2016 in Wales explained
This article is about the particular significance of the year 2016 to Wales and its people.
Incumbents
Events
January
February
- 8 February – Wales is badly affected by Storm Imogen: 80 mph winds result in waves high enough to hit first-floor windows along Aberystwyth's seafront.[4]
- 9 February – The Welsh Assembly votes for legislation to protect the historic environment and make the maintenance of records mandatory; this makes Wales the first part of the UK, and one of the first countries in the world, to legislate for the protection of historic environment records.[5]
- 24 February – Aston Martin announces that their new DBX model will be built at a site in St Athan in the Vale of Glamorgan, creating 750 new jobs.[6]
March
April
- 1 April – As part of a three-day celebration of arts, culture and creativity in Wales, artist Marc Rees unveils a 20 ft tall statue of singer Shirley Bassey on a balcony of Caernarfon Castle.[13]
- 28 April – The skull and antlers of a deer dating back 4,000 years are found on a beach in Borth.[14]
- 29 April – The Harvester, a fishing vessel operating from Milford Haven, carrying a father and son team, sinks off the coast of St David's.[15]
May
June
July
August
- 6 August – 130,000 visitors are recorded attending the 2016 National Eisteddfod in Abergavenny as the festival comes to a close. The iconic pink pavilion was replaced this year by a square-shaped white building in an attempt to improve acoustics.[30]
- 28 August – The final BHS store in Wales, located in Swansea's Princess Way, closes its doors after the company goes into administration.[31]
September
- 13 September
- The Wales Bill 2016, which gives new powers and accountability for the Welsh Assembly, is passed by MPs in the House of Commons.[32]
- A new Boundary Commission plan which would see Welsh Members of Parliament cut from 40 to 29, is published for consultation.[33]
- 17/18 September – A series of events celebrating the works of Roald Dahl are held throughout the streets of Cardiff on the centenary of the author's birth.[34]
- 24 September – Jeremy Corbyn is re-elected as leader of the Labour Party following an unsuccessful challenge by Owen Smith.[35]
October
November
December
Undated
Arts and literature
Welsh Awards
- Glyndŵr Award
- National Eisteddfod of Wales: Chair – Aneirin Karadog, "Ffiniau"[44]
- National Eisteddfod of Wales: Crown – Elinor Gwynn, "Llwybrau"[45]
- National Eisteddfod of Wales: Prose Medal – Eurig Salisbury, "Cai"[46]
- National Eisteddfod of Wales: Drama Medal – Hefin Robinson, Estron[47]
- Gwobr Goffa Daniel Owen: Guto Dafydd, Ymbelydredd[48]
- Wales Book of the Year:
- English language: Thomas Morris, We Don't Know What We're Doing[49]
- Welsh language: Caryl Lewis, Y Bwthyn
New books
Welsh language
Music
Albums
Compositions
- Iain Bell (music), David Antrobus and Emma Jenkins (libretto) – In Parenthesis (opera)[52]
Film
Sport
Awards
In sports
2016 Summer Olympics
- On the first day of Olympic competition:
- Jasmine Joyce becomes the first Welsh rugby player to compete at a Summer Olympics, scoring as a substitute in Team GB's opening match in the women's Rugby sevens against hosts Brazil.[72]
- Cyclist Geraint Thomas falls on the steep descent towards the finish of the Men's Road Race while in the leading group. Despite injury, he remounts his cycle and finishes the race.[73]
- On day two of the Games
- On day four of the Games:[75]
- On day six of the Games
- On day seven of the Games
- On day eight of the Games
- On day eleven of the Games
- Becky James wins a second silver medal in the velodrome, in the women's sprint.
- On day thirteen of the Games
- Jade Jones retains her 57 kg taekwondo title to become the first Welsh athlete to win an individual gold medal at the 2016 Games.[77]
- On day fourteen of the Games
2016 Summer Paralympic Games
- On the third day of the Games
- On the fifth day of the Games
- On the sixth day of the Games
- Rob Davies takes gold in the men's table tennis individual – class 2 category.
- Hollie Arnold breaks her own world record twice on her way to winning the women's javelin F36.
- On the seventh day of the Games
Broadcasting
English-language television
Welsh-language television
Deaths
- 4 January – John Roberts, footballer, 69[84]
- 5 January – Albert Gubay, businessman and philanthropist, founded Kwik Save, 87
- 8 January – Ida Gaskin, Welsh-born New Zealand teacher and quiz show contestant, 96[85]
- 18 January – Terence Cook, dual-code international rugby player, 88
- 21 January – Gerald Williams, journalist and tennis commentator, 86[86]
- 23 January – Grahame Hodgson, rugby union international, 79[87]
- 8 February – John Disley, steeplechase runner, Olympic bronze medallist (1952) and co-founder of the London Marathon, 87[88]
- 9 February – Graham Moore, footballer, 74
- 16 February – Jim Pleass, Cricketer (Glamorgan), 92[89]
- 4 March – John Brooks, Baron Brooks of Tremorfa, politician and boxing executive, President of the British Boxing Board of Control and Welsh Sports Hall of Fame, 88[90]
- 19 March – David Green, cricketer, 76[91]
- 10 April – Howard Marks, cannabis smuggler, writer and legalisation campaigner, 70 (cancer)[92]
- 13 April
- 9 May – Gareth Gwenlan, television producer, 79[95]
- 20 July – Jim Pressdee, cricketer, 83[96]
- 21 July –, actor, 84[97]
- 31 July – Gwynn ap Gwilym, author, 61[98]
- 1 August – Dai Dower, British flyweight boxing champion, 83[99]
- 24 September – Mel Charles, Wales international footballer and brother of John Charles, 81[100]
- 3 October – Andrew Vicari, painter, 84[101]
- 8 October – Mervyn Jones, footballer, 85[102] (death announced on this date)
- 11 October – Peter Reynolds, composer, 58[103]
- 18 October
- 19 October – Gary Sprake, Welsh international footballer, 71[106]
- 27 October – David Nash, rugby union player and national coach, 77[107]
- 16 November – Len Allchurch, Welsh international footballer, 83[108]
- 1 December – Barry Lloyd, cricketer (Glamorgan), 63[109]
- 8 December
- 14 December – Bernard Fox, Welsh-born American actor, 89[112]
- 21 December – Deddie Davies, actress, 78[113]
- 22 December – John Gwilliam, Welsh international rugby union player, 93[114] (death announced on this date)
See also
Notes and References
- Web site: National Eisteddfod 2015: Geraint Lloyd Owen to take up the role of Archdruid. 15 July 2015. WalesOnline. Siôn Morgan. 5 August 2022.
- http://www.itv.com/news/wales/2016-01-05/first-minister-pledges-2-3-million-for-flood-protection-across-wales/ ITV News, "First Minister pledges £2.3 million for flood protection across Wales", 5 January 2016
- https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-35339153 BBC News – "Tata steel: Port Talbot faces bulk of 1,050 job losses", 18 January 2016
- https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/weather/12145886/UK-weather-Storm-Imogen-lashes-Britain-with-gales-and-torrential-rain-live.html "Storm Imogen: Record breaking winds amid news an RSPCA worker may have been swept out to sea", The Telegraph, 9 February 2016
- Catling . Chris . May 2016 . Wales in the vanguard: pioneering protection of the past. Current Archaeology . 314 . 32–37 .
- Web site: Aston Martin creates 750 jobs in St Athan . Sarah . Dickins . 12 March 2016 . 24 February 2016.
- Web site: Little Haven becomes UK's first smoke-free beach . BBC News . 19 March 2016 . 9 March 2016.
- Web site: Budget 2016: Severn bridge tolls to be halved . BBC News . 19 March 2016 . 16 March 2016.
- Web site: The Report of the Macur Review . gov.uk . 19 March 2016 . 17 March 2016.
- Web site: Macur review: 'No reason' to undermine abuse inquiry findings . BBC News . 19 March 2016 . 17 March 2016.
- Web site: Stephen Crabb replaces Iain Duncan Smith . BBC News . 19 March 2016 . 19 March 2016.
- Web site: Tata Steel: 'All options' considered for Port Talbot . BBC News . 3 April 2016 . 30 March 2016.
- Web site: Giant Shirley Bassey statue unveiled at Caernarfon Castle. BBC. 3 April 2016 . 1 April 2016.
- Web site: 4,000-year-old red deer skull and antlers found in Borth . BBC News. 19 May 2016 . 28 April 2016.
- Web site: Father and son named as fishermen on board boat which sank off the coast of Pembrokeshire. Robin Turner & Tom Bedford. WalesOnline. 30 April 2016. 19 May 2016.
- Web site: Welsh Election 2016: Labour just short as UKIP wins seats. BBC News. 6 May 2016 . 6 May 2016.
- News: Carwyn Jones reappointed first minister after Labour-Plaid deal. BBC News. 18 May 2016. 19 May 2016.
- News: Sexism row over Neil Hamilton's maiden assembly speech. BBC News. 18 May 2016. 19 May 2016.
- News: Celebrities line up for 29th Hay festival in Powys . BBC News. 26 May 2016. 31 May 2016.
- News: Hay Festival: First day for national poet Ifor ap Glyn . BBC News. 31 May 2016. 31 May 2016. Huw. Thomas.
- News: Ministers reject calls to end Westminster Welsh language ban . BBC News. 9 June 2016. 9 June 2016.
- Web site: EU referendum: Welsh voters back Brexit. BBC News. 24 June 2016.
- Web site: Vigil in Cardiff remembers the Battle of the Somme. BBC News. 30 June 2016. 2 July 2016.
- Web site: Services remember Mametz Wood and Wales' soldiers. BBC News. 7 July 2016. 15 July 2016.
- Web site: Euro 2016: Wales' homecoming parade in Cardiff. BBC News. 8 July 2016.
- Web site: Labour leadership: Owen Smith to enter contest. BBC News. 13 July 2016. 17 July 2016.
- Web site: Theresa May shakes up government with new-look cabinet. BBC News. 14 July 2016. 25 September 2016.
- Web site: Professor Sir John Meurig Thomas awarded the Royal Medal. 20 July 2016. University of Cambridge. 14 November 2020.
- Web site: Chepstow Bridge's 200 year-old crossing celebrated. BBC News. 24 July 2016. 24 July 2016.
- Web site: 130,000 people flocked to the 2016 National Eisteddfod in Abergavenny. walesonline.co.uk. 6 August 2016. 26 September 2016. Heledd. Pritchard.
- Web site: Last BHS store in Wales to shut today as Swansea store closes its doors for the last time. walesonline.co.uk. Steve. Owens. 25 September 2016. 28 August 2016.
- News: Alun Cairns hails 'new era' for devolution to Wales . BBC News . BBC . 13 September 2016 . 25 September 2016.
- News: Boundary Commission map cuts Welsh MPs by a quarter . BBC News . BBC . 13 September 2016 . 25 September 2016.
- News: Cardiff's Roald Dahl celebration . BBC News . BBC . 17 September 2016 . 25 September 2016.
- News: Labour leadership: Jeremy Corbyn defeats Owen Smith . BBC News . BBC . 24 September 2016 . 25 September 2016.
- Web site: Aberfan: Memorial concert will 'give community hope'. BBC. 9 October 2016. 10 October 2016.
- Web site: Swansea's Glynn Vivian Art Gallery to open after renovation. Huw. Thomas. BBC News. 15 October 2016. 15 October 2016.
- Web site: Theresa May backs minute's silence across entire UK in memory of Aberfan disaster. David Williamson. WalesOnline. 19 October 2016. 20 October 2016.
- Web site: Aberfan: Prince of Wales among those marking disaster's 50th anniversary. Steven Morris. The Guardian. 21 October 2016. 24 October 2016.
- Web site: Child sex abuse inquiry opens Welsh office in Cardiff. Jenny. Johnson. BBC News. 26 October 2016. 27 October 2016.
- Web site: Canon Joanna Penberthy elected Wales' first woman bishop. Jenny. Johnson. BBC News. 2 November 2016. 2 November 2016.
- Web site: New Year Honours: Wales coach Chris Coleman set to receive OBE in recognition of Euro 2016 heroics. https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/new-year-honours-chris-coleman-obe-wales-euro-2016-semi-finals-a7502471.html . 2022-05-01 . subscription . live. Samuel. Lovett. The Independent. 31 December 2016. 2 November 2016.
- Web site: Here are all the Welsh people named in the New Year Honours list. Tom Houghton. WalesOnline. 31 December 2016. 1 January 2017.
- Web site: Winners of the Chair. National Eisteddfod of Wales. 3 February 2020.
- Web site: Winners of the Crown. National Eisteddfod of Wales. 3 February 2020.
- Web site: Winners of the Prose Medal. National Eisteddfod of Wales. 5 February 2020.
- Web site: Winners of the Drama Medal. National Eisteddfod of Wales. 5 February 2020. 5 February 2020. 5 February 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200205150408/https://eisteddfod.wales/archive/eisteddfod-winners/winners-drama-medal. dead.
- Web site: Ymbelydredd. Y Lolfa. 6 August 2019. 6 August 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190806163156/https://www.ylolfa.com/products/9781784613297/ymbelydredd. dead.
- Web site: Wales Book of the Year 2016: A hat-trick for Thomas Morris' debut collection. Literature Wales. 3 August 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160820065732/http://www.llenyddiaethcymru.org/news/i/147475/. 2016-08-20. dead.
- Web site: Music fans invade Green Man stage as Belle and Sebastian bring 2016 festival to a close. walesonline.co.uk. Kathryn. Williams. 25 September 2016. 22 August 2016.
- News: Llywelyn . Lowri . Ren - the Welsh musician attracting millions to his extraordinary music . 13 March 2023 . Nation.Cymru . 8 March 2023.
- News: In Parenthesis review – poetic tribute finds humanity in the trenches . The Guardian . Rian Evans . 2016-05-15 . 2016-05-21.
- Web site: BBC Cymru Wales Sports Personality 2016: Jade Jones wins top award . BBC Sport . 5 December 2016.
- Web site: Real Madrid 4 – 0 Sevilla. BBC Sport. 20 March 2016. 20 March 2016. Jonathan . Jurejko.
- Web site: Wales 2-1 Slovakia. BBC Sport. 11 June 2016. 11 June 2016.
- Web site: Portugal 2-0 Wales. BBC Sport. 6 June 2016. 15 June 2016. Phil. McNulty.
- Web site: UEFA EURO 2016 Team of the Tournament revealed . uefa.com . 11 June 2016 . 15 June 2016 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160716200525/http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/news/newsid%3D2389933.html . 16 July 2016 .
- Web site: Highlights: Watch the top ten goals of UEFA EURO 2016. uefa.com. 14 June 2016. 15 June 2016.
- Web site: Swansea sack Francesco Guidolin and appoint Bob Bradley manager. BBC Sport. 3 October 2016. 3 October 2016.
- Web site: Mo Farah's rival Kamworor falls at start of World Half Marathon in Cardiff. BBC Sport. 26 March 2016. 28 March 2016.
- Web site: Andrew Selby beats Louis Norman to win British title. BBC News. 14 May 2016. 15 May 2016.
- Web site: Boxer Towell dies after Glasgow bout . BBC News. 1 October 2016. 3 October 2016.
- Web site: England v Sri Lanka: Joe Root's 93 helps hosts seal 3-0 series win at Cardiff. Bibhash . Dash. BBC Sport. 2 July 2016. 16 July 2016.
- Web site: Tour de France 2016: Chris Froome completes third race victory. BBC Sport. 24 July 2016. 24 July 2016.
- Web site: Ladies Scottish Open: Becky Morgan finishes third as Isabelle Boineau wins. BBC Sport. 24 July 2016. 24 July 2016.
- http://www.racingbetter.co.uk/race/chepstow/welsh_national.html Racing Better – Coral Welsh National 2015
- Web site: Welsh National: Mountainous wins for second time at Chepstow. BBC News. 9 January 2016. 17 January 2016.
- https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/international/sixnations/12145039/Ireland-vs-Wales-Six-Nations-2016-live.html "Ireland vs Wales, Six Nations 2016: Jonny Sexton seals draw after fierce battle", Daily Telegraph, 7 February 2016
- Web site: Rampant Wales sign off in style in Cardiff. rbs6nations.com. RBS 6 Nations. 2 July 2016. 29 March 2016.
- Web site: Summer tour: New Zealand 46-6 Wales. BBC Sport. 25 June 2016. 2 July 2016.
- Web site: Ronnie O'Sullivan beats Neil Robertson to win Welsh Open. BBC News. 21 February 2016. 19 March 2016.
- Web site: Wales rugby star Jasmine Joyce makes Olympics history with Sevens try. walesonline.co.uk. 7 August 2016. 6 August 2016. Gareth. Griffiths.
- Web site: Live Rio Olympics 2016, men's cycling road race: Greg Van Avermaet wins gold after crash ends Geraint Thomas and Vincenzo Nibali hopes. The Telegraph. 6 August 2016.
- Web site: Rio Olympics 2016: Briton Jazz Carlin wins 400m freestyle silver. BBC Sport. 8 August 2016. 8 August 2016.
- Web site: Rio 2016 Olympics Day Four LIVE: Team GB beat Kenya before facing Japan on day one of the men's rugby sevens. WalesOnline. 9 August 2016.
- Web site: Rio Olympics 2016: Katie Ledecky beats Jazz Carlin in 800m freestyle. BBC Sport. 13 August 2016. 13 August 2016.
- Web site: Rio Olympics 2016: Jade Jones retains −57kg taekwondo title. 19 August 2016. 19 August 2016. bbc sport.
- Web site: Wales' Stanford narrowly misses out on bronze in triathlon. ITV News. 20 August 2016. 22 August 2016.
- Web site: Rio 2016 Paralympics: Sabrina Fortune wins first Welsh medal. 10 September 2016. BBC Sport. 10 September 2016 .
- Web site: Rio Paralympics 2016: GB's Aled Davies wins gold in F42 shot put. 13 September 2016. BBC Sport. 13 September 2016.
- Web site: Aberfan 50 years on: how best to remember the tragedy?. Owen Sheers. The Observer. 9 October 2016. 21 October 2016.
- https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/tv-radio/welsh-language-drama-byw-celwydd-living-a-lie-set-to-add-new-pep-to-politics-with-intrigue-and-a6788491.html "Welsh-language drama Byw Celwydd (Living A Lie) set to add new pep to politics with intrigue and corruption", The Independent, 28 December 2015
- Web site: Bethesda mum and daughter star in hilarious new S4C comedy series. Daily Post. 1 April 2016. 20 July 2016.
- http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2604863-former-arsenal-defender-john-roberts-dies-at-69 Former Arsenal Defender John Roberts Dies at 69
- http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/75712971/shakespeare-mastermind-ida-gaskin-dies-aged-96 Shakespeare Mastermind Ida Gaskin dies, aged 96
- https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/35375113 Gerald Williams: Former BBC tennis commentator dies
- https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/35396019 Grahame Hodgson: Ex-Wales and Neath full-back dies aged 79
- http://www.athleticsweekly.com/featured/john-disley-dies-aged-87-38805/ John Disley dies aged 87
- http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/cricket/glamorgan-1948-county-championship-winning-10922475 Glamorgan 1948 county championship winning legend Jim Pleass dies aged 92
- http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/local-news/lord-jack-brooks-who-laid-10990580 Lord Jack Brooks, who laid the foundations for Cardiff's transformation, has died aged 88
- http://www.espncricinfo.com/england/content/story/985917.html County stalwart David Green dies aged 76
- https://www.theguardian.com/books/2016/apr/10/howard-marks-dies-aged-70 'Mr Nice' Howard Marks dies aged 70
- http://www.blakes7online.com/news.php?readmore=219 Gareth Thomas 1945 – 2016
- https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-36043856 Wales' former national poet Gwyn Thomas dies
- Web site: Only Fools and Horses producer Gareth Gwenlan dies . . https://web.archive.org/web/20230421004810/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-mid-wales-36247170 . 2023-04-21 . live .
- https://www.bbc.com/sport/cricket/36857919 Glamorgan: Former all-rounder Jim Pressdee dies aged 83
- http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/tributes-paid-anglesey-actor-j-11645116 Tributes paid to Anglesey actor J O Roberts who has died
- http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/local-news/tributes-paid-renowned-poet-vicar-11687578 Tributes paid to renowned poet and vicar Gwynn ap Gwilym
- Web site: Dai Dower: Former British flyweight champion dies aged 83. 1 August 2016. 1 August 2016. BBC Sport.
- Web site: Mel Charles: Ex-Wales, Swansea and Arsenal great dies, aged 81. 24 September 2016. 24 September 2016. BBC Sport.
- http://www.southwales-eveningpost.co.uk/tributes-as-local-artist-andrew-vicari-passes-away/story-29773349-detail/story.html Tributes as Saudi royal artist Andrew Vicari dies at home Wales
- Web site: Mervyn Jones 1931–2016) . 2016-10-08 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161130003434/http://www.bangorcityfc.co.uk/news/mervyn-jones-1931-2016-1706055.html . 2016-11-30 . dead .
- http://tycerdd.org/welshcomposers/peter-reynolds Peter Reynolds 1958 – 2016
- https://www.pokernews.com/news/2016/10/poker-mourns-the-loss-of-dave-el-blondie-colclough-26109.htm Poker Mourns the Loss of Dave "El Blondie" Colclough
- Web site: Tributes paid to former Dean of Brecon . 2016-10-21 . 2017-01-15 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170115023304/http://www.brecon-radnor.co.uk/article.cfm?id=103702&headline=Tributes%20paid%20to%20former%20Dean%20of%20Brecon§ionIs=news&searchyear=2016 . dead .
- Web site: Former Leeds and Wales goalkeeper Gary Sprake dies aged 71 . 2016-10-19 . . https://web.archive.org/web/20230429142057/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/oct/19/gary-sprake-leeds-birmingham-wales-dies . 2023-04-29 . live .
- http://www.wru.co.uk/eng/news/37443.php#.WBZzLVeNTBA Obituary: First Wales National Coach, David Nash, dies
- https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/38004715?ns_mchannel=social&ns_campaign=bbc_wales_sport&ns_source=twitter&ns_linkname=wales Len Allchurch: Former Wales and Swansea footballer dies aged 83
- Web site: Former Glamorgan captain Lloyd dies . . https://web.archive.org/web/20221019072940/https://www.bbc.com/sport/cricket/38171057 . 2022-10-19 . live .
- Web site: Gareth Meredith Griffiths . ESPN scrum . 28 July 2020.
- http://www.southwales-eveningpost.co.uk/tributes-to-sir-harry-secombe-s-brother-and-author-rev-fred-secombe-who-has-died-at-98/story-29977495-detail/story.html Tributes to Sir Harry Secombe's brother and author Rev Fred Secombe who has died at 98
- http://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwtv/article/Bernard-Fox-Film-and-TV-Star-of-BEWITCHED-TITANIC-THE-MUMMY-and-More-Passes-Away-20161214# Bernard Fox, Film and TV Star of BEWITCHED, TITANIC, THE MUMMY and More, Passes Away
- http://www.walesonline.co.uk/lifestyle/showbiz/stella-railway-children-actress-deddie-12355307 Kathryn Williams, "Stella and The Railway Children actress Deddie Davies dies at the age of 78", Wales Online, 21 December 2016
- Web site: Former Wales captain John Gwilliam dies, aged 93 . 2016-12-22 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161229023624/https://www.eveningexpress.co.uk/pipe/sport/former-wales-captain-john-gwilliam-dies-aged-93/ . 2016-12-29 . dead .