2011 in Wales

none 2011 This article is about the particular significance of the year 2011 to Wales and its people. Incumbents United Kingdom incumbents 2011 in the United Kingdom#Incumbents First Minister – Carwyn Joneshttp://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/wales_politics/8403525.stm Jones sworn in as first minister 10 December 2009 news.bbc.co.uk Secretary of State for Wales – Cheryl Gillanhttps://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-wales-19486254 BBC News Cheryl Gillan: A look back at her record as Welsh secretary 5 September 2012 live https://web.archive.org/web/20151019025212/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-19486254 19 October 2015 Archbishop of Wales – Barry Morgan, Bishop of Llandaffhttps://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-37163566 Archbishop of Wales Dr Barry Morgan to retire in 2017 23 August 2016 BBC News 23 April 2022 Archdruid of the National Eisteddfod of Wales – Jim Parc Nesthttps://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/walesarts/2010/07/new_archdruid_t_james_jones_eisteddfod_wrexham.html New archdruid T James Jones installed in Wrexham 6 July 2010 BBC Laura Chamberlain 23 April 2022 Events 1 January – Welsh recipients of New Year Honours include Raymond Rees (MBE), for his role in preserving the tradition of coracle fishing; Tom Davies (OBE), commissioner of the Independent Police Complaints Commission in Wales; Peter Walker, former Glamorgan cricketer (MBE); educator Dr Dennis Gunning (CBE); and Gareth Vaughan, president of the Farmers’ Union of Wales (MBE).Wales Online Professor Eldryd Parry is made a KCMG Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George for his services to medicine. 5 January – John Warman, a veteran Liberal Democrat councillor in Neath, defects to the Labour Partyhttps://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-12120419 Carwyn Jones makes offer as Liberal Democrat defects 5 January 2011 BBC News Wales 6 January 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110106085949/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-12120419 6 January 2011 live 21 January – The South Wales coastguard carry out their "first ever" rescue of a mudslide victim, at Rhossili in Gower.http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2011/01/23/mudslide-man-in-sticky-spot-91466-28037983/ Wales Online Mudslide man in sticky spot 23 January 2011 2 February – A bronze bust of Ray Gravell by John Meirion Morris is unveiled at the BBC Cymru Wales HQ in Cardiff.BBC Press Release 2 February 7 February – Wrexham council grant planning permission for the "Waking the Dragon" tower to be constructed near Chirk.BBC News North East Wales: Wrexham dragon tower plans approved after concerns 19 February – The first public passenger train operates between Caernarfon and Porthmadog Harbour over the restored Welsh Highland Railway. 24 February – Kate Middleton, accompanied by her fiancé Prince William of Wales, attends a lifeboat naming ceremony at Trearddur, Anglesey, her first public engagement in the principality. 3 March – Welsh devolution referendum: Of a 35.2% voting turnout, 63.49% vote 'yes', and 36.51% vote 'no' in response to the question "Do you want the Assembly now to be able to make laws on all matters in the 20 subject areas it has powers for?". 15 March – Local Government Minister Carl Sargeant confirms to the National Assembly that Anglesey Council will be taken over by independent commissioners as a result of infighting between councillors. Sargeant says that the councillors have "betrayed those who elected them" and indulged in "politics of the playground".Anglesey council to be taken over, says Carl Sargeant https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-12763023 BBC News 16 March 2011 thumb|upright|1 April: Tŷ Newydd 1 April The Academi changes its title to Literature Wales, simultaneously merging with the writers' centre Tŷ Newydd.Welsh Icons: "Academi and Tŷ Newydd join to create Literature Wales" https://web.archive.org/web/20110727195359/http://www.welshicons.org.uk/news/literature/academi-and-ty-newydd-join-to-create-literature-wales/ 2011-07-27 Emergency contraception pills become available free on request in pharmacies throughout Wales.Morning-after pill made free at pharmacies in Wales https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-12926180 BBC News 2011-04-01 2011-04-01 https://web.archive.org/web/20110401040443/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-12926180 1 April 2011 live Elizabeth II visits Anglesey to witness the daily activities of her grandson, Prince William of Wales. She arrives at RAF Valley in gale-force winds. The prince comments: “I really do love it here”.Express.co.uk – "PRINCE WILLIAM: HOLD ON TO ONE’S HAT, GRAN!" 20 April – Four people from Pontypridd are killed when their car plunges down an embankment and into the Clywedog reservoir.https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2011/apr/21/man-bailed-car-reservoir-deaths The Guardian Man bailed over Wales reservoir deaths London 21 April 2011 29 April – The wedding of Prince William of Wales to Kate Middleton is conducted by Dr Rowan Williams. Welsh guests include Richard Meade and Martyn Williams; First Minister Carwyn Jones and the Assembly's Presiding Officer Dafydd Elis-Thomas are also present. The music played at the service includes Ubi Caritas et Amor, a choral arrangement specially commissioned for the occasion by the Welsh composer Paul Mealor, and the hymn "Love Divine, All Loves Excelling, sung to the tune "Blaenwern" by William Penfro Rowlands. 8 May – Social media sites name Ryan Giggs as the footballer involved in the CTB v News Group Newspapers legal case. 12 May – Carwyn Jones is formally appointed First minister of the newly renamed Welsh Government (formerly the Welsh Assembly Government), and his new Cabinet includes Lesley Griffiths, John Griffiths and Huw Lewis.BBC News, Wales, 13 May 2011 13 May – Following a decision made at its Bishops' Spring Conference, the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales announces the reinstatement of the rule of abstaining from eating red meat on Fridays. The practice, last observed in 1984, will be reintroduced on 16 September to coincide with the first anniversary of the visit of Pope Benedict XVI. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/8512721/Catholics-told-to-abstain-from-eating-meat-on-Fridays..html Catholics told to abstain from eating meat on Fridays Telegraph Media Group The Telegraph Martin Evans 14 May 2011 15 May 2011 London 17 May – Two newly elected Lib Dem AMs, Aled Roberts and John Dixon, are discovered to have been ineligible for election to the Assembly, because of their membership of other bodies.http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/welsh-politics/welsh-politics-news/2011/05/19/two-new-ams-remain-disqualified-91466-28721644/ Two new AMs remain disqualified Withers Matt Western Mail 19 May 2011 2 June – Four oil refinery workers are killed in an explosion at Chevron's Pembroke Refinery at Rhoscrowther during maintenance of a 730 cubic metre storage tank.http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2011/06/03/investigation-begins-after-four-people-killed-in-explosion-at-oil-refinery-in-pembroke-91466-28813103/ Investigation begins after four people killed in explosion at oil refinery in Pembroke Wales Online 2011-06-03 2018-05-28 25 June – Archdruid T. James Jones makes a controversial speech in which he claims that "Britishness" threatens Welsh identity, and suggests that Welsh Olympic medal-winners should be accompanied by the raising of the Welsh flag and the Welsh national anthem, rather than the British flag and anthem. Welsh Conservative MP David Davies says he is "talking rubbish" and that most Welsh people are proud to be both British and Welsh.BBC News – Archdruid's 2012 Olympic Flag Demand 29 June – A court ruling restricting the powers of police bail has thrown thousands of cases in England and Wales into disarray.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-13957873 Bail suspects 'could be released' BBC BBC News 29 June 2011 29 June 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110629112440/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-13957873 29 June 2011 live 9 July – National Museum of Art opens at the National Museum Cardiff.Steven Morris Welsh art collection goes on view in 'the home it deserves' https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2011/jul/08/welsh-art-cardiff-national-museum The Guardian 2011-07-09 16 2011-07-09 London 150px|thumb|17 August: Simon Richardson 12 July – Police (Detention and Bail) Act 2011, affecting England and Wales, receives its Royal Assent. 17 August – Paralympic cyclist Simon Richardson MBE is seriously injured in a road accident near Cowbridge, ten years after a similar accident that left him disabled.London Evening Standard, 18 August 2011 30 August – Racecourse owner Dai Walters warns that Ffos Las, the UK's newest racecourse, could be forced to close if plans to reduce the number of race meetings are carried through.wales Online, 30 August 2011 2 September – Welsh Food Festival is held at Glansevern Hall, Welshpool.Wales Online, 30 August 2011 15 September – Gleision Colliery mining accident: An explosion at Gleision drift mine near Cilybebyll results in an all-night rescue operation to free four trapped minersMirror, 16 Sept 2011 but the following day their bodies are discovered by rescue workers.Telegraph, 16 Sept 2011 1 October – Shops in Wales are obliged to charge for single-use paper and plastic carrier bags from today.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-15128901 Carrier bag charge for shoppers in Wales introduced 1 October 2011 BBC News Wales 1 October 2011 19 October – The manager of Gleision Colliery is arrested on suspicion of manslaughter; he is later released on police bail."Gleision Colliery manager who escaped disaster arrested", The Independent, 19 Oct 2011 29 October – The revived Wrexham Lager brand is served in North Wales."Wrexham Lager returns to the pub", BBC News. Accessed 20 May 2014 31 October – A landslide at Porthkerry leaves several static holiday caravans overhanging the edge of a cliff.BBC News – "Lucky escape for Barry park caravan owners" 27 November – Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, is involved in the rescue of two Russian seamen by RAF helicopter, after the ore carrier Swanland sinks off the North Wales coast. Five more crew members are drowned.June 2020 28 November – The judge in the trial of eight former South Wales Police officers accused of perverting the course of justice in the 1988 Lynette White murder case requests a review of evidence. It is discovered that some files are missing, and the case against the defendants collapses as a result.BBC News – "Lynette White case: Police officers' trial collapses" (retrieved 1 December 2011) 30 November – About 170,000 workers in Wales begin a strike as part of UK-wide industrial action over pension changes.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-15922317 Strike: Services hit across Wales as thousands strike 30 November 2011 BBC News Wales 30 November 2011 17 December – A walker dies in an avalanche on Y Garn, in Snowdonia, despite rescue attempts by helicopter and emergency services."Walker dies in Snowdonia avalanche", Grough, 17 Dec 2011 A woman escapes with her life in the same incident. 29 December – MonmouthpediA is launched in the Welsh media.Wales Online Arts and culture Awards Glyndŵr Award National Eisteddfod of Wales: Chair – Rhys Iorwerth National Eisteddfod of Wales: Crown – Geraint Lloyd Owen National Eisteddfod of Wales: Drama Medal – Rhian Staples National Eisteddfod of Wales: Prose Medal – Manon Rhys Gwobr Goffa Daniel Owen – Daniel Davies, Tair Rheol Anhrefn Wales Book of the Year: English language: John Harrison, Cloud Road Welsh language: Ned Thomas, Bydoedd Dylan Thomas Prize: – Lucy Caldwell, The Meeting PointLucy Caldwell wins 2011 Dylan Thomas Prize http://www.dylanthomasprize.com/news/documents/LucyCaldwellWINNERrelease_000.pdf The University of Wales 11 January 2012 usurped https://web.archive.org/web/20120113134812/http://www.dylanthomasprize.com/news/documents/LucyCaldwellWINNERrelease_000.pdf 13 January 2012 Kyffin Art Prize: New books Welsh language Meirion Evans – Cadw Drws Jon Gower – Y Storiwr Llwyd Owen – Un Ddinas, Dau Fyd English language Factual Toby Hamden – The Welsh Guards and the Real Story Of Britain's War In Afghanistan Fiction Jo Walton – Among Others Poetry Gwyneth Lewis – Sparrow Tree Music Awards 150px|thumb|Valentina Naforniţă BBC Cardiff Singer of the World competition Main Prize – Valentina Naforniţă Song Prize – Andrei Bondarenko Cân i Gymru 2011 – Tesni Jones, "Rhywun yn Rhywle" Welsh Music Prize – Gruff Rhys, Hotel Shampoohttp://welshmusicprize.com/past-winners/2010-11 Welsh Music Prize website 2012-10-15 https://web.archive.org/web/20120904153426/http://welshmusicprize.com/past-winners/2010-11 2012-09-04 usurped Classical Paul Mealor – Ubi Caritas et Amor Albums 150px|thumb|Wynne Evans The Blackout – Hope Wynne Evans – With a Song in my Heart Exit International – Black Junk Funeral for a Friend – Welcome Home Armageddon The Gentle Good – Tethered For The Storm The Joy Formidable – The Big Roar Kids in Glass Houses – In Gold Blood Kutosis – Fanatical Love Los Campesinos! – Hello Sadness Lleuwen – Tân Gruff Rhys – Hotel Shampoo Stagga – The Warm Air Room Tri Tenor Cymru – 3 Tenor Cymru (Aled Wyn Davies, Rhys Meirion, Aled Hall Film Aneurin Barnard stars in Hunky Dory, set in Swansea. Rhys Ifans stars in Anonymous. Broadcasting Roath Lock television production facility in Cardiff completed and begins production. Welsh-language television Alys, with Margaret John Rhydian, with Rhydian Roberts Cariad@iaith:love4language (re-commissioned after being off the air since 2002) English-language television Baker Boys, starring Boyd Clack, Mark Lewis Jones and Eve Myles, co-written by Helen Raynor and Gary Owen Merlin episodes filmed at Raglan Castle and Cosmeston Medieval Village Only Boys Aloud: the Academy Torchwood: Miracle Day Sport Athletics 1 September – Dai Greene wins the gold medal in the men's 400m hurdles at the 2011 World Championships in Athletics. BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year Chaz DaviesBBC Wales Sport Personality winners BBC Sport https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/wales/20670643 2 August 2021 Boxing 21 May – Nathan Cleverly becomes WBO world light-heavyweight boxing champion. Rugby union 2 February: Gavin Henson is released from his contract with Saracens and signs a 2 1 2-year contract with RC Toulonnais. 2011 Six Nations Championship: 4 February – Wales are defeated 19–26 by England at the Millennium Stadium. 12 February – Wales defeat Scotland 24-6 at Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh. 2 October – Wales defeat Fiji 66-0 at Waikato Stadium, Hamilton, New Zealand, to reach the quarter-finals of the 2011 Rugby World Cup. 15 October – Wales are defeated 9–8 by France in the semi-final of the 2011 Rugby World Cup, in a controversial match during which captain Sam Warburton is sent off for a dangerous tackle. 20 October – Wales are defeated 21–18 by Australia in the third-place final of the 2011 Rugby World Cup. 3 December – Shane Williams plays his last match for Wales, against Australia, scoring his 58th try in the final minutes of the match. Deaths 120px|thumb|Tim Hetherington January – Stewart Williams, local historian, 85https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-12198626 Prolific Cardiff historian Stewart Williams dies at 85 15 January 2011 BBC News 25 January – Vincent Cronin, biographer, 86 28 January – Dame Margaret Price, soprano, 69https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/culture-obituaries/music-obituaries/8291584/Dame-Margaret-Price.html Dame Margaret Price The Daily Telegraph 29 January 2011 31 January 2011 2 February – Margaret John, actress, 84https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2011/feb/02/margaret-john-gavin-and-stacey Gavin & Stacey star Margaret John dies 2 February 2011 Guardian 4 December 2013 8 February – Elaine Crowley, Swansea-based Irish author, 83 27 February – Malcolm Davies, rugby league player, 85http://www.penarthtimes.co.uk/news/8899164.Tributes_paid_to_Sully_community_stalwart/ Tributes paid to Sully community stalwart Robert James Owen 10 March 2011 29 January 2013 penarthtimes.co.uk 26 March – Diana Wynne Jones, novelist, 76 29 March – Robert Tear, operatic tenor, 72Ponsonby, Robert. "Obituary: Robert Tear", The Guardian, 30 March 2011 1 April – Brynle Williams, politician, 62http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/2011/04/02/tributes-as-brynle-williams-dies-aged-62-55578-28446477/ Tributes as Brynle Williams dies aged 62 Daily Post 2 April 2011 13 April 2011 4 April – Craig Thomas, novelist, 68 20 April – Tim Hetherington, photojournalist and former Cardiff student, 41https://www.theguardian.com/media/2011/apr/21/tim-hetherington-obituary Tim Hetherington obituary The Guardian 21 April 2011 James Brabazon 25 April 2011 22 April – W. J. Gruffydd (Elerydd), poet and former Archdruid, 94 26 April – Islwyn Morris, actor, 90 1 May – Brian Evans, cricketer, 74 8 May – Sir Ronald Waterhouse, judge, 85 11 May – Glyn Williams, footballer, 92 11 June – Idwal Robling, footballer and sports commentator, 84BBC commentator Idwal Robling, 84, dies https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/wales/13680785 BBC Sport 11 January 2012 11 June 2011 3 July – Dafydd Huws, psychiatrist and politician, 75 16 July – Geraint Bowen, poet, 95 27 July – Stewart Jones, actor, 83 2 August – Richard Pearson, actor, 93 3 August – Allan Watkins, cricketer, 89 10 August – Selwyn Griffith, Welsh poet, 83http://news.bbc.co.uk/welsh/hi/newsid_9120000/newsid_9126500/9126562.stm Y Dirprwy-Archdderwydd Selwyn Iolen wedi marw The Deputy Archdruid Selwyn Iolen has died 10 August 2011 BBC News Welsh 16 August – Huw Ceredig, actor, 69 29 August – Mark Ovendale, footballer, 37 11 September – Andy Whitfield, actor, 39 16 October – Caerwyn Roderick, politician, 84Andrew Roth https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2011/dec/07/caerwyn-roderick-obituary Caerwyn Roderick obituary The Guardian 7 December 2011 8 December 2011 London 24 October – Alan Morgan, bishop, 71http://announcements.thetimes.co.uk/obituaries/timesonline-uk/obituary.aspx?n=alan-wyndham-morgan&pid=154288873 https://archive.today/20120707065521/http://announcements.thetimes.co.uk/obituaries/timesonline-uk/obituary.aspx?n=alan-wyndham-morgan&pid=154288873 dead July 7, 2012 Alan Wyndham MORGAN The Times 9 November 2018 12 November – Alun Evans, football official, 69 26 or 27 November – Gary Speed, Wales football manager, 42Carter Helen Gary Speed's body found in garage of family home, inquest told https://www.theguardian.com/football/2011/nov/29/gary-speed-inquest-not-suspicious?newsfeed=true The Guardian 29 November 2011 3 December 2011 See also 2011 in Northern Ireland References Category:2010s in Wales Category:Years of the 21st century in Wales *Wales Category:2011 in Europe Category:2011 by country