1981 in Wales

← 1980 1979 1978 1981 in Wales → 1982 1983 1984
Centuries:	18th 19th 20th 21st
Decades:	1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s
See also:	List of years in Wales 1981 in The United Kingdom Ireland Scotland

This article is about the particular significance of the year 1981 to Wales and its people.

Incumbents

• Prince of Wales – Charles
• Princess of Wales – Diana (from 29 July)
• Secretary of State for Wales – Nicholas Edwards
• Archbishop of Wales – Gwilym Williams, Bishop of Bangor
• Archdruid of the National Eisteddfod of Wales
  • Geraint (outgoing)
  • Jâms Nicholas (incoming)

Events

• January - First phase of St. David's Shopping Centre, Cardiff, opens to the public.
• January–March - Roy Jenkins co-founds the Social Democratic Party (UK).
• 24 February - Buckingham Palace announces the engagement of the Prince of Wales.
• 5 April - Census (UK): Results reveal that the percentage of Welsh language speakers has fallen to an all-time low of 18.9% of the Welsh population and Gwynedd is the only Welsh county with a Welsh-speaking majority.
• 29 July - The Prince of Wales marries Lady Diana Spencer.
• Joan Ruddock becomes Chair of CND.

Arts and literature

• 6 June - The Alarm play their first gig, at the Victoria Hotel, Prestatyn.
• Theatre Wales is established.
• Harry Secombe receives a knighthood.

Awards

• National Eisteddfod of Wales (held in Machynlleth)
• National Eisteddfod of Wales: Chair - John Gwilym Jones
• National Eisteddfod of Wales: Crown - Siôn Aled
• National Eisteddfod of Wales: Prose Medal - John Griffith Jones

New books

English language

• Clive Jenkins & Barrie Sherman - The Leisure Shock
• Eiluned Lewis - The Old Home
• R. S. Thomas - Between Here and Now

Welsh language

• Irma Chilton - Y Cwlwm Gwaed
• Eigra Lewis Roberts - Merch yr oriau mawr

Drama

• J. R. Evans - Brawd am Byth

Music

• Daniel Jones - Symphony no. 10
• William Mathias - Let the people praise Thee, O God

Film

English-language films

• The Mouse and the Woman, starring Huw Ceredig.
• Dragonslayer, with exterior scenes filmed in Wales.

Welsh-language films

Broadcasting

English-language television

• The Life and Times of David Lloyd George, written by Elaine Morgan and starring Philip Madoc

Welsh-language television

Sport

• Boxing - Neville Meade becomes British heavyweight champion.
• Football - Neville Southall joins Everton F.C.

Births

• 12 January – Sarah Thomas, field-hockey player
• 13 March – Ryan Jones, rugby player
• 28 March – Gareth David-Lloyd, actor
• 6 April – Robert Earnshaw, footballer
• 23 May – Gwenno Saunders, singer
• 24 May – Darren Moss, footballer
• 19 November – Mark Wallace, cricketer
• 16 December – Gareth Williams Scottish-Welsh footballer
• date unknown – Sian Reese-Williams, actress

Deaths

• January - Leslie Jones, footballer, 69
• 1 March - Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones, theologian, 81
• 8 March - Nigel Birch, Baron Rhyl, politician, 74
• 3 April - Will Owen, miner and politician, 80
• 13 April - Gwyn Thomas, author, 67
• 16 June - Billy Hughes, footballer, 63
• 17 June - Ike Fowler, dual-code international rugby union player, 86
• 23 July - Goronwy Roberts, Baron Goronwy-Roberts, politician, 67
• 6 August - George Lewis, footballer, 67
• 18 September - Brinley Richards, poet, author and archdruid
• 30 September - Roy John, Wales and British Lions international rugby union player, 55
• date unknown
  • Tom Griffiths, Welsh international footballer
  • Dai Francis, miners' leader
  • J. E. Meredith, Presbyterian minister and writer