2006 in Wales

none August 2026 2006 This article is about the particular significance of the year 2006 to Wales and its people. Incumbents First Minister – Rhodri Morgan Secretary of State for Wales – Peter Hain Archbishop of Wales – Barry Morgan, Bishop of Llandaff Archdruid of the National Eisteddfod of Wales – Selwyn Iolen Events January - June 8 January – four members of Rhyl Cycling Club are killed in a road accident near Abergele.August 2026 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.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/4744956.stm Plaid image change 'a new start' News.BBC.co.uk BBC News 24 February 2006 14 May 2013 13 February – Gwenno Teifi Ffransis, granddaughter of Gwynfor Evans, becomes the first Welsh language protester 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.http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/language-campaigner-jailed-second-time-2869954 Language campaigner jailed for second time Daily Post 2014-10-30 2008-03-10 16 February – Julien Macdonald and some of his models are pelted with flour bombs by animal rights campaigners disapproving of the use of fur in his fashion designs.https://www.standard.co.uk/showbiz/paris-pelted-with-flour-7241658.html Paris pelted with flour 15 February 2006 Evening Standard 15 November 2018 22 February – as the Prince of Wales's (now Charles III from 2023) court case against The Mail on Sunday continues in the High Court, revelations include the fact that he considers himself a dissident.https://www.theguardian.com/news/2006/feb/22/wrap.jamessturcke Charles, the dissident 22 February 2006 James Sturcke The Guardian 15 November 2018 1 March – The Queen opens the new Senedd building in Cardiff. 13 March – Dafydd Wigley announces that he is considering a political comeback.August 2026 5 April – legendary American singer Gene Pitney is found dead in his Cardiff hotel room after an outstanding concert performance at St David's Hall.August 2026 16 April – the first Welsh International Harp Festival opens at Caernarfon. May – two Big Brother contestants, Imogen Thomas and Glyn Wise, are told not to use the Welsh language for private conversations; the ruling is reversed after a formal complaint from the Welsh Language Society.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/4997698.stm Big Brother's warning over Welsh News.BBC.co.uk 19 May 2006 BBC News Wales 15 November 2018 7 May – Russell T Davies wins the Dennis Potter Award at the BAFTA television awards ceremony.https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1517734/BBC-cleans-up-at-the-Baftas.html BBC cleans up at the Baftas Hugh Davies 8 May 2006 The Telegraph 15 November 2018 27 – 28 May – The Full Ponty music festival is launched.https://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/music/sites/full-ponty/pages/details.shtml Full Ponty Festival details BBC.co.uk British Broadcasting Corporation 15 November 2018 29 May – 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, Shân Cothi, and Hayley Westenra.August 2026 9 June – Rhodri Morgan opens Anglesey Coastal Path.August 2026 17 June Lynn Davies is appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE).August 2026 Julien Macdonald is awarded the OBE.August 2026 29 June – in the Blaenau Gwent by-elections:August 2026 Trish Law succeeds her late husband Peter Law as Independent Assembly Member for Blaenau Gwent; Dai Davies becomes the new Independent Member of Parliament for Blaenau Gwent. July - December 4 July – Alun Pugh announces that the planned merger of the Welsh Language Board with the Welsh Assembly Government, announced in 2004, will be postponed until after the next Assembly elections in 2007.August 2026 5 July – the Prince of Wales is presented with a £150,000 gold leaf harp by Salvi Harps, for use by the Official Harpist to the Prince of Wales. 20 July – the NDAAugust 2026 announced that Wylfa power station will be shut down in 2010.August 2026 5 August – the 2006 National Eisteddfod of Wales opens in Swansea. 17 August – in the Clydach murders re-trial, David Morris is for a second time found guilty of four murders.August 2026 15 September – the Conservative Party in Wales adopts a sessile oak as its new emblem. 26 September – 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.August 2026 28 September – Health minister Brian Gibbons admits that the NHS Wales is £100 million in debt.August 2026 12 October – 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 had only a few minutes' notice that they were due to perform on the show.August 2026 November – it becomes known that the Prince of Wales is in process of acquiring Llwynywermod, a farmhouse in Carmarthenshire, for his personal use as a holiday residence;August 2026 it is the first house he has bought in Wales. 3 November – Jones Jones Jones, an event held at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, succeeds in breaking the world record for the largest gathering of people with the same surname in one place.August 2026 24 November – Ferndale Rugby Club welcomes celebrity guests to the grand opening of its 'Sir Stanley Baker Lounge'.August 2026 9 December – Welsh actor Owain Yeoman marries Lucy Davis at St Paul's Cathedral in London.August 2026 27 December – Torchwood star John Barrowman and architect Scott Gill become civil partners at a small ceremony in Cardiff.August 2026 Arts and culture Gwyn Thomas succeeds Gwyneth Lewis as National Poet of Wales.August 2026 Awards Glyndŵr Award – Rhian Samuel National Eisteddfod of Wales: Chair – Gwynfor ab Ifor National Eisteddfod of Wales: Crown – Eigra Lewis Roberts National Eisteddfod of Wales: Prose Medal – Fflur Dafydd Urdd National Eisteddfod: Chair – Eurig SalisburyCrump Eryl https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/chair-winner-sees-the-light-2892476 Chair winner sees the light Daily Post North Wales 2 June 2006 21 August 2026 Urdd National Eisteddfod: Crown – Gwenno Mair Davies 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 Cân i Gymru: Ryland Teifi – 'Lili'r nos' New books Welsh language Tony Bianchi – Esgyrn Bach T. Robin Chapman – Un Bywyd o Blith Nifer: Cofiant Saunders Lewis Catrin Dafydd – Pili Pala Bethan Gwanas – Hi Oedd fy Ffrind Gwen Pritchard Jones – Dygwyl Eneidiau Llwyd Owen: Ffawd, Cywilydd a Chelwyddau Ffydd Gobaith Cariad Gwyn Thomas – Bywyd Bach Cynwil Williams – Rowan Williams – Yr Archesgob English language Dannie Abse – Running Late Nigel Jenkins – Hotel Gwales Lloyd Jones – Mr Cassini Jamie Owen – Welsh Journeys Ann Pettitt – Walking to Greenham Byron Rogers – The Man Who Went into the West: The Life of R. S. Thomas Peter Shaw – Hole: Kidnapped in Georgia Sarah Waters – The Night Watch Music Adequate 7 – Here On Earth The Automatic – Not Accepted Anywhere James Dean Bradfield – The Great Western Euros Childs – Chops Froncysyllte Male Voice Choir – Voices of the Valley People in Planes – As Far As The Eye Can See... Film Catherine Zeta-Jones is cast as Hollywood star Lana Turner in the film Stompanato (release due in 2007). Ioan Gruffudd plays William Wilberforce in Michael Apted's new film, Amazing Grace. Jonathan Pryce begins filming Pirates of the Caribbean 3. Gower Boy, made by artist Gee Vaucher and musician Huw Warren, is premiered at the 14th Raindance Film Festival. Lloyd Owen stars in Miss Potter. 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. 5 November, Swansea Bay Radio on air for the first time. Welsh-language television Caerdydd Calon Gaeth (drama serial) Cowbois ac Injans Mastermind Cymru O Na! Y Morgans! English-language television The Charlotte Church Show (Channel 4) Drowning of a Village (BBC2) Supernova, starring Rob Brydon Torchwood Young Dracula filmed at Caerphilly Castle Sport 1 January – athlete Timothy Benjamin, the UK's top 400m runner in 2006, announces that he will not be fully fit for the 2006 Commonwealth Games.August 2026 13 February – Wales rugby union coach Mike Ruddock announces his shock resignation.August 2026 5 March – Joe Calzaghe defeats Jeff Lacy to retain the International Boxing Federation (IBF) world super-middleweight boxing championship.August 2026 10 March – 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.August 2026 16 March – swimmer David Davies wins a bronze medal on the first day's competition in the 2006 Commonwealth Games at Melbourne, Australia.August 2026 20 March – sprinter Christian Malcolm pulls a hamstring in the 100m heats and is forced to withdraw from the Games.August 2026 26 March – 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 total.August 2026 26 March – Mark Williams wins his second China Open title.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/snooker/8602765.stm Mark Williams beats Ding Junhui to win China Open title News.BBC.co.uk 4 April 2010 BBC Sport 20 May 2019 13 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 – Peter Ridsdale replaces Sam Hammam as chairman of Cardiff City F.C.August 2026 4 October – the Football Association of Wales signs two-year sponsorship deal with Welsh drinks and hospitality company Brains.August 2026 10 October – 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.August 2026 11 October – Cardiff Athletics 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.August 2026 14 October – in boxing, Joe Calzaghe successfully defends his WBO/IBF World Super-Middleweight title defence against Sakio Bika.August 2026 15 October – Cardiff Marathon 2006 29 October – a record 1,500 runners takes part in the 25th National Trust Snowdonia Marathon; the winner for the fifth time is Dennis Walmsley.August 2026 2 November – golf: the team of Rhys Davies, Nigel Edwards, and Llewellyn Matthews takes Wales to fourth place at the World Amateur Team Championships in Stelle.August 2026 4 November – rugby union: Wales draw with Australia in the first Autumn International Test Match of 2006.August 2026 18 to 19 November – cycling: International Sprint Omnium takes place at the Wales National Velodrome in Newport.August 2026 BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year – Joe CalzagheBBC Wales Sport Personality winners https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/wales/20670643 BBC.co.uk BBC Sport 2 August 2021 Deaths 5 January – Merlyn Rees, Labour politician, 85August 2026 9 January – Selwyn Hughes, minister and writer, 85August 2026 15 January – Glyn Berry, Welsh-born Canadian diplomat, 59August 2026 23 January – Charles Fisher, journalist, writer, poet and adventurer, 91August 2026 5 February – Peter Philp, dramatist and antiques expert, 85August 2026 9 February – Aubrey Darmody, footballer, 84August 2026 21 February – Stefan Terlezki, politician, 78https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1511541/Stefan-Terlezki.html Stefan Terlezki - obituary 27 February 2006 The Telegraph 24 August 2019 13 March – Roy Clarke, footballer, 80August 2026 18 March – Glyn Davidge, Wales international and British Lion rugby player, 72August 2026 6 April – Leslie Norris, poet and author, 84Stephens Meic Meic Stephens 9 April 2006 Leslie Norris - obituary https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/leslie-norris-6104085.html https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220614/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/leslie-norris-6104085.html 14 June 2022 subscription live The Independent London, England 3 December 2017 19 April – Ken Jones, rugby player, 84August 2026 25 April – Peter Law, politician, 58August 2026 23 May – Ray Cale, dual code international rugby player, 83August 2026 29 May – Wyn Griffiths, footballer, 86August 2026 1 June – Gerald James, actor, 88August 2026 2 June – Leon Pownall, Wrexham-born actor, 63https://playbill.com/article/leon-pownall-canadian-actor-who-wrote-directed-and-taught-dead-at-63-com-132982 Leon Pownall, Canadian actor who wrote, directed and taught, dead at 63 5 June 2006 Kenneth Jones Playbill 10 December 2022 25 June – Kenneth Griffith, actor and documentary maker, 84Barker Dennis Griffith, Kenneth Reginald (1921–2006) 97229 2010 2011 23 July – John Samuel Rowlands, George Cross recipient, 90August 2026 25 July – Dewi Zephaniah Phillips, philosopher, 71https://www.theguardian.com/news/2006/aug/21/guardianobituaries.obituaries Professor Dewi Phillips - obituary 21 August 2006 Raimond Gaita The Guardian 10 December 2022 13 August – Jack Edwards, soldier and activist, 88https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1526416/Jack-Edwards.html Obituary: Jack Edwards The Daily Telegraph 15 August 2006 1 October 2016 London, England 30 August – Glenn Ford, Canadian actor of Welsh parentage, 90August 2026 1 September – Sir Kyffin Williams, artist, 88https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/north_west/5305760.stm Top Welsh artist Sir Kyffin dies 1 September 2006 News.BBC.co.uk BBC News 10 December 2022 27 September – Tommy Harris, former rugby player, 79August 2026 21 October – Urien Wiliam, novelist and dramatist, 76https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/urien-wiliam-421615.html Urien Wiliam - obituary 26 October 2006 Meic Stephens Meic Stephens The Independent 26 July 2019 2 November – Leslie Manfield, Wales international rugby union player, 91August 2026 18 November – Keith Rowlands, rugby union player and administrator, 70August 2026 20 November – Dr William R. P. George, solicitor and poet, 94August 2026 5 December – Gerry Humphreys, sound engineer, 75August 2026 12 December – Ivor Barry, actor, 87https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/ivor-barry-dies-2291513 Ivor Barry dies 18 December 2006 WalesOnline.co.uk 15 November 2018 See also 2006 in England 2006 in Scotland 2006 in Northern Ireland References Category:2006 in Europe Category:2000s in Wales