1968 in Wales
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This article is about the particular significance of the year 1968 to Wales and its people.
Contents
Incumbents
- Prince of Wales – The Prince Charles
- Princess of Wales – vacant
- Secretary of State for Wales – Cledwyn Hughes (until 5 April); George Thomas
- Archbishop of Wales – Glyn Simon, Bishop of Llandaff
- Archdruid of the National Eisteddfod of Wales – E. Gwyndaf Evans
Events
- October - Trawsfynydd nuclear power station, the only nuclear power station to be located in a national park, is opened.
- 17 December - Official opening of first phase of the Royal Mint's new Llantrisant plant.
- The Welsh Office acquires responsibility for historic monuments, and for the water supply in Wales.
- In the referendum on the Sunday opening of public houses, the counties of Anglesey, Caernarfon, Cardigan, Carmarthen and Merioneth vote to stay "dry".
- The first bilingual (Welsh/English) postage stamp is issued.
- Hugh Cudlipp becomes Chairman of the International Publishing Corporation.
Arts and literature
- Welsh National Opera acquires a professional chorus.
- Cefn Cwrt Farm, Llangrannog, is purchased for use by the Urdd Gobaith Cymru.
- The Drama Tent is introduced to the Eisteddfod field.
- Cwmni Theatr Cymru is formed in Bangor.
- 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 the National Theatre in a version co-authored by and directed by Victor Spinetti.
Awards
- National Eisteddfod of Wales (held in Barry)
- National Eisteddfod of Wales: Chair - Bryn Williams
- National Eisteddfod of Wales: Crown - Haydn Lewis
- National Eisteddfod of Wales: Prose Medal - Eigra Lewis Roberts
New books
- Ewart Alexander - Omri's Burning
- Irma Chilton - Cusanau
- Pennar Davies - Meibion Darogan
- Islwyn Ffowc Elis - Y Blaned Dirion
- Menna Gallie - Travels with a Duchess
- Glyn Jones - The Dragon Has Two Tongues
- A. J. R. Russell-Wood - Fidalgos and Philanthropists: The Santa Casa da Misericórdia of Bahia, 1550-1755
- Gwyn Thomas - A Few Selected Exits
- Emlyn Williams - Beyond Belief: A Chronicle of Murder and its Detection
- Urien Wiliam - Dirgelwch y rocedi
Music
- "Delilah", "Help Yourself" and "Love Me Tonight" are hits for Tom Jones.
- "Bend Me, Shape Me" and "High in the Sky" are hits for Amen Corner.
- Badfinger sign for the Beatles' Apple label.
Film
- Richard Burton and Donald Houston appear in Where Eagles Dare.
- Anthony Hopkins makes his first big-screen impact in The Lion in Winter, appearing alongside Timothy Dalton.
- Hywel Bennett stars in Twisted Nerve.
- Harry Secombe appears in Oliver!.
- Timothy Dalton turns down the role of James Bond, feeling that he is too young for the part.
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
- 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
- David Broome takes a bronze in the Individual Show Jumping Grand Prix.
- Martyn Woodroffe is the only British swimmer to win a medal - a silver in the men's 200 m butterfly.
- Rugby union - Jeff Young makes his international debut against Scotland.
Births
- 28 March - Jon Lee, musician (d. 2002)
- May - Rakie Ayola, actress
- 28 May - Kylie Minogue, actress and singer (in Melbourne, of maternal Welsh origin)
- 29 May - Jessica Morden, politician
- 22 July - Rhys Ifans, actor
- 13 June - David Gray, musician
- 26 June - Iwan Roberts, footballer
- 27 July - Carl Sergeant, politician
- 30 July - Sean Moore, musician
- 19 August - Roger Freestone, footballer
- 23 September - Adam Price, politician
- 12 October - Mark Donovan, actor
- 13 December - Steve Robinson, Featherweight boxer
- date unknown - Trevor Rees-Jones, bodyguard to Diana, Princess of Wales
Deaths
- 13 January - William Williams (Crwys), poet and Archdruid, 93
- 25 January - Louie Myfanwy Thomas (Jane Ann Jones), novelist, 59
- 6 February - James Gomer Berry, 1st Viscount Kemsley
- 3 May - Ness Edwards, politician
- 16 July - William Evans (Wil Ifan), poet
- 24 August - Bailey Davies, Wales international rugby union player, 83
- 28 August - Arthur Henderson, Baron Rowley, politician
- 4 September - Arthur Horner, politician
- 10 November - Tommy Rees, Wales dual-code rugby player, 64
- 17 November - Carey Morris, artist
- 20 November - David Grenfell, politician
- 14 December - David James Jones (Gwenallt), poet
- date unknown - Dafydd Jones (Isfoel), poet
