2021 in Wales

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

2021
in
Wales
Centuries:
Decades:
See also:List of years in Wales
Timeline of Welsh history
2021 in
The United Kingdom
England
Scotland
Elsewhere

Events from the year 2021 in Wales.

Incumbents[edit]

Events[edit]

January[edit]

  • 2 JanuarySouth Wales Police report that they received 240 reports of COVID-19 breaches on New Year's Eve and fined 43 people. During December as a whole, 430 fixed penalty notices were issued to people in breach of the restrictions.[4]
  • 7 January – A mountain rescue team is called out after police become stuck in snow while attending a car accident caused by a vehicle driving through road blocks on Moel Famau, Flintshire.[5]
  • 8 January – The Welsh government announces that COVID restrictions will be extended and strengthened, whilst a decision has been made not to reopen Welsh schools before half-term unless there is a significant fall in COVID cases.[6]
  • 20 January
    • Storm Christoph leads to severe flooding in North Wales, particularly at Bangor-on-Dee and Ruthin. In Denbighshire, a bridge over the River Clwyd collapses.[7]
    • An investigation is launched into an incident that took place on 8 December 2020, when several Senedd members consumed alcohol on the premises whilst a ban on the sale, supply and consumption of alcohol in licensed premises was in force throughout Wales.[8]
  • 23 JanuaryPaul Davies resigns as Leader of the Opposition in the Welsh Parliament, following an incident involving possible breaches of Welsh COVID-19 regulations.[9] He is replaced by Andrew R. T. Davies.

February[edit]

  • 6 February – Wales passes England's progress record for COVID-19 vaccinations as 17.7% of the population are reported to have received their first vaccinations.[10]
  • 7 FebruaryTransport for Wales Rail begins operations within the Wales & Borders franchise.[11]
  • 10 February – Hollywood celebrities Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney complete a takeover of Wrexham F.C., with fans' approval.[12]
  • 12 February
    • Wales becomes the first of the home countries to meet the target of offering COVID-19 vaccinations to all residents and staff in adult care homes, frontline health and social care workers, people aged 70 and over, and clinically vulnerable individuals.[13] Mark Drakeford comments: "I'm just anxious to avoid the narrative that it is somehow a competition between UK nations... the contest is between the injection and the infection... We are the first nation in the UK to have reached this milestone, other nations will follow in the next couple of days. We're not in competition with one another. Every part of the UK is working as hard as it can to get to these milestones."
    • Archaeologists announce that they have identified the Waun Mawn stone circle as the possible original location of some of the bluestones now standing at Stonehenge.[14]

March[edit]

  • 5 March – A street in Treorchy is cordoned off by police, following a stabbing incident in which one person is killed and two others injured.[15]
  • 8 March – A recording is shown on S4C of Wales First Minister Mark Drakeford describing UK prime minister Boris Johnson as "really, really awful" during a meeting in December 2020.[16] Later in the TV programme he says: "The world through Boris Johnson's eyes is so different to the world that people in Wales see. It's difficult sometimes to understand where he's coming from and why he's doing what he's doing."
  • 21 March – A riot involving over 100 people takes place on a traveller site at Shirenewton in Cardiff. Several people are stabbed.[17]

April[edit]

May[edit]

  • 6 May
  • 9 MayPlaid Cymru and Welsh Labour are confirmed as having held the PCC positions in Dyfed-Powys Police and Gwent Police respectively, whilst Labour take the North Wales Police commissioner position from Plaid Cymru.[26]
  • 20 May – Violence breaks out in an area of Swansea, involving about 100 people, triggered during a vigil for a local teenager who died suddenly two days earlier.[27]
  • 25 MayRob Roberts, MP for Delyn, has the Conservative whip withdrawn and is suspended from the House of Commons after an independent expert panel endorses claims of sexual harassment against him.[28]
  • 30 MayPublic Health Wales reveal the results of a study showing that, despite Wales having the lowest COVID infection rate of any of the four countries of the United Kingdom, an increasing number of people are not complying with COVID guidelines.[29]

June[edit]

July[edit]

August[edit]

  • 2 August
    • Three people are arrested after the discovery of a child's body in a river in the Bridgend area.[39]
    • A reduced National Eisteddfod of Wales (Eisteddfod Amgen) begins, promoted by the BBC.[40]
  • 7 August – COVID-19 restrictions in Wales are scheduled to revert to "level zero".[41]
  • 10 AugustStephen Cottrell, the Archbishop of York, whilst stating his approval for the principle of devolution, suggests that Wales and Scotland should sing "God Save The Queen" before sports matches as well as their own anthems.[42]

September[edit]

October[edit]

November[edit]

December[edit]

Arts and literature[edit]

National Eisteddfod of Wales[edit]

Awards[edit]

New books[edit]

English language[edit]

Welsh language[edit]

Music[edit]

New albums[edit]

New compositions[edit]

Film[edit]

Broadcasting[edit]

English language[edit]

Welsh language television[edit]

Welsh language radio[edit]

  • Cefn y Rhwyd (radio)[83]
  • Pod Rhod on Radio Aber (Welsh and English)[84]

Awards[edit]

Sport[edit]

Deaths[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Rt Hon Mark Drakeford MS:First Minister of Wales". Gov.Wales. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  2. ^ "Myrddin ap Dafydd elected Archdruid". Eisteddfod Wales. 7 July 2018. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  3. ^ Huw Thomas (1 March 2016). "Ifor ap Glyn is appointed new national poet of Wales". BBC News. Retrieved 26 May 2016.
  4. ^ "Coronavirus: Police fine 43 people on New Year's Eve". South Wales Argus. 2 January 2021.
  5. ^ "Lockdown: Police get stuck in snow stopping rule-breakers". BBC News. 8 January 2021. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  6. ^ "Covid: Wales' schools and colleges shut until half term unless cases fall". BBC News. 8 January 2021. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  7. ^ "Storm Christoph: Two severe flood warnings and homes evacuated in Wales". BBC News Wales. 21 January 2021. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  8. ^ "Senedd alcohol row: PM 'expects above and beyond' on Covid". BBC News Wales. 20 January 2021. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  9. ^ "Tory Senedd leader Paul Davies quits over alcohol row". BBC News. 23 January 2021. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  10. ^ "Covid vaccinations: Wales leads the UK on first vaccine dose rate". BBC News. 29 January 2021. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
  11. ^ Welsh Government Renationlises Train Operations Modern Railways issue 867 December 2020 page 10
  12. ^ Chris Robertson (10 February 2021). "Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney complete takeover of non-league Wrexham". Sky News. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  13. ^ "Drakeford: Astonishing efforts led Wales to reach Covid-19 vaccine target". Evening Express. 12 February 2021.
  14. ^ Dalya Alberge (12 February 2021). "Dramatic discovery links Stonehenge to its original site – in Wales". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  15. ^ "Teenager who died after 'serious incident' in Treorchy named as Wenjing Xu". ITV News. 6 March 2021. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
  16. ^ "Covid: Boris Johnson is awful, says Mark Drakeford". BBC News. 8 March 2021. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
  17. ^ Philip Dewey (6 December 2021). "Rioter led hundreds of people to attack family at traveller site in Cardiff". WalesOnline. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
  18. ^ "Covid: Party held in Cardiff Bay despite restrictions". WalesOnline. 2 April 2021. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
  19. ^ "Covid: Moderna vaccine UK rollout begins in Wales". BBC News. 7 April 2021. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
  20. ^ Stewart, Matthew (11 April 2021). "Anthony Hopkins: How long was each of his Oscar-nominated performances?". Gold Derby. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
  21. ^ "Oscars 2021: Anthony Hopkins accepts award from Welsh countryside". BBC News. 26 April 2021.
  22. ^ "Wales Bill (Dates)" (PDF). publications.parliament.uk. Retrieved 7 October 2016.
  23. ^ Ruth Mosalski. "Senedd Election 2021: Labour wins half the seats in the Welsh Parliament". WalesOnline. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  24. ^ Greg Heffer. "Election results: Labour remains in power in Wales after winning working Senedd majority". Sky News. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  25. ^ "Electoral Commission | Police and Crime Commissioner elections". www.electoralcommission.org.uk.
  26. ^ "Election 2021: Labour gain police commissioner in north Wales". BBC News. 9 May 2021.
  27. ^ Steven Morris (21 May 2021). "Police in Swansea vow to take 'robust action' after riots erupt at vigil". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
  28. ^ Heather Stewart (25 May 2021). "Tory MP Rob Roberts faces Commons suspension over sexual harassment breach". The Guardian. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  29. ^ "Covid in Wales: Mixed message fears as fewer stick to rules". BBC News. 30 May 2021. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  30. ^ Benjamin Wright (11 June 2021). "Queen's Birthday Honours List 2021: All the Welsh people honoured". WalesOnline. Retrieved 12 June 2021.
  31. ^ Brooke Boucher (19 June 2021). "Penarth host to first live classical music fest in lockdown". South Wales Argus. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  32. ^ "Dry spell reveals ghostly reminder of Snowdonia lake's war-time tragedies". Daily Post. 20 July 2021. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
  33. ^ Corrie David (21 July 2021). "Sixteen-year-old boy arrested at Barry Island as witnesses report 150 youths gathering and drinking". WalesOnline. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
  34. ^ "All Welsh NHS staff to get 3% pay rise". BBC News Wales. 21 July 2021. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
  35. ^ Elis Sandford (24 July 2021). "Anti-lockdown protests outside Mark Drakeford's house". South Wales Argus. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
  36. ^ Carwyn Jones (30 July 2021). "Carwyn Jones on 'sinister' protest at home of Mark Drakeford". The National. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
  37. ^ "Slate Industry of North Wales". UNESCO. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
  38. ^ "Wales' slate landscape wins World Heritage status". BBC News. 28 July 2021. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
  39. ^ Steven Morris (2 August 2021). "Tributes to boy 'who lit up world' after arrests over death in Wales". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
  40. ^ "Eisteddfod AmGen 2021". Eisteddfod. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  41. ^ Ffion Lewis (2 August 2021). "Covid rule changes in Wales: The big differences expected this week as nearly all restrictions to go". WalesOnline. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
  42. ^ "Archbishop of York calls for Wales to sing God Save the Queen before sports matches". Nation Cymru. 10 August 2021. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
  43. ^ "Written Statement: National Library of Wales – Appointment of Interim President". gov.wales. 13 September 2021. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
  44. ^ "Betty Campbell: Statue of Welsh black heroine unveiled". BBC News. 29 September 2021. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
  45. ^ "Aberavon vicar sacked for having indecent images of children". BBC News. 7 October 2021. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
  46. ^ "Brains Brewery: Cardiff firm puts 99 pubs up for sale". BBC News. 8 October 2021. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
  47. ^ Sion Barry (8 October 2021). "Brains has put nearly 100 pubs up for sale with a £87m plus asking price". BusinessLive. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
  48. ^ Cathy Owen; Ruth Mosalski (15 October 2021). "The Queen visits Wales for the first time in five years". WalesOnline. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
  49. ^ "Emiliano Sala: David Henderson pleads guilty to flight charge". BBC News. 19 October 2021. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
  50. ^ "Rakie Ayola, Matthew Rhys and Ant & Dec to present at BAFTA Cymru 2021 Awards". BAFTA. 21 October 2021. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
  51. ^ "Severn Tunnel: Trains cancelled as flooding causes closure". BBC News. 30 October 2021. Retrieved 1 November 2021.
  52. ^ Andrew Nuttall (31 October 2021). "Three people dead and fourth fighting for life after paddleboarding tragedy in Welsh river". North Wales Live. Retrieved 1 November 2021.
  53. ^ "Wales weather: Landslide wrecks Nefyn road after heavy rain". BBC News. 30 October 2021. Retrieved 1 November 2021.
  54. ^ Siriol Griffiths (31 October 2021). "Halloween solar flare in Wales leads to power outage". The National. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
  55. ^ "Injured man rescued from cave after being trapped for more than two days doing "remarkably well"". ITV. 8 November 2021. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
  56. ^ "Plaid Cymru members back Senedd deal with Labour". BBC News. 28 November 2021. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
  57. ^ "Ifan Phillips: Ospreys hooker reveals he had leg amputation following road traffic collision". BBC Sport. 19 December 2021. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
  58. ^ "Church in Wales: Bishop Andy John elected new Archbishop". BBC News. 6 December 2021. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
  59. ^ "Former Penweddig head wins Eisteddfod chair". Cambrian News. 6 August 2021. Archived from the original on 17 August 2021. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  60. ^ a b "Y dwbl i Lleucu Roberts wrth ennill y Fedal Ryddiaith". BBC Cymru Fyw (in Welsh). 5 August 2021. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
  61. ^ "Gareth Evans-Jones yn ennill y Fedal Ddrama" (in Welsh). Eisteddfod Genedlaethol. 2 August 2021.
  62. ^ a b "Wales Book of the Year". Literature Wales. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
  63. ^ "Dylan Thomas Prize: New Yorker Raven Leilani wins accolade". BBC News. 13 May 2021. Retrieved 14 May 2021.
  64. ^ Adam Somerset (14 January 2021). "Looking Out by Peter Lord". Wales Arts Review. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  65. ^ "A Last Respect: The Roland Mathias Prize Anthology of Contemporary Welsh Poetry". The Hours Bookshop. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
  66. ^ "Jim, The Life and Work of the Rt. Hon. James Griffiths". Gwales. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  67. ^ "Pembrokeshire Murders, The". Gwales. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
  68. ^ "Troeon/Turnings". Gwales. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
  69. ^ "Rhwng Dau Olau". Gwales. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  70. ^ Jones, Damian (15 January 2021). "Tom Jones announces new album with Radiohead-esque single 'Talking Reality Television Blues'". NME. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
  71. ^ Millar, Mark (10 December 2020). "BONNIE TYLER announces the release of her brand-new studio album 'The Best Is Yet To Come', out on February 26th, 2021". XS Noize. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
  72. ^ "Gwledd - The Feast". Ffilm Cymru. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
  73. ^ "Michael Smiley, Annes Elwy wrap UK thriller 'The Toll'". Screen Daily. 10 December 2018. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
  74. ^ "Kayleigh Llewellyn on In My Skin: 'I lived in fear of kids finding out about my mum'". The Guardian. 29 March 2020. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
  75. ^ Rebecca Nicholson (17 May 2021). "The Pact review – Wales's Big Little Lies will have you on tenterhooks". The Guardian. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  76. ^ "ITV commissions true crime drama The Pembrokeshire Murders (w/t) starring Luke Evans". ITV Press Center. 20 January 2020. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  77. ^ Anita Singh (4 January 2021). "Staged, series 2 episode 1 review: a Michael Palin cameo lifted this backslapping comedy". The Telegraph. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  78. ^ "The Story of Welsh Art". BBC Two. 1 March 2021. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
  79. ^ Deacon, Thomas (25 March 2021). "Cardiff Castle transformed into film set for new TV drama Becoming Elizabeth". Media Wales. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
  80. ^ "Second series of Yr Amgueddfa moves to the countryside" (press release). S4C.
  81. ^ Elin Lenny (11 February 2021). "Dylanwad y cyfandir ar ddrama diweddaraf S4C" (PDF) (Press release) (in Welsh). S4C. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  82. ^ Laura Davies (2 October 2021). "Welsh detective drama Craith returns to our screens for its final series". WalesOnline. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
  83. ^ Rhys Gregory (2 March 2021). "A new Welsh language football programme launched". Wales247. Retrieved 8 January 2022.
  84. ^ "A new English radio programme on the Welsh language and culture". Ceredigion County Council. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
  85. ^ "Winners announced: 2021 British Academy Cymru Awards". BAFTA Cymru. 24 October 2021. Archived from the original on 18 November 2021. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
  86. ^ "Paul Nicholls duo top 19 that remain in rescheduled Welsh Grand National". Racing Post. 4 January 2021. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  87. ^ Lee-Jones, Rhianydd (9 January 2021). "Welsh Grand National 2020: Secret Reprieve gives Evan Williams first title". BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  88. ^ "BetVictor Welsh Open draw and format". World Snooker. 9 February 2021. Archived from the original on 9 February 2021. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
  89. ^ "Six Nations: Wales win title as Scotland beat France in Paris". BBC Sport. 26 March 2021. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  90. ^ "Team GB's Lauren Williams wins taekwondo silver as Jelic takes gold". The Guardian. 26 July 2021.
  91. ^ "Welsh rowers help to secure bronze success at Olympics". ITV. 30 July 2021. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
  92. ^ "Welsh Grand National: Iwilldoit wins at Chepstow". BBC Sport. 27 December 2021. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  93. ^ "Brian Whitcombe passes away". www.keighleyrufc.com. Keighley RUFC. 3 January 2021. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
  94. ^ "Osian Ellis, harpist known for his association with Benjamin Britten and Peter Pears – obituary". The Telegraph. 15 January 2021. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
  95. ^ "Ex-Cardiff, Wales and Lions wing Haydn Morris dies aged 92". BBC News. 20 January 2021. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  96. ^ "Y cerddor a'r addysgwr Dr Aled Lloyd Davies wedi marw". Cymru Fyw (in Welsh). BBC. 24 January 2021.
  97. ^ "Merryl Wyn Davies (23 June 1949 - 1 February 2021) | musliminstitute.org". musliminstitute.org. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  98. ^ "Ezra Moseley: Former West Indies and Glamorgan bowler dies aged 63". Sky Sports. 6 February 2021. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  99. ^ "Ken Roberts: Wrexham's record youngest player dies aged 84". BBC Sport. 6 February 2021. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
  100. ^ "Dai Davies obituary: Former Wales goalkeeper dies aged 72". BBC. 10 February 2021.
  101. ^ Neil Badmington; Julia Thomas (21 February 2021). "Catherine Belsey obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
  102. ^ "Ex-MP Hywel Francis dies: Tributes to 'lovely and compassionate person'". BBC News. 14 February 2021.
  103. ^ "Doug Mountjoy: Welsh snooker great dies aged 78". BBC Sport. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
  104. ^ "'Pensaer S4C' Euryn Ogwen Williams wedi marw" (in Welsh). BBC Cymru Fyw. 16 March 2021.
  105. ^ "Elaine Hugh-Jones obituary". The Guardian. 30 April 2021. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
  106. ^ Kevin Rawlinson (5 April 2021). "Conservative MP Cheryl Gillan dies after long illness". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  107. ^ "Colin Baker: Cardiff City and Wales midfielder dies at 86". BBC. 12 April 2021. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  108. ^ Andrew Baldock (16 April 2021). "John Dawes obituary: The only man to captain the British & Irish Lions to a Test series triumph against New Zealand". The Scotsman. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
  109. ^ "Former Ford engineering boss Richard Parry-Jones dies". Autocar. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
  110. ^ "Dennis A'Court RIP". Gloucestershire CCC. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
  111. ^ Nurse, Rachel (27 May 2021). "Former Blaenau Gwent MP Llew Smith dies, aged 77". South Wales Argus. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  112. ^ Shepherd, Dave (9 June 2021). "The Bill actor Ben Roberts, who played Chief Inspector Derek Conway, has died aged 70". Bristol Post. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
  113. ^ "Funeral Announcements". Crowson Toby Hunt. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
  114. ^ "Gerald Williams, Ceidwad Yr Ysgwrn, wedi marw yn 92" (in Welsh). Golwg360. 11 June 2021.
  115. ^ "Welsh musical giant David R. Edwards of Datblygu has died". Nation Cymru. 22 June 2021. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
  116. ^ "Yr Arglwydd Elystan Morgan wedi marw yn 88 oed" (in Welsh). BBC Cymru Fyw. 7 July 2021.
  117. ^ John Wells (19 July 2021). "Jack Windsor Lewis obituary". The Guardian.
  118. ^ "Mike Smith: Former Wales and Hull City manager dies aged 83". BBC News. 22 July 2021. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  119. ^ Tony Curtis (9 August 2021). "Siân James obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  120. ^ "Yr actores Buddug Williams wedi marw yn 88 oed". BBC Cymru Fyw (in Welsh). 25 July 2021. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
  121. ^ "Y cyhoeddwr llyfrau a'r awdur Roger Boore wedi marw yn 82". BBC Cymru Fyw. 30 July 2021. Retrieved 31 July 2021.(in Welsh)
  122. ^ "Welsh rugby in mourning after 'superstar' idolised by Gareth Edwards passes away". WalesOnline. 5 August 2021. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  123. ^ "Obituary - Charles Jones (Charli) BRITTON". Funeral Notices. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  124. ^ "Speedway racer Taffy Owen has passed away aged 85". Trafford Crime News. 26 August 2021. Archived from the original on 3 January 2022. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  125. ^ Thomas, Simon (13 September 2021). "Wales international Owain Williams dies three years after his brother". WalesOnline.
  126. ^ Matt Warner (17 September 2021). "Wrexham AFC pays tribute to 'iconic defender' Alan Fox". Denbighshire Free Press. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
  127. ^ Orders, Mark (19 September 2021). "Wales international passes away as tributes paid to 'a great player and great man'". Wales Online. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
  128. ^ Service, Alex (30 September 2021). "St Helens 1953 Championship winner Glyn Moses has died aged 93". St Helens Star.
  129. ^ "Scriptwriter and Wali Tomos actor Mei Jones has died". Nation Cymru. 5 November 2021. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
  130. ^ "Former Cardiff City and Swansea City manager Frank Burrows dies". 24 November 2021. Retrieved 25 July 2022.
  131. ^ "Ron Jones, sprinter and British captain at Mexico Olympics, dies aged 87". The Guardian. 30 December 2021. Retrieved 30 December 2021.