← 1950 1949 1948 1947 1946 1951 in Wales → 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956
Centuries:	18th 19th 20th 21st
Decades:	1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s
See also:	List of years in Wales Timeline of Welsh history 1951 in The United Kingdom Scotland Elsewhere

This article is about the particular significance of the year 1951 to Wales and its people.

Incumbents

• Archbishop of Wales – John Morgan, Bishop of Llandaff
• Archdruid of the National Eisteddfod of Wales – Cynan

Events

• 3 May – Josef Herman's Miners, a mural commissioned for the Minerals of the Island Pavilion at the Festival of Britain, is displayed for the first time.
• 14 May – The Talyllyn Railway is reopened by the Talyllyn Railway Preservation Society, generally considered to be the world's first such voluntary body to operate a railway.
• 17 July – The Chancellor of the Exchequer opens the Abbey Works at Port Talbot Steelworks at Margam, Europe's largest steel plant.^[1]
• 31 July–11 August – Festival Ship Campania is on show in Cardiff Docks as part of the Festival of Britain. Steam tug Earl capsizes while assisting her to berth.
• 12 October – Penrhyn Castle and estate, given to HM Treasury in lieu of death duties, is accepted by the National Trust.
• 28 October – Sir David Maxwell Fyfe is appointed the first-ever Minister for Welsh Affairs.
• 20 November – Snowdonia becomes a National Park.
• Brynmawr Rubber Factory completed.

Arts and literature

Film

• David, the Welsh cinematic contribution to the Festival of Britain. It is based on the real-life story of the poet David Rees Griffiths (Amanwy), who plays himself.^[4]

Broadcasting

• 28 May – Sir Harry Secombe stars in the first broadcast of Crazy People (later renamed The Goon Show).
• Welsh Rarebit transfers from stage to radio.

Sport

• Boxing – February 21: Eddie Thomas wins the European welterweight title.

Births

• 5 February – Geraint Watkins, musician
• 7 March – Boyd Clack, actor and screenwriter, in Vancouver, Canada
• 31 March
  • Henry Spinetti, musician
  • Sir Wyn Lewis Williams, judge
• 13 April – Leszek Borysiewicz, immunologist^[5]
• 17 May – Simon Hughes, politician^[6]
• 28 May – Phil Rogers, potter and author
• 8 June – Bonnie Tyler (born Gaynor Hopkins), singer
• 2 July – Gareth Glyn (born Gareth Glynne Davies), composer
• 15 August – Berwyn Price, athlete
• September – Richard Parry-Jones, automotive engineer (died 2021)
• 3 September – Ray Gravell, rugby player and radio presenter (died 2007)^[7]
• 11 September – Gareth Jenkins, Wales rugby coach
• 18 November – David Llewellyn, golfer
• 24 November – Graham Price, rugby player
• 3 December – Nicky Stevens, pop singer
• 24 December – Nick Griffiths, Australian politician, in Barry, Wales

Deaths

• 23 January – Charlie Pugh, Wales international rugby player, 54
• 28 February – Evan Lloyd, Wales international rugby player, 79
• 5 March – David Thomas, Archdeacon of Cardigan^[8]
• 6 March – Ivor Novello, composer, actor and singer, 58 (in London)^[9]
• 14 March – Evan Walters, artist, 58^[10]
• 19 March – Jack Jones, Welsh international rugby player, 65
• 15 June – James Grey West, architect, 66 (in Beer, Devon)^[11]
• 18 May – Lewis Davies, writer, 88^[12]
• 3 July – Gwendoline Davies, philanthropist, 69^[13]
• 13 August – David Jenkins, Wales national rugby player, 47 (in Whitley Bay)
• 22 August – Timothy Davies, politician, 94^[14]
• 29 August – Alf Davies, trade union leader, 53-55^[15]
• 8 September – W. Aubrey Thomas, Welsh-born US politician, 85^[16]
• 27 September – Robert Thomas, politician, 78
• 29 September
  • Llewellyn Evans, hockey player, 75
  • Evan Roberts, preacher, 72^[17]
• 17 October – Sir Arthur Probyn Jones, 2nd Baronet, barrister and politician, 59^[18]
• 30 November – Dai Fitzgerald, Wales international rugby union player, 79
• 3 December – George Henry Powell, songwriter, 71^[19]

See also

• 1951 in Northern Ireland

References