1977 in Wales explained

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

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

Notes and References

1. Book: Pryde, E. B.. Greenway, D. E.. Porter, S.. Roy, I.. Handbook of British Chronology. 1996-02-23. Cambridge University Press. 978-0-521-56350-5. 157.
2. Web site: Archbishop Gwilym Owen Williams — "G. O.": His life and opinions by D. T. W. Price . David Wilbourne. 8 June 2018. Church Times. 6 May 2022.
3. Book: Dillwyn Miles. The Secret of the Bards of the Isle of Britain. 1992. Gwasg Dinefwr Press. 978-0-9519926-0-9. 193.
4. Book: Helen Drake. Jacques Delors: Perspectives on a European Leader. 11 September 2002. Routledge. 978-1-134-80399-6. 69.
5. Book: Ebenezer, Lyn. Operation Julie: The World's Greatest LSD Bust. 2012-08-02. Y Lolfa. 978-1-84771-573-9.
6. Book: Seifert, Roger V.. Industrial Relations in the NHS. 2013-11-11. Springer. 978-1-4899-3214-3. 41.
7. Web site: Ysgol Uwchradd Bodedern. Ysgol Uwchradd Bodedern. 2018-12-13. 2018-12-15. https://web.archive.org/web/20181215123043/http://www.ysgoluwchraddbodedern.org/eng/ysgol.html. dead.
8. Web site: Emeritus Professor Ian Parrott MA, D Mus, FTCL, ARCO, FRSA (1916-2012). Aberystwyth University. 18 December 2019. 18 December 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191218142527/https://www.aber.ac.uk/en/development/alumni/obituaries/obituary-profiles/emeritus-professor-ian-parrott-ma,-d-mus,-ftcl,-ar/. dead.
9. Web site: 'Annie' Sweeps 7 Tonys;'Shadow Box' Named Top Play. June 6, 1977. Robert McG. Thomas Jr.. The New York Times. 18 December 2019.
10. Web site: Gwobrau. OwainOwain.net. 2011-06-15. Welsh.
11. Book: Strong, Martin C.. 2000. The Great Rock Discography. 5th. Mojo Books. Edinburgh. 12–13. 1-84195-017-3.
12. Book: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Welsh Affairs Committee. Digital inclusion in Wales: thirteenth report of session 2008-09, report, together with formal minutes, oral and written evidence. 4 August 2009. The Stationery Office. 978-0-215-54076-8. 179.
13. Book: Sharon Morgan. Hanes Rhyw Gymraes. 5 July 2012. Y Lolfa. 978-1-84771-547-0. 128. cy.
14. Book: National Film and Television Archive (Great Britain). Simon Baker. A for Andromeda to Zoo time: A to Z : the TV holdings of the National Film and Television Archive, 1936-1979. 1994. British Film Institute. 978-0-85170-420-3. 62.
15. Book: Academi Gymreig. The Welsh Academy Encyclopaedia of Wales. 2008. University of Wales Press. 978-0-7083-1953-6. 472.
16. News: BBC Wales Sport Personality winners . BBC Sport . 29 July 2021.
17. Web site: Profile: Doug Mountjoy . 3 December 2009 . . 16 May 2019.
18. Web site: Mike Powell. cricinfo. 30 April 2019.
19. Web site: Personnel Profile - Shane Williams. https://web.archive.org/web/20070522181914/http://ospreys.sportstatdata.com/ST_OSP_1005.aspx?pr=114637. dead. 22 May 2007. Ospreys. 30 April 2019.
20. Web site: Athlete profile:David Phelps. Gold Coast 2018. 30 April 2019.
21. Web site: Edward Elwyn Jones. Bach Cantatas. 7 October 2024.
22. Web site: Profile for Matthew Stevens. Global Snooker. https://web.archive.org/web/20100928144959/http://www.global-snooker.com/Matthew-Stevens.asp. 19 June 2020. 2010-09-28.
23. Web site: Cardiff Blues profile. 7 October 2024.
24. Book: Soundings. 1978. Department of Music, University College. 19.
25. Book: Who was who. 1971. A. & C. Black. 659. 9780312877460.
26. Book: David Harvey. Monuments to courage: Victoria Cross headstones and memorials. 1999. Kevin and Kay Patience. 408.
27. Book: Peter Jackson. Triumph and Tragedy: Welsh Sporting Legends. 6 October 2011. Mainstream Publishing. 978-1-78057-174-4. 61.
28. Web site: London Gazette death notices. London Gazette. 19 April 1977. 10 March 2019.
29. Web site: Aubrey Williams. Isle of Wight Historical Society. 27 May 2020. 26 October 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201026172033/http://www.isle-of-wight-fhs.co.uk/church_burials/results3_2.php?id=31364. dead.
30. Book: Arts Council of Great Britain. Report. 1976. 978-0-7287-0143-4. 44.
31. Book: Royal Society of Edinburgh. Year Book of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. 1975. Royal Society of Edinburgh. 149.
32. Web site: Irene Steer. IOC. 20 February 2021.
33. Book: David Greenslade. Welsh Fever: Welsh Activities in the United States and Canada Today. 1986. D. Brown. 978-0-905928-56-2. 148.
34. Book: National Library of Wales. Adroddiad Blynyddol. 1976. National Library of Wales. 24.
35. Web site: Hugh Iorys Hughes. Engineering Timelines. 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.