2010 in Wales explained

This article is about the particular significance of the year 2010 to Wales and its people.

Incumbents

• First Minister – Carwyn Jones
• Secretary of State for Wales
  • Peter Hain (until 11 May)
  • Cheryl Gillan
• Archbishop of Wales – Barry Morgan, Bishop of Llandaff
• Archdruid of the National Eisteddfod of Wales – Jim Parc Nest

Events

January–June

• 1 January – Welsh people honoured by The Queen in the 2010 New Year Honours List include Menna Richards, Director of BBC Cymru Wales (OBE) and banker Dyfrig John (CBE).^[1]
• 6 January – School closures and icy road conditions result from heavy snow in most areas of Wales.^[2]
• 7 January – A report issued by the Ministry of Defence concludes that the two RAF pilots involved in the Porthcawl mid-air collision over Kenfig in March 2009 "did not see each other".^[3]
• 11 January – The HM Land Registry office in Swansea (High Street) closes as a result of the Land Registration (Proper Office) Order 2009. The Wales Office of the Land Registry, situated in Llansamlet, Swansea, remains open.^[4]
• 12 January – Further heavy snow hits south and west Wales, as local authorities begin to run out of grit to treat roads.^[5]
• 12 February – Welsh Secretary Peter Hain and Assembly Environment Minister Jane Davidson announce plans to make the M4 in Wales a "hydrogen highway", with alternative energy refuelling points.^[6]
• 5 February – Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson is recommended by the House of Lords Appointments Commission as one of four new non-party-political peers.^[7]

• 14 February – Welsh rugby international Andy Powell is arrested near Junction 33 on the M4 motorway at 0600 GMT 14 February 2010, in possession of a stolen golf buggy.^[8]
• 15 February – For behaviour "contrary to the squad's code of conduct", Andy Powell is removed from Wales' 35-man training squad for the 2010 Six Nations Championship.^[9]
• 1 March – A BBC poll suggests that support has risen for full law-making powers for the Welsh Assembly, up to 56%, with 35% against, although Nick Bourne the leader of the Welsh Conservative Party (who supported a yes vote) is sceptical of the poll results.^[10]
• 16 March – Welsh Slate announces the closure of Oakeley Quarry at Blaenau Ffestiniog.^[11]
• 17 March – Government figures show that the unemployment rate in Wales, at 9.2% is higher than any other home country and higher than all but two other regions of the UK.^[12]
• 18 March – The Marriage (Wales) Act 2010 brings the Church in Wales's marriage regulations into line with those of the Church of England.^[13]
• 16 April – Four men are killed and a fifth is seriously injured in a car crash near Porthcawl.^[14]
• 6 May – In the United Kingdom general election, the Conservative Party wins 8 seats, Labour 26, Plaid Cymru 3 and the Lib Democrats 3.
• 12 May – Cheryl Gillan is confirmed as Secretary of State for Wales in the new UK government of David Cameron; she is the first woman to hold the post.^[15]

• 25 May – The Learned Society of Wales is launched.^[16]
• 28 May – Llanrwst celebrates the 400th anniversary of the almshouses built by Sir John Wynn, 1st Baronet.
• 15 June – Cheryl Gillan, the new Welsh Secretary in the Conservative—Liberal Democrat coalition government at Westminster, announces that the 2011 Welsh devolution referendum will probably be held between January and March 2011.^[17]
• 16 June – New members of the Gorsedd are announced by the National Eisteddfod of Wales. They include Tim Rhys-Evans, Edwin Regan and Jill Evans.^[18]
• 23 June – A Danish tabloid newspaper accuses Stephen Kinnock, who is married to Danish politician Helle Thorning-Schmidt, of tax evasion.^[19]
• 24 June – Barry-born Julia Gillard becomes Australia's first female prime minister.
• 28 June – The Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, unveils a new memorial on the site of Six Bells Colliery. The sculpture, Guardian (of the Valleys) by Sebastien Boyesen, commemorates the pit disaster of 1960 and is a tribute to those who work in dangerous industries.^[20]

July–December

• 1 July – Wales's four archaeological trusts launch an online searchable website, known as Archwilio, at the Treftadaeth Conference in Swansea. Alun Ffred Jones AM, Minister for Heritage, observes: "Wales is the first country in Britain that has made all its archaeological records available online" and "Archwilio will be a tremendous asset not only for the people of Wales but also for those further afield who have an interest in the rich archaeology and cultural heritage of our country".^[21]
• 5 August – The Faenol Festival is cancelled for the second year running.^[22]
• 23 August – The remains of Anglesey-born MI6 worker Gareth Williams are discovered locked in a sports bag^[23] at his Pimlico flat.^[24]
• 29 August – Air-sea rescue services begin a frantic search for missing kayaker Elizabeth Ashbee, who became separated from four colleagues in rough waters and bad weather at Ynys Feurig near Rhosneigr, Anglesey. Her body is found in Caernarfon Bay two days later.^[25]
• September – The University of Wales Trinity Saint David, created by the merger of Trinity University College and the University of Wales, Lampeter, admits its first students.
• 5 September – Holly Stuckey, a pupil at Ysgol Maesteg School, is taken to hospital suffering from an allergic reaction, but dies shortly afterwards. Her parents later claim she was severely bullied at the school.^[26]
• 13 September – Archaeologists working at Caerleon announce the discovery of a suit of Roman armour.^[27]
• 22 September – Sainsbury's original Newport store closes and a new superstore opens in Crindau.
• 4 November – The accident report on the Porthcawl mid-air collision over Kenfig of March 2009 is released.^[28] The AAIB makes no safety recommendations, referring instead to the recommendations made in January's Ministry of Defence inquiry report.
• 16 November – Buckingham Palace confirms that Prince William of Wales will marry Catherine Middleton in 2011. Her title following the marriage would be dependent on whether an additional title were conferred on the prince.
• 19 November – The Welsh Pony and Cob Society opens a museum at its new headquarters near Felinfach.^[29]
• 28 December – Andrew Craig, of Caernarfon, completes the challenge of climbing Snowdon every week for a year, thus earning £15000 for charity.^[30]

Undated

• Both major chemical production plants at Cefn Mawr shut down.

Arts and literature

• 3 April – New Llandaff Cathedral organ first played.
• 13 May – Only Men Aloud! win the Album of the Year award at the Classical BRIT Awards.^[31]
• 31 March – Wenvoe transmitting station turns off its remaining analogue television signals, officially completing the switchover to digital television in Wales.^[32]
• 20 September – David Essex marries Welsh actress Susan Hallam-Wright at St Cross Church in Talybont, near Bangor.^[33]
• 8 October – Cardiff-based author Belinda Bauer wins the Crime Writers' Association Gold Dagger for her debut novel Blacklands.^[34]

Awards

• Glyndŵr Award – David Nash
• National Eisteddfod of Wales: Chair – Tudur Hallam
• National Eisteddfod of Wales: Crown – Glenys Mair Glyn Roberts
• National Eisteddfod of Wales: Drama Medal – withheld
• National Eisteddfod of Wales: Prose Medal – Jerry Hunter
• Gwobr Goffa Daniel Owen – Grace Roberts
• Wales Book of the Year

• • English language: Philip Gross – I Spy Pinhole Eye
  • Welsh language: John Davies – Cymru: Y 100 lle i’w gweld cyn marw
• Dylan Thomas Prize

Elyse Fenton – Clamor^[35]

• Kyffin Art Prize

New books

English language

• Gladys Mary Coles – Clay^[36]
• J. Graham Jones – David Lloyd George and Welsh Liberalism^[37]
• Patrick McGuinness – Jilted City^[38]
• Jamie Owen – Around Wales by B-Roads and Byways^[39]
• M. Wynn Thomas – In the Shadow of the Pulpit
• Stan Stennett – Fully Booked
• Nikolai Tolstoy – The Oldest British Prose Literature: the Compilation of the Four Branches of the Mabinogi

Welsh language

• Fflur Dafydd – Awr y Locustiaid^[40]
• Mari Emlyn (ed.) – Llythyrau'r Wladfa 1945–2010^[41]
• Hywel Griffiths – Dirgelwch y Bont
• Angharad Price – Caersaint
• Dewi Prysor v Lladd Duw

Music

Classical

• Huw Watkins – Violin Concerto

Albums

• Attack! Attack! – The Latest Fashion
• Charlotte Church – Back to Scratch
• Colorama – BOX
• Duffy – Endlessly
• Katherine Jenkins – Katherine Jenkins: Believe Live From The O2
• Tom Jones – Praise & Blame
• Al Lewis – In the Wake
• Manic Street Preachers – Postcards From a Young Man
• Y Niwl – Y Niwl

Singles

• Duffy (singer) – "Well, Well, Well"
• Katherine Jenkins – "Tell Me I'm Not Dreaming"

Film

English-language

• Rhys Ifans plays the title role in Mr. Nice, as Howard Marks.
• Patagonia, starring Matthew Rhys
• Michael Sheen stars in Unthinkable
• Third Star, set in Pembrokeshire

Welsh-language

• Patagonia

Broadcasting

Welsh-language television

• Only Men Aloud
• Rhestr Nadolig Wil

English-language television

• Hidden Houses of Wales (with Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen)
• Rhod Gilbert's Work Experience
• Sherlock, produced by BBC Wales
• The Special Relationship (TV film) starring Michael Sheen as Tony Blair.
• Snowdonia 1890

Sport

• 4 April – Mark Williams wins his third China Open title.^[42]
• 18 September – Boxer Nathan Cleverly defeats Karo Murat at the LG Arena in Birmingham in an eliminator for the WBO light heavyweight title.
• October – At the 2010 Commonwealth Games, Wales wins medals in several sports:

Medal	Name	Sport	Event	Date
				10 October
				13 October
				5 October
				6 October
				7 October
				7 October
				8 October
				13 October
				14 October
				5 October
				7 October
				7 October
				7 October
				10 October
				10 October
				11 October
				11 October
				11 October
				12 October

• 5 December – Gareth Bale wins the BBC Cymru Wales Sports Personality of the Year award^[43]
• 27 December – The Welsh National steeplechase, scheduled to be held at Chepstow, is postponed from its traditional spot because of adverse weather conditions.

Deaths

• 2 January – John Rhys Evans, operatic baritone, 79^[44]
• 4 January – Hywel Teifi Edwards, writer and broadcaster, 74^[45]
• 20 January – Jack Parry, footballer, 86^[46]
• 9 February – Malcolm Vaughan, singer and actor, 80^[47]
• 11 February – Brian Godfrey, footballer, 69
• 14 February – Dick Francis, jockey and novelist, 89^[48]
• 22 February – Robin Davies, actor, 56 (lung cancer)^[49]
• 23 February – Wyn Morris, conductor, 81^[50]
• 3 March – Michael Foot, politician, 96^[51]
• 10 March – Micky Jones, musician, 63
• 13 March – Neville Meade, heavyweight boxer, 61^[52]
• 31 March – Keith Kissack, historian of Monmouth, 96
• 9 April – John Griffiths, curator of the London Science Museum, 57^[53]
  • • 14 April Tom Ellis, politician, 86
  • Frank Jackett, footballer, 82^[54]
• 29 April (in London) – Harold Rubens, pianist and human rights activist, 90^[55]
• 30 April – Gwyn Rowlands, rugby union international, 81^[56]
  • 8 May 14 October – J. A. G. Griffith, lawyer and academic, 91^[57]
  • Alan Watkins, political journalist, 77
• 7 June – Stuart Cable, musician and television presenter, 40^[58]
• 22 June – Pennant Roberts, TV producer, 69
• 23 June – Peter Walker, Baron Walker of Worcester, former Secretary of State for Wales, 78^[59]
• 20 July – Iris Gower, novelist, 75^[60]
  • • 21 July Lowri Gwilym, television and radio producer, 55 (cerebral haemorrhage)^[61]
  • Jimmy Singer, footballer, 72
• August – Gareth Williams, intelligence officer, 31
• 10 August – Brian Clark, Cardiff City footballer, 67
• 13 August – A. J. R. Russell-Wood, historian, 70^[62]
• 30 August – Owen Edwards, broadcaster, 76^[63]
• 16 September – Richard Livsey, Baron Livsey of Talgarth, politician, 75^[64]
• 18 October – Mel Hopkins, footballer, 75
• 27 October – William Griffiths, hockey player, 88
• 28 October – Robert Dickie, British champion boxer, 46 (heart attack)^[65]
• 9 December – Meirion Pennar, poet and academic, 65^[66]
• 26 December – Vivien Jones, lacrosse player, 59^[67]

See also

• 2010 in Northern Ireland

Notes and References

1. News: Ex-HSBC boss made CBE in honours. BBC News. 31 December 2009.
2. Web site: Warning to commuters . 6 January 2010 . Natalie . Jones . Newsquest. Denbighshire Free Press . https://web.archive.org/web/20110720012423/http://www.denbighshirefreepress.co.uk/news/83494/warning-to-commuters.aspx . 20 July 2011 . dead .
3. News: Pilots 'did not see each other'. BBC News. 7 January 2010.
4. Web site: Important changes affecting Land Registry offices in Wales from January 2010. WiredGov. 13 October 2009. 26 September 2019.
5. News: New snow arrives as grit rationed . BBC News . 12 January 2010.
6. News: M4 set to be 'hydrogen highway'. BBC News. 12 February 2010.
7. News: Dame Tanni nominated for peerage. BBC News. 5 February 2010.
8. News: Andy Powell arrested over golf buggy after Wales win over Scotland. London. The Guardian. Alan. Gardner. 14 February 2010.
9. News: Wales drop Andy Powell from team. BBC News. 15 February 2010.
10. News: Powys. Betsan. 'Support grows' for full law-making Wales assembly. BBC News. 1 March 2010. 27 June 2010.
11. News: Quarry losses hit Snowdonia town. BBC News. 17 March 2010.
12. News: Unemployment rate highest in UK. BBC News. 17 March 2010.
13. Nicholas. Roberts. The Historical Background to the Marriage (Wales) Act 2010. 13. 1. Ecclesiastical Law Journal. January 2011. 39–56. 10.1017/S0956618X10000785 . 144909754 .
14. Web site: Porthcawl crash car 'sliced in two' . 16 April 2010 . WalesOnline . . https://web.archive.org/web/20100420213325/http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2010/04/16/porthcawl-crash-car-sliced-in-two-91466-26259707/ . 20 April 2010 . dead.
15. News: David Cameron appoints Cheryl Gillan as Welsh Secretary. BBC Wales. 12 May 2010. 15 January 2012.
16. Web site: Learned Society of Wales launched. Robin. Turner. Wales Online. 25 May 2010. 3 June 2017.
17. Web site: Welsh referendum on more powers in 2011 says Cheryl Gillan. Daily Post North Wales. Dailypost.co.uk. 27 June 2010.
18. Web site: New Gorsedd of Bards members honoured. BBC – Wales Arts. 28 April 2019.
19. News: B.T. afslører Helle Thorning og manden: Scorer kassen i skattely. B.T.. 23 June 2010. Danish.
20. Web site: Archbishop unveils pit disaster statue . Steffan . Rhys . 29 June 2010 . WalesOnline . Media Wales.
21. http://ggat.wordpress.com/2010/07/01/the-welsh-trusts-launch-archwilio/ The Welsh Trusts launch Archwilio.
22. News: Faenol Festival near Bangor off after low ticket sales. BBC Wales. 5 August 2010. 5 August 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100814143012/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-north-west-wales-10872370. 14 August 2010. live.
23. News: Body of MI6 worker Gareth Williams 'locked in bag'. BBC News. 1 September 2010. 1 September 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100901191458/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-11152467. 1 September 2010. live.
24. Sam Jones and Helen Pidd "'British spy' found dead identified as Foreign Office worker", The Guardian, 25 August 2010
25. Web site: Body identified as that of missing kayaker. Wales Online. September 2010 .
26. http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/schoolgirl-died-severe-allergic-reaction-2033228 Wales Online 12 April 2012
27. Web site: Rare Roman suit of armour found at Caerleon dig . 13 September 2010 . BBC News.
28. Web site: RAF pilots didn't see each other in time, report claims . 4 November 2010 . WalesOnline . Media Wales.
29. http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/midwales/hi/people_and_places/history/newsid_9209000/9209243.stm BBC Mid Wales, "Welsh Pony and Cob museum ready for the off", 19 November 2012. Accessed 30 October 2012
30. Web site: A year of climbing Snowdon for walker. James. McCarthy. 2 January 2011. WalesOnline. 16 October 2012.
31. Web site: The Classical BRIT Awards 2010 with NS&I Celebrates a Triumphant Night of International Success . 13 May 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100516042526/http://www.classicalbrits.co.uk/news/2010/the-classical-brit-awards-2010-with-nsi-celebrates-a-triumphant-night-of-international-suc . 16 May 2010 . dead.
32. News: Wales is first UK nation to switch fully to digital TV. BBC News. 31 March 2010. 16 October 2012.
33. Web site: David Essex marries Welsh actress. Ciaran. Jones. 22 September 2010. WalesOnline. 16 October 2012.
34. Web site: The Writers of Wales Database: Belinda Bauer. literaturewales.org. 15 January 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120406031017/http://www.literaturewales.org/writers-of-wales/i/135957/desc/bauer-belinda/. 6 April 2012. dead.
35. Web site: Dylan Thomas Prize winner Elyse Fenton on how it changed her life . Walesonline . Price, Karen . Western Mail . 24 June 2011 . 11 January 2012.
36. Web site: Gladys Mary Coles – Clay. WalesOnline. 22 March 2013. 26 May 2019.
37. Web site: David Lloyd George and Welsh Liberalism. National Library of Wales. 25 June 2010 . 26 May 2019.
38. Web site: Jilted City. Carcanet Press. 26 May 2019.
39. Web site: Around Wales by B-Roads and Byways. gwales. 2 February 2020.
40. Web site: Awr y Locustiaid. gwales. cy. 2 February 2020.
41. Web site: Llythyrau'r Wladfa 1945-2010. gwales. cy. 2 February 2020.
42. Web site: Mark Williams beats Ding Junhui to win China Open title . 4 April 2010 . BBC Sport . 20 May 2019.
43. Web site: Bale awarded BBC Wales accolade . BBC News . 2 August 2021 . 6 December 2010.
44. News: Washington Post. 7 January 2010. John Rhys Evans: Death notice. 25 September 2018.
45. News: Hywel Teifi Edwards dies aged 75 . BBC News . 5 January 2010. 15 April 2019.
46. News: Fifties Town Keeper Dies . 20 January 2010. TWTD.com. 20 January 2010.
47. News: Malcolm Vaughan obituary . Leigh, Spencer . . 25 February 2010 . London . 25 February 2010.
48. News: Reynolds . Stanley . Dick Francis obituary . 8 November 2020 . . 14 February 2010 .
49. Web site: Robin Davies - Obituaries - The Stage. The Stage. The Stage.
50. Web site: Wyn Morris: Conductor whose gifts were undermined by his relations. https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220507/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/wyn-morris-conductor-whose-gifts-were-undermined-by-his-relations-with-musicians-and-administrators-1930697.html . 7 May 2022 . subscription . live. 23 October 2011.
51. Web site: Michael Foot dies. New Statesman. UK. 3 March 2010. 15 August 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100306165521/http://www.newstatesman.com/2010/03/foot-dies-aged-leader-labour. 6 March 2010. live.
52. Web site: Champion Neville Meade's legacy lives on in city . thisissouthwales.co.uk . 19 March 2010 . 27 October 2011.
53. John Becklake, "Obituary: John Griffiths". Life after the Museum, No 25, page 21, Autumn 2010.
54. Web site: JACKETT, Frank : Obituary. 29 January 2011. YourAnnouncement.co.uk. dead. https://archive.today/20130505123256/http://www.yourannouncement.co.uk/3867560. 5 May 2013.
55. News: Flynn. Jessica. Tributes paid to piano great Harold Rubens. South Wales Echo. 4 May 2010. Cardiff. 13 October 2017.
56. News: Popular former town GP has died . The Gazette (Berkhamsted, England) . 2010-05-05 . 2010-05-12.
57. Martin Loughlin, 'John Griffith obituary', The Guardian (25 May 2010), retrieved 23 July 2019.
58. Web site: Date set for Stuart Cable's funeral. WalesOnline. 16 June 2010. 17 June 2010.
59. News: Peter Walker dies aged 78. 23 June 2010. 23 June 2010. Worcester News.
60. Web site: Iris Gower: Bestselling author whose hometown of Swansea informed her historical romances. The Independent. 28 July 2010. 15 April 2019. 7 April 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190407124137/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/iris-gower-bestselling-author-whose-hometown-of-swansea-informed-her-historical-romances-2036772.html. dead.
61. News: Lowri Gwilym: Widely admired Welsh television executive. The Independent. 31 July 2010. 16 April 2016.
62. Web site: Johns Hopkins Historian John R. Russell-Wood dies. 19 August 2010. Johns Hopkins University. 15 April 2019.
63. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-11138037 BBC Wales News
64. News: Liberal Democrat peer Richard Livsey dies, aged 75. BBC News . 16 September 2010 . 15 April 2019.
65. Web site: Robert Dickie Trust launched in Llanelli boxer's honour. BBC News. 2 April 2011. 22 May 2011.
66. Web site: Poet and Welsh works translator Meirion Pennar dies. BBC Wales. 17 December 2010. 19 December 2010.
67. Web site: International Women's Lacrosse Legend Vivien Jones Dies at 59. insidelacrosse.com. 4 January 2011. 17 May 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120326073412/http://insidelacrosse.com/news/2011/01/04/international-womens-lacrosse-legend-vivien-jones-dies-59. 26 March 2012. dead.