1977 in Wales

Incumbents

• Secretary of State for Wales – John Morris
• Archbishop of Wales – Gwilym Williams, Bishop of Bangor
• Archdruid of the National Eisteddfod of Wales – Bryn

Events

• 6 January - Roy Jenkins becomes President of the European Commission.
• 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.
• date unknown
  • The Welsh Health Common Services Authority is created.
  • Opening of the bilingual secondary school, Ysgol Uwchradd Bodedern, on Anglesey.

Arts and literature

Awards

• Ian Parrott receives the John Edwards Memorial Award from the Guild for the Promotion of Welsh Music.
• Jonathan Pryce wins a Tony award for his performance on Broadway in The Comedians.
• 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)

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.

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.

Welsh-language television

• Glas Y Dorlan (sitcom)
• Sioncyn Sboncyn
• Siangdifang

English-language television

• Kilvert's Diary

Architecture

• Castell Gyrn (Denbighshire) is built by John Taylor of Chapman Taylor architects for himself.

Sport

• Athletics - The first UK Athletics Championships are held at Cwmbran.
• BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year – Phil Bennett
• 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, defeating Ray Reardon in an all-Welsh final.

Births

• 3 February - Mike Powell, cricketer
• 26 February - Shane Williams, rugby player
• 4 March - Gareth Wyatt, rugby player
• 16 March - Steve Jones, TV presenter
• 18 March - Alex Jones, TV presenter
• 10 April - David Phelps, sport shooter
• 12 April - Jason Price, footballer
• 20 April - Robert Wilfort, actor
• 27 April - Edward Elwyn Jones, organist and conductor
• 30 April - Robert Evans, playwright
• 13 August - Hefin David, politician (died 2025)
• 11 September
  • Jonny Buckland, English-born rock musician
  • Matthew Stevens, snooker player
• 18 November - Deiniol Jones, rugby player

Deaths

• 10 February - Grace Williams, composer, 70
• 11 February - Thomas Ifor Rees, diplomat, 86
• 22 February - Hubert William Lewis, Victoria Cross recipient, 80
• 5 March - Tom Pryce, Formula One racing driver, 27
• 20 March - Glyn Gething, rugby player, 84
• 25 March - Aubrey Williams, army officer, 88
• 30 March - Sir William Emrys Williams, 80
• 5 April - Meirion Thomas, botanist and plant physiologist, 82
• 18 April - Irene Steer, Olympic swimmer, 87
• 22 April - Ryan Davies, entertainer, 40
• 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
• 10 August - Watcyn Thomas, rugby player, 71
• 16 August - (at Colchester) Hugh Iorys Hughes, engineer, 75
• 27 September - Llewelyn Wyn Griffith, author of Up to Mametz, 87
• 1 November - Jim Sullivan, rugby league player, 73
• 11 December - Neil Williams, Canadian-born aerobatics pilot, 33
• date unknown - Cecil Smith, footballer

References

References

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