This article is about the particular significance of the year 1973 to Wales and its people.
Incumbents
Secretary of State for Wales – Peter Thomas Archbishop of Wales – Gwilym Williams, Bishop of Bangor Archdruid of the National Eisteddfod of Wales – Brinli
Events 10 February - A special conference of the Trades Union Congress is held at Llandrindod Wells as part of the campaign to establish a Wales TUC.University of Wales Press: The Wales TUC, 1974-2004 April - Elections take place to the new county councils of Wales April – The first Welsh-language papur bro community newspaper, Y Dinesydd, is founded. 10 May – Elections take place to the new Wales district councils, with big gains for the Labour Party in South Wales. May – Sony opens its factory in Bridgend, the first major Japanese investment in Wales. 15 May – The Llyn Brianne dam is officially opened by Princess Alexandra. 17 July – Sixteen-year-old Sandra Newton is found murdered at Tonmawr. 16 September – Sixteen-year-olds Geraldine Hughes and Pauline Floyd are found murdered at Llandarcy. Their murders, along with that of Sandra Newton in July, will remain unsolved for 29 years.BBC News Wales 23 October – Professor Brian Josephson wins the Nobel Prize for Physics. During the year, there are 424 road deaths in Wales – an all-time record. Drilling for oil and gas begins off the coast of Wales. A fourth oil refinery opens at Milford Haven.
Arts and literature The Welsh Philharmonia Orchestra is founded. Theatr Ardudwy at Coleg Harlech, designed by Colwyn Foulkes & Partners, opens. Sir Richard Armstrong becomes conductor of Welsh National Opera. Joe Strummer begins his studies at Newport College of Art. Welsh actress Angharad Rees marries Christopher Cazenove.
Awards
National Eisteddfod of Wales (held in Ruthin) National Eisteddfod of Wales: Chair – Alan Llwyd National Eisteddfod of Wales: Crown – Alan Llwyd National Eisteddfod of Wales: Prose Medal – Emyr Roberts National Eisteddfod of Wales: Drama Medal – Urien Wiliam
New books English language Leo Abse – Private Member Gwynfor Evans – Wales Can Win Richard Hughes – The Wooden Shepherdess Emlyn Williams – Emlyn
Welsh language Huw Lloyd Edwards – Y Llyffantod Jane Edwards – Tyfu W. J. Gruffydd (Elerydd) – Cerddi'r Llygad Moses Glyn Jones – Y Ffynnon Fyw T. Llew Jones - Barti Ddu Judith Maro - Atgofion Haganah Caradog Prichard - Afal Drwg Adda Gomer M. Roberts - Cloc y Capel
New drama Islwyn Ffowc Elis - Harris
Music 23 November - Max Boyce records his legendary Live at Treorchy show at Treorchy Rugby Club. Karl Jenkins' first album with Soft Machine, Six, wins the Melody Maker British Jazz Album of the Year award. Jenkins also wins the miscellaneous musical instrument award. Grace Williams – Ave Maris Stella and Fairest of Stars
Visual arts Ivor Roberts-Jones – Statue of Winston Churchill, Parliament Square, unveiled on 1 November by Lady Churchill.
Film
Welsh-language films None
English-language films Holiday on the Buses filmed on location at Pontins holiday camp, Prestatyn
Broadcasting The Labour Party publishes a study arguing that independent television arrangements in the UK are causing non Welsh-speaking residents to lose their Welsh identity.
Welsh-language television Youth music programme Disc a Dawn ends its six-year run, to be replaced the following year by Gwerin 74, a folk music show. Strim, Stram Strellach with Marged Esli.
English-language television Fish (with John Ogwen) Hang out your Brightest Colours, controversial documentary by Kenneth Griffith Philip Madoc makes a memorable appearance as a U-boat captain in Dad's Army.
Sport Athletics – Cardiff Amateur Athletic Club wins the British Athletics League Championship for the second time. Cycling – The Welsh Cycling Union is formed. Horse racing – Geoff Lewis wins both the Epsom Oaks and the 1,000 Guineas on "Mysterious". Rugby union – Japan plays its first rugby match in Europe at Penygraig in the Rhondda Valley. Snooker – Ray Reardon wins his second World Championship title. Berwyn Price wins BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year.
Births 20 January – Stephen Crabb, politician (born in Scotland) 15 February - Adrian Lewis Morgan, actor 27 February - Mark Taylor, rugby union player and manager 24 April - Gabby Logan, television presenter 3 May - Jamie Baulch, athlete (born in Nottingham) 10 May – Ryan Nicholls, footballer 29 May – Lee Jones, footballer 4 July – Bradley Dredge, golfer 6 August – Donna Lewis, singer 22 August – Lee Dainton, skateboarder 17 September – Jason Mohammad, radio and television sports presenter 6 October – Ioan Gruffudd, actor 9 October – Sian Evans, singer 3 November – Mark Evans, comedy scriptwriter 29 November – Ryan Giggs, footballer 25 December – Ewen MacIntosh, comic actor (died 2024)
Deaths 8 January – Sir David Hughes Parry, professor of law and university administrator, 80D. W. Logan: Parry, Sir David Hughes (1893–1973), rev. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, Sept 2010, accessed 30 October 2012 11 January – Vernon Morris, cricketer, 78 30 January – Trystan Edwards, architectural critic, town planner and amateur cartographer, 88 12 March – Willie Llewellyn, Wales international rugby player, 94 19 March – Sir Clement Price Thomas, surgeon, 79 23 May – Kenneth Allott, poet and criticIan Sansom, ‘Allott, Kenneth Cyril Bruce (1912–1973)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, Jan 2015 accessed 4 March 2017 29 July – Guy Morgan, rugby player, 65 9 August – Donald Peers, singer, 66Trevor Herbert, 'Peers, Donald Rhys Hubert (1909–1973)', Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, May 2011; online edn, September 2011 accessed 16 April 2017 11 August Johnnie Clay, Test cricketer, 75 Gil Morgan, rugby league player, 65 17 August – Elena Puw Morgan, novelist, 73 21 September – C. H. Dodd, theologian, 89 8 October – Evan Tom Davies, mathematician, 69 3 November – Melville Richards, academic, 63 4 November – Billy Williams, dual-code international rugby player, 67 16 November – Dai Hiddlestone, Wales international rugby player, 83 24 November – Brigadier Hugh Llewellyn Glyn Hughes, soldier and medical administrator, 81 28 November – Anne Griffith-Jones, educationist, 83 (in Malaysia) date unknown - Morris Meredith Williams, painter and illustrator
See also 1973 in Northern Ireland
References