinburgh (1975). Year Book of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. Royal Society of Edinburgh. p. 149.
32. "Irene Steer". IOC. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
33. David Greenslade (1986). Welsh Fever: Welsh Activities in the United States and Canada Today. D. Brown. p. 148. ISBN 978-0-905928-56-2.
34. National Library of Wales (1976). Adroddiad Blynyddol. National Library of Wales. p. 24.
35. "Hugh Iorys Hughes". Engineering Timelines. Retrieved 24 October 2020.
36. "Dr Llewelyn Wyn Griffith – Distinguished Welsh writer and broadcaster", The Times, 29 September 1977, p. 14
37. Flight International 24 June 1978, p. 1913.