2006 in Wales
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
See also: 2005 in Wales, other events of 2006, 2007 in Wales and the list of years in Wales.
Contents |
[edit] Incumbents
- Prince of Wales - Charles, Prince of Wales
- Princess of Wales - Camilla Parker Bowles (does not use title)
- First Minister - Rhodri Morgan
- Presiding Officer of the National Assembly for Wales - Dafydd Elis-Thomas
- Secretary of State for Wales - Peter Hain
- Archbishop of Wales - Barry Morgan (Bishop of Llandaff)
[edit] Events
- January 8 - Four members of Rhyl Cycling Club are killed in a road accident near Abergele.
- February - At its spring conference, Plaid Cymru announces several changes to its public image. It is announced that "Plaid" will be used as the party's name, although "Plaid Cymru - The Party of Wales" remains the official title. The party's colours are changed to yellow from the traditional green and red, and the party logo is changed from the 'triban' used since 1933 to a yellow Welsh poppy (Meconopsis cambrica). Ieuan Wyn Jones is designated party leader.
- February 13 - Gwenno Teifi Ffransis, granddaughter of Gwynfor Evans, becomes the first Welsh language protestor to be sent to jail since 1995. She is sentenced to five days imprisonment for refusing to pay damages imposed by a court for damaging Radio Carmarthenshire's Narberth studio in protest over its lack of Welsh broadcasts.
- February 16 - Julien MacDonald and some of his models are pelted with flour bombs by animal rights campaigners for the use of fur in his fashion designs.
- March 1 - The Queen opens the new Senedd building in Cardiff.
- March 13 - Dafydd Wigley announces that he is considering a political comeback.
- April 5 - Legendary singer Gene Pitney is found dead in his Cardiff hotel room after an outstanding concert performance at St David's Hall.
- April 16 - The first Welsh International Harp Festival opens at Caernarfon.
- May 7 - Russell T. Davies wins the Dennis Potter Award at the BAFTA television awards ceremony.
- May 29 - Max Boyce headlines at a concert in Pontypridd to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Welsh national anthem. Also appearing are Rhod Gilbert, Mike Peters, Sian Cothi and Hayley Westenra.
- June 9 - Rhodri Morgan opens Anglesey Coastal Path.
- June 17 - Lynn Davies is awarded the CBE.
- August 5 - The 2006 National Eisteddfod of Wales opens in Swansea.
- September 15 - The Conservative Party in Wales adopts a sessile oak as its new emblem.
- September 26 - For the first time in a Welsh court, the mother of a murder victim is allowed to make a statement following the conviction of her daughter's killer.
- September 28 - Health minister Brian Gibbons admits that the NHS Wales is £100 million in debt.
- October 12 - The Automatic apologise publicly for trashing the GMTV set, excusing themselves on the grounds that they were still drunk from the previous night and had only a few minutes' notice that they were due to perform on the show.
- November - It becomes known that the Prince of Wales has purchased a farm in Carmarthenshire for his personal use and letting to holidaymakers. It is the first house he has ever bought in Wales.
[edit] Arts and literature
[edit] Awards
- National Eisteddfod of Wales: Chair - Gwynfor ab Ifor
- National Eisteddfod of Wales: Crown - Eigra Lewis Roberts
- National Eisteddfod of Wales: Prose Medal - Fflur Dafydd
- Wales Book of the Year:
- English language: Robert Minhinnick - To Babel and Back
- Welsh language: Rhys Evans - Gwynfor: Rhag Pob Brad
- Dylan Thomas Award: Rachel Trezise
[edit] New books
[edit] Music
- Adequate 7 - Here On Earth
- The Automatic - Not Accepted Anywhere
- People in Planes - As Far As The Eye Can See...
[edit] Film
- Catherine Zeta-Jones is cast as Hollywood star Lana Turner in the film Stompanato (due for release in 2007).
- Ioan Gruffudd plays William Wilberforce in Michael Apted's new film, Amazing Grace.
- Jonathan Pryce begins filming Pirates of the Caribbean 3.
[edit] Broadcasting
- Michael Sheen stars as Kenneth Williams in Fantabulosa, Nero in the drama-documentary series Ancient Rome: the Rise and Fall of an Empire, and H. G. Wells in H G Wells: War with the World.
- Huw Edwards presents a St David's Day drama-documentary on the career of Owain Glyndŵr.
- The new series of Doctor Who is filmed in Wales by BBC Wales and produced by Russell T. Davies. Davies also produces Torchwood, a spin-off series featuring John Barrowman.
- Andrew Davies's adaptation of Bleak House for the BBC wins several awards at the annual BAFTA ceremony in May.
- Aled Jones leaves Classic FM to become a BBC radio presenter.
[edit] Sport
- January 1 - Athlete Timothy Benjamin, currently the UK's top 400m runner, announces that he will not be fully fit for the 2006 Commonwealth Games.
- February 13 - Wales rugby union coach Mike Ruddock announces his shock resignation.
- March 5 - Joe Calzaghe defeats Jeff Lacy to retain the IBF world super middleweight boxing championship.
- March 10 - Ian Woosnam is appointed "ambassador" for Welsh golf in the run up to the 2010 Ryder Cup, to be held at the Celtic Manor Resort near Newport.
- March 16 - Swimmer David Davies wins a bronze medal on the first day's competition in the 2006 Commonwealth Games at Melbourne, Australia.
- March 20 - Sprinter Christian Malcolm pulls a hamstring in the 100m heats and is forced to withdraw from the Games.
- March 26 - Team Wales completes the Commonwealth Games having met and surpassed its target of 18 medals. The team won 3 gold, 5 silver and 11 bronze medals in all.
- May - Owing to the late completion of Wembley Stadium, the FA Cup Final is held at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium for the sixth year in a row.
- October 4 - The Football Association of Wales signs two-year sponsorship deal with Welsh drinks and hospitality company Brains.
- October 10 - It is announced that a bust of the former Wales, Leeds and Juventus football star John Charles is to be put on display at Swansea Liberty Stadium.
- October 11 - Cardiff Athletic Stadium wins the Club Future Partnership of the Year 2006 Cup from UK Athletics for its continued partnership with other organisations throughout the city and its support of events and athletes.
- October 14 - Boxing: Joe Calzaghe successfully defends his WBO/IBF World Super-Middleweight title defence against Sakio Bika.
- October 15. Cardiff Marathon 2006
- October 29 - A record 1,500 runners yesterday took part in the 25th National Trust Snowdonia Marathon. The winner for the fifth time is Dennis Walmsley.
- November 2 - Golf: The team of Rhys Davies, Nigel Edwards and Llewellyn Matthews takes Wales to fourth place at the World Amateur Team Championships in Stelle.
- November 4 - Rugby Union: Wales draw with Australia in the first Autumn International Test Match of 2006.
- November 18-19 Cycling: International Sprint Omnium takes place at the Wales National Velodrome in Newport, Monmouthshire.
[edit] Births
[edit] Deaths
- January 5 - Merlyn Rees, Labour politician
- January 15 - Glyn Berry, Welsh-born Canadian diplomat
- February 5 - Peter Philp, dramatist and antiques expert
- February 21 - Stefan Terlezki, politician
- March 13 - Roy Clarke, footballer
- April 6 - Leslie Norris, poet and author
- April 19 - Ken Jones, rugby player
- April 25 - Peter Law, politician
- June 2 - Leon Pownall, Wrexham-born actor
- June 25 - Kenneth Griffith, actor and documentary maker
- August 30 - Glenn Ford, Canadian actor of Welsh parentage
- September 1 - Sir Kyffin Williams, artist, 88
- September 27 - Tommy Harris, former rugby league player, 79
- November 18 - Keith Rowlands, rugby union player and administrator, 70
- November 20 - Dr William R. P. George, solicitor and poet, 94
