2018 in Wales explained

This article is about the particular significance of the year 2018 to Wales and its people.

Incumbents

• First Minister – Carwyn Jones (until 12 December), Mark Drakeford (starting 13 December)
• Secretary of State for Wales – Alun Cairns
• Archbishop of Wales – John Davies, Bishop of Swansea and Brecon
• Archdruid of the National Eisteddfod of Wales – Geraint Llifon^[1]
• National Poet of Wales – Ifor ap Glyn^[2]

Events

January

• 16 January – Controversial Assembly member Neil McEvoy is expelled from the Plaid Cymru group in the Welsh Assembly, with the statement that "His ongoing behaviour has left assembly member colleagues feeling undermined and demoralised".^[3]
• 30 January – In his trial at Woolwich Crown Court, Darren Osborne claims to have had assistance in carrying out the 2017 Finsbury Park attack and reveals links with Welsh far-right groups.^[4]

February

• 1 February – Darren Osborne is convicted of murder for the 2017 Finsbury Park attack and is sentenced to life imprisonment.^[5]
• 6 February – 2018 Alyn and Deeside by-election: Jack Sargeant wins the by-election for the National Assembly for Wales constituency of Alyn and Deeside, triggered by the death of his father, incumbent Labour AM Carl Sargeant.^{[6] [7]}
• 17 February – Cwmllynfell is the epicentre of a 4.4 magnitude earthquake, the biggest in the UK for ten years.^[8]

March

• 1 March – Storm Emma causes widespread disruption in Wales, with heavy snowfall and strong winds in many places and the Met Office issuing a red warning and the public being advised to stay indoors if possible.^[9]
• 29 March – UK prime minister Theresa May visits South Wales as part of a nationwide tour in the run-up to Brexit.^[10]

April

• 4 April – Swimmer Jazz Carlin carries the Welsh flag at the opening ceremony of the 2018 Commonwealth Games, where Wales fields a team of 214 athletes, competing in 16 sports.^[11]
• 23 April
  • At the conference of the Wales Labour Party, First Minister Carwyn Jones announces that he will stand down later in the year.^[12]
  • Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, gives birth to a son, a third grandchild for Charles, Prince of Wales.^[13]

May

• 6 May - Cardiff City Football Club gain promotion to the Premier League, after results go their way on the final day of the football season.^[14]
• 11 May – The short list for the Wales Book of the Year award for 2018 is announced. Contenders in the various categories include Thomas Dilworth, Gwyneth Lewis, Peredur Lynch, Robert Minhinnick and Mihangel Morgan.
• 19 May – Prince Henry of Wales, younger son of the Prince of Wales, is created Duke of Sussex on his wedding day.^[15]

June

• 7 June – James Howell & Co, Cardiff's oldest surviving department store, is earmarked for closure by its owners, House of Fraser.^[16]
• 8 June – Welsh names mentioned in the Queen's 2018 Birthday Honours include novelist Ken Follett (CBE), scientist Graham Hutchings (CBE), astronomer Haley Gomez (MBE) and Paralympic athlete Menna Fitzpatrick (MBE).^[17]
• 22 June – The state government of Meghalaya announces that 22 June, the date of Thomas Jones's arrival at Sohra, will be celebrated as "Thomas Jones Day" every year.^[18]
• 27 June – Andrew R. T. Davies announces his resignation as leader of the Conservative group in the Welsh Assembly.^[19]

July

• 29 July – Cardiff cyclist Geraint Thomas becomes the first Welshman ever to win the Tour de France, finishing in 83h 17' 13".^[20]

August

• 3 August - the "fence-free" National Eisteddfod of Wales opens in Cardiff Bay.^[21]
• 10 August – AM Gareth Bennett is elected leader of UKIP in the Welsh Assembly.^[22]
• 13 August – New UKIP Assembly leader Gareth Bennett is criticised by First Minister Carwyn Jones and other Assembly members for supporting Boris Johnson in his criticism of Muslim women's dress.^[23]

September

• 6 September – Paul Davies is elected the new leader of the Conservative opposition in the Welsh Assembly.^[24]
• 10 September – Leanne Wood, campaigning for re-election as leader of Plaid Cymru, claims that the other candidates, Adam Price and Rhun ap Iorwerth, would be prepared to "strike a deal with the Conservatives".^[25]
• 28 September – Adam Price wins the election to be the new leader of Plaid Cymru; he supports the idea of a second referendum on Brexit.^[26]

October

• 5 October – In a speech at the Plaid Cymru annual conference, new leader Adam Price states that independence for Wales should be considered following Brexit.^[27]

November

• 28 November – First Minister Carwyn Jones gives evidence at the inquest into the death of AM Carl Sargeant.^[28]

December

• 3 December – "Gwenwyn", by Alffa, becomes the first Welsh language single to achieve one million plays on Spotify.^[29]
• 6 December – Mark Drakeford wins the Welsh Labour Party leadership election to become the Welsh Labour Party's new leader and front runner to take over the job of First Minister of Wales from the incumbent Carwyn Jones.^[30]
• 12 December – Mark Drakeford is elected First Minister for Wales, with 30 Assembly members' votes.^[31]
• 19 December – BBC Wales reveals the results of research, showing that Wales is receiving less benefit than some individual districts of London from the National Lottery Fund. Oswyn Hughes, head of campaigns for the National Lottery in Wales, says there are "a number of reasons" for the difference.^[32]
• 28 December – Welsh recipients of New Year's Honours are named; they include Geraint Thomas (OBE), Mike Peters (MBE), athlete Helen Jenkins (MBE) and former cricketer Matthew Maynard (MBE).^[33]

Arts and literature

National Eisteddfod of Wales

• Chair – Gruffudd Eifion Owen^[34]
• Crown – Catrin Dafydd^[35]
• Prose Medal – Manon Steffan Ros^[36]
• Gwobr Goffa Daniel Owen: Mari Williams^[37]

Welsh Awards

• Wales Book of the Year 2018^[38]
  • English language: Robert Minhinnick, Diary of the Last Man^[39]
  • Welsh language: Goronwy Wynne, Blodau Cymru: Byd y Planhigion^[40]

New books

English language

• Malcolm Nash – Not Only, But Also: My Life in Cricket^[41]
• Meic Stephens – Rhys Davies – A Writer's Life^[42]

Welsh language

• Daniel Davies – Arwyr^[43]
• Geraint Evans – Digon i'r Diwrnod
• Llwyd Owen – Pyrth Uffern^[44]
• Manon Rhys – Stafell fy Haul

Music

New albums

• Phil Campbell and the Bastard Sons – The Age Of Absurdity^[45]
• Dafydd Iwan – Ugain O'r Galon^[46]
• Manic Street Preachers – Resistance Is Futile^[47]
• Wigwam – Coelcerth^[48]

New compositions

• Paul Mealor – Symphony No 3: Illumination^[49]
• Huw Watkins – Spring^[50]

Film

• Eternal Beauty, written and directed by Craig Roberts, filmed in Wales and co-starring Robert Pugh.^[51]
• Gwen, starring Eleanor Worthington Cox, produced by Hilary Bevan Jones.^[52]

Television

• A Discovery of Witches, filmed on location in Wales and at Cardiff's Bad Wolf Studios, premiers of Sky One.^[53]

Visual arts

• 18 December – Banksy mural Season's Greetings appears in Port Talbot.^{[54] [55]}

Sport

In sports

• Association football
  • 15 January – Ryan Giggs is named as manager of the Wales national football team, succeeding Chris Coleman, who left the position in November 2017.^[56]
  • 3 November – Cardiff City F.C. lose at home to Leicester City F.C. in the visiting side's first match since the death of their owner, Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, in a helicopter crash one week earlier.^[57]
• Horse racing
  • 6 January – the postponed 2017 Welsh Grand National is run at Chepstow Racecourse and won by Raz De Maree. The winner is ridden by 16-year-old James Bowen, who becomes the youngest jockey to win the race.^[58]
  • 27 December – Elegant Escape, ridden by Tom O'Brien and trained by Colin Tizzard, wins the 2018 Welsh Grand National at Chepstow.^[59]
• 2018 Winter Olympics
  • 18 February – Wrexham's Laura Deas wins a bronze medal in the skeleton at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea.^[60]
• 2018 Commonwealth Games
  • 5 April – Para-cyclist James Ball wins Wales's first medal of the Games, a silver in the men's B&VI 1,000m time trial.^[61]
  • 6 April – Cyclist Lewis Oliva wins silver in the men's Keirin, while Gareth Irfon Evans wins Wales's first gold of the Games in the Men's 69 kg.^[62]
  • 9 April – Wales win a further three golds, two silvers and a bronze to surpass the medal total from the previous Commonwealth Games.^[63]
• 2018 Tour de France (road bicycle racing)
  • 29 July – Geraint Thomas is overall winner.
• Snooker
  • 7 May – Mark Williams wins the World Snooker Championship for the third time by defeating John Higgins 17–15 in the final.^[64]

Awards

• 12 December – Geraint Thomas wins the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award.^[65]

Broadcasting

English-language television

• Charlotte Church and Rhod Gilbert are among celebrities who participate in BBC Wales documentaries about mental health issues, linked to the "Welsh Happiness Day" project.^[66]
• Keeping Faith, the English-language version of Un Bore Mercher, is aired on BBC Wales.^[67]
• BBC Wales launches a "Festival of Funny" for the month of October, including the new series Tourist Trap, starring Sally Phillips.^[68]

English-language radio

• Jamie Owen's Wales

Welsh-language television

• Craith (7 January)^[69]

Welsh-language radio

• The BBC launches a new station, Radio Cymru 2, opening with presenters Dafydd Du and Caryl Parry Jones.^[70]

Deaths

• 4 January – Ray Thomas, 76, musician of Welsh extraction^[71]
• 7 January – Bryn Crossley, 59, jockey^[72]
• 11 January – Ednyfed Hudson Davies, 88, politician, MP for Conway (1966–1970) and Caerphilly (1979–1983).^[73] (death announced on this date)
• 25 January – Keith Pring, 74, Welsh international footballer^[74]
• 29 January – Alfred Gooding, 85, entrepreneur
• 1 March – Beth Morris, 74, actress^[75]
• 15 March – Gwilym Roberts, 89, politician^[76]
• 17 March – Nicholas Edwards, Baron Crickhowell, 84, former Secretary of State for Wales^[77]
• 18 March – Ivor Richard, Baron Richard, 85, politician and diplomat, Lord Privy Seal (1997–1998) and former ambassador to the UN^[78]
• 21 April – Les Pearce, rugby league player and coach, 94^[79]
• 23 April – Barrie Williams, football coach and manager, 79^[80]
• 1 May – Peter Temple-Morris, Baron Temple-Morris, politician, 80^[81]
• 13 May – Gareth Powell Williams, rugby union player, 63^[82]
• 14 May – Abdulrahim Abby Farah, Welsh-born Somali diplomat and politician, 98^[83]
• 18 June – Frank Vickery, playwright, 67^[84]
• 29 June – Helen Griffin, actress, playwright and screenwriter, 59^[85]
• 1 July – Julian Tudor Hart, doctor and politician, 91
• 3 July – Meic Stephens, journalist and critic, 79^[86]
• 23 July – Haydn Morgan, 81, rugby player^[87]
• 9 August – Arthur Davies, operatic tenor, 77^[88] (death announced on this date)
• 12 August – Betty Gray, table tennis player, 96.^[89]
• 1 September – Kenneth Bowen, operatic tenor, 86^[90]
• 5 September – Rachael Bland, journalist and presenter, 40 (breast cancer)^[91]
• 16 September – Tommy Best, footballer, 97^[92]
• 2 October – Ceri Peach, 78, geographer^[93]
• 10 October – Denzil Davies, 80, politician, MP for Llanelli (1970–2005).^[94]
• 19 November – John Mantle, 76, Wales rugby union and rugby league international.^[95]

Notes and References

1. Web site: National Eisteddfod 2015: Geraint Lloyd Owen to take up the role of Archdruid. 15 July 2015. WalesOnline. Siôn Morgan. 5 August 2022.
2. News: BBC News. 1 March 2016. Ifor ap Glyn is appointed new national poet of Wales. Huw Thomas. 26 May 2016.
3. News: Neil McEvoy expelled from Plaid Cymru assembly group. BBC News . 16 January 2018 . 17 January 2018.
4. Web site: Finsbury Park terror trial: Darren Osborne denies driving van and blames 'Dave' and reveals plot to kill Jeremy Corbyn. Patrick Sawer. The Telegraph. 30 January 2018. 5 February 2018.
5. Web site: Finsbury Park terror trial: Darren Osborne guilty of murder and attempted murder. Joe Tidy. Sky News. 1 February 2018. 5 February 2018.
6. Web site: Carl Sargeant death: Alyn and Deeside by-election set for February. 4 December 2017. BBC News.
7. Web site: Sacked Labour minister dies. 7 November 2017. BBC News.
8. News: Earthquake felt across parts of UK. BBC News. 17 February 2018.
9. Web site: Met Office issues RED weather warning for Wales. WalesOnline. March 2018 . 1 March 2018.
10. News: Theresa May in Wales on '12 months to Brexit' tour. James Williams. BBC News . 28 March 2018. 7 April 2018.
11. Web site: Commonwealth Games: Wales' multi-coloured shirts light up social media. BBC Sport. 4 April 2018. 7 April 2018.
12. Web site: Who will replace Carwyn Jones as the next Welsh Labour leader?. 23 April 2018. ITV News.
13. News: Royal baby: Duchess of Cambridge goes into labour. 23 April 2018. BBC News.
14. News: Celebrations as Cardiff City return to Premier League . BBC News . 6 May 2018 . 4 August 2019 .
15. Web site: Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's official royal titles have been announced . 9Honey . 19 May 2018 . 19 May 2018 .
16. Web site: House of Fraser: A history in Cardiff. 7 June 2018. BBC News.
17. Web site: The full list of people in Wales recognised in the Queen's Birthday Honours List. WalesOnline. 8 June 2018. 10 July 2018.
18. Web site: Why Celebrate Thomas Jones Day?. June 22, 2018. Lyndan Syiem. Shillong Times. 29 June 2018.
19. Web site: Welsh Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies quits. BBC News. 27 June 2018. 6 September 2018.
20. News: Cary . Tom . Tour de France 2018, stage 12: Geraint Thomas makes history on Alpe d'Huez as Welshman extends overall lead. 29 July 2018 . Daily Telegraph . 20 July 2018.
21. News: Eryl Crump . National Eisteddfod 2018: All you need to know . North Wales Live . . 4 August 2018 . 4 August 2019 .
22. News: UKIP Wales members elect Gareth Bennett as assembly leader. BBC News . 10 August 2018 . 13 August 2018.
23. Web site: War of words over 'irresponsible' and 'racist' burka comments. South Wales Argus. Ian Craig. 13 August 2018.
24. Web site: Paul Davies wins Welsh Tory assembly group leadership poll. BBC News. 6 September 2018.
25. Web site: Plaid Cymru's Leanne Wood rejects centre ground. 10 September 2018. Aled ap Dafydd. BBC News. 11 October 2018.
26. Web site: New Plaid Cymru leader: no-deal Brexit could hasten Welsh independence. 28 September 2018. Steven Morris. The Guardian. 13 October 2018.
27. Web site: Independence on the table after Brexit – Plaid's Price. 5 October 2018. BBC News. 13 October 2018.
28. Web site: Carl Sargeant 'could not be told' detail of claims, inquest hears. The Guardian. 28 November 2018 . 13 December 2018.
29. Web site: First Welsh song to hit one million Spotify plays. 3 December 2018. BBC News. 12 October 2019.
30. Web site: Welsh Labour leadership: Mark Drakeford set to be Wales' first minister. BBC News. 6 December 2018.
31. Web site: Mark Drakeford confirmed as new Welsh first minister. 12 December 2018. BBC News Wales.
32. News: Lottery good causes: Is UK lotto cash shared fairly?. Felicity Evans. BBC News . 19 December 2018 . 20 December 2018.
33. Web site: The full Queen's New Year's Honours List for 2019. WalesOnline. 28 December 2018.
34. News: Gruffudd Eifion Owen yn ennill Cadair y Brifwyl. BBC Cymru Fyw. 10 August 2018 . cy. 13 August 2018.
35. Web site: Catrin Dafydd wins the Eisteddfod Crown. 6 August 2018. Eisteddfod. 13 August 2018.
36. Web site: Manon Steffan Ros wins the 2018 Prose Medal. 8 August 2018. Eisteddfod. 13 August 2018.
37. Web site: Mari Williams wins the 2018 Daniel Owen Memorial Prize. 7 August 2018. Eisteddfod. 13 August 2018.
38. Web site: Wales Book of the Year Short List 2018. Literature Wales. 26 May 2018. 27 May 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180527023314/http://www.literaturewales.org/our-projects/wales-book-year/wales-book-year-short-list-2018-2/. dead.
39. Web site: Robert Minhinnick is Awarded Wales Book of the Year 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180705152227/http://creativecardiff.org.uk/creative-cardiff-news/robert-minhinnick-awarded-wales-book-year-2018. dead. July 5, 2018. 18 June 2018. Alys Jones. Creative Cardiff. 5 July 2018.
40. Web site: Blodau Cymru'n cipio Llyfr y Flwyddyn 2018. cy. BBC Cymru Fyw. 26 June 2018. 5 July 2018.
41. Web site: Loris Karius should take a leaf out of Malcolm Nash's book - embrace the pitiful lows as much as the brilliant highs. 30 May 2018. James Corrigan. The Telegraph. 1 August 2019.
42. Web site: Rhys Davies – A Writer's Life. gwales. 1 March 2018.
43. Web site: Y Silff Lyfrau. BBC Radio Cymru. cy. 5 November 2019.
44. Web site: Pyrth Uffern. gwales. 13 August 2018.
45. Web site: Motörhead Guitarist's Phil Campbell and the Bastard Sons Reveal Debut Album Details - Blabbermouth.net . 4 February 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181017223537/http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/motorhead-guitarists-phil-campbell-and-the-bastard-sons-reveal-debut-album-details . 17 October 2018 . dead .
46. Web site: Ugain O'r Galon. Sain. 6 August 2023.
47. Web site: Reviews for Resistance Is Futile by Manic Street Preachers. Metacritic. 4 April 2018.
48. Rhyddhau albwm cyntaf Wigwam. Wigwam releases their first album. 2024-09-02. Y Selar. 2018-08-10.
49. Web site: Illumination: Afternoon Concert. BBC Music Events. en. 2019-05-23.
50. Web site: Beethoven 9. BBC Music Events.
51. Web site: Seven world-class films and TV shows being made in Wales this year. WalesOnline. Kathryn Williams. 27 August 2018 . 20 December 2018.
52. Web site: GWEN PREMIERES at TIFF – Endor Productions. Endorproductions.co.uk. 25 July 2019.
53. Web site: When is A Discovery of Witches released on Sky One? Who is in the cast, and what's going to happen? . RadioTimes . 30 August 2018 . 24 December 2018.
54. Web site: Is this the work of Banksy?. 2018-12-19. ITV News. en. 2018-12-19.
55. Web site: Banksy confirms he's behind new mural. Robinson. Matthew. 2018-12-19. CNN Style. 2018-12-19.
56. Web site: Ryan Giggs: Manchester United legend named Wales manager. BBC Sport. 25 January 2018. 15 January 2018.
57. News: Leicester tributes: Fans and players unite at Cardiff on emotional day. BBC Sport . 4 November 2018.
58. News: Welsh Grand National: James Bowen on Raz De Maree becomes youngest jockey to win. BBC Sport . 6 January 2018.
59. Web site: 2018 Welsh Grand National: Elegant Escape wins at Chepstow . BBC Sport . 27 December 2018.
60. Web site: Wrexham's Laura Deas revels in 'incredible' skeleton bronze medal at Winter Olympics. The Leader. 18 February 2018 . 20 February 2018.
61. News: Commonwealth Games: Para-cyclist James Ball wins Wales' first medal. BBC Sport . 5 April 2018.
62. News: Commonwealth Games: Lewis Oliva wins cycling silver for Wales. BBC Sport . 6 April 2018.
63. Web site: Commonwealth Games: Three golds, two silvers and bronze for Wales. BBC Sport. 9 April 2018.
64. Web site: World Championship: Mark Williams beats John Higgins to win third title . 7 May 2018 . . Shamoon . Hafez . 14 May 2019.
65. News: Sports Personality of the Year winner: Geraint Thomas triumphs after Tour de France success. BBC Sport . 16 December 2018. 16 December 2018.
66. Web site: Feeling the January blues? BBC Wales launches Welsh Happiness Day. BBC Wales. 15 January 2018. 31 January 2018.
67. Web site: S4C Press release: Three drama series to fire the imagination... Bang; Un Bore Mercher; Craith.. www.s4c.wales. 10 August 2017. 9 April 2018.
68. Web site: A month of comedy comes to BBC Wales. 18 September 2018. BBC Media Centre. 13 October 2018.
69. Web site: Filming starts on new BBC Wales and S4C crime series: Hidden/Craith. BBC. 1 August 2017. 6 January 2018.
70. Web site: BBC launches new Welsh language Radio Cymru 2 station. 29 January 2018. BBC News. 3 May 2018.
71. Ray Thomas, Moody Blues Flautist and Founding Member, Dead at 76. Daniel. Kreps. . 7 January 2018.
72. Web site: Kings Glory and Nepula rider Bryn Crossley dies at 59. Racing Post. 11 January 2018.
73. https://www.bbc.co.uk/cymrufyw/42649137 Y cyn-AS Llafur ac SDP Ednyfed Hudson Davies wedi marw
74. Web site: OBITUARY – Keith Pring 1943–2018.
75. Web site: Swansea actress who starred in top TV shows across three decades has died. Robert. Dalling. 13 March 2018.
76. Web site: Gwilym Roberts obituary. 17 April 2018. Julia Langdon. . 24 May 2019.
77. News: Obituary: Lord Crickhowell. BBC News . 19 March 2018.
78. Web site: Former Labour Cabinet Minister Lord Richard dies aged 85. 19 March 2018 .
79. Web site: Former Wales head coach Les Pearce dies aged 94.
80. News: Barrie Williams, football manager – obituary . 8 September 2019 . . 15 May 2018.
81. News: Former MP Peter Temple-Morris dies aged 80 . BBC News . 2 May 2018 . 2 May 2018 .
82. News: Former Wales rugby forward Williams dies. BBC News . 13 May 2018.
83. Web site: Diplomat Abdulrahim Abby Farah passes away at 98. 2018-05-15. 2018-05-15. https://web.archive.org/web/20180515112336/http://radiokulmiye.net/2018/05/14/diplomat-abdulrahim-abby-farah-passes-away-at-98/. dead.
84. News: Beloved playwright Frank Vickery dies. BBC News . 19 June 2018.
85. News: Swansea-born Twin Town actress Helen Griffin dies, aged 59 . 30 June 2018 . BBC News . 30 June 2018.
86. News: Prolific Welsh journalist and scholar Meic Stephens dies . 3 July 2018 . BBC Wales . 3 July 2018.
87. Web site: Haydn Morgan: Former Wales and British and Irish Lions flanker dies aged 81. 23 July 2018. BBC Sport. 24 May 2019.
88. Web site: Arthur Davies (1941–2018) – English National Opera. www.eno.org.
89. News: Table tennis 'warrior' Betty Gray dies aged 96 – BBC News . BBC News . 13 August 2018 . 2018-10-23.
90. https://www.bbc.com/cymrufyw/45390156 Marw'r tenor Kenneth Bowen
91. News: BBC presenter Rachael Bland dies aged 40. BBC News . 5 September 2018.
92. Web site: Tommy Best, Hereford United striker, dies. Hereford Times. 17 September 2018. 18 September 2018.
93. http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/thetimes-uk/obituary.aspx?pid=190447572 Professor Ceri Peach
94. Web site: Denzil Davies, long-serving former Llanelli MP, has died. Liz. Perkins. 11 October 2018.
95. Web site: John Mantle: Dual code rugby international dies aged 76 . BBC Sport . 19 November 2018.