2003 in Wales

none 2003 This article is about the particular significance of the year 2003 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 (elected) Archdruid of the National Eisteddfod of Wales – Robyn Llŷn Events February – Former Conservative Assembly leader Rod Richards is declared bankrupt with debts estimated at over £300,000.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/2745689.stm Rod Richards declared bankrupt 10 February 2003 BBC News 1 March 2019 27 February – Rowan Williams is enthroned as Archbishop of Canterbury.http://www.archbishopofcanterbury.org/73 Rowan Williams – Biography 4 November 2008 Office of the Archbishop of Canterbury dead https://web.archive.org/web/20081219235020/http://www.archbishopofcanterbury.org/73 19 December 2008 Dominic Walker is installed as his replacement as Bishop of Monmouth. 9 March – Ron Davies announces that he is leaving politics after being asked to stand down by his local party following further revelations by the press about his private life.https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1424188/Moments-of-madness-that-ruined-Ron-Davies.html 'Moments of madness' that ruined Ron Davies Michael Paterson 10 March 2003 The Telegraph 1 March 2019 29 March – Porthmadog Cob is bought by the Welsh Assembly Government and the road toll is discontinued after 192 years.http://new.wales.gov.uk/news/archivepress/environmentpress/enviropress2003/713902/?lang=en Assembly abolishes toll on Porthmadog Cob 28 March 2003 Welsh Government https://web.archive.org/web/20090815090453/http://new.wales.gov.uk/news/archivepress/environmentpress/enviropress2003/713902/?lang=en 15 August 2009 dead 1 May – In the National Assembly for Wales election, Labour win 30 seats, enabling them to form a government. Following disappointing results for Plaid Cymru, Ieuan Wyn Jones stands down as party president and leader of the assembly group. 19 June – Prince William of Wales visits Bangor and Anglesey, to mark his 21st birthday (on 21 June). August National Eisteddfod of Wales held at Meifod. A memorial to Owain Lawgoch is unveiled at Mortagne-sur-Gironde, France. October – Dafydd Iwan, newly elected President of Plaid Cymru, escapes a driving ban for speeding offences on the grounds that he needs to drive to fulfil his musical and political engagements. 12 October – The Friends of the Leinster hold a service at Holyhead to commemorate the 85th anniversary of the sinking of Leinster by a German U-boat. November – Michael Howard becomes leader of the Conservative Party. December Dafydd Wigley is appointed Pro-Chancellor of the University of Wales. Aberllefenni Slate Quarry ceases working. 7 December – The Wales & Borders train operating franchise is awarded for a 15-year period to Arriva Trains Wales. North Hoyle Offshore Wind Farm commences operation. The former Brains Brewery site in Cardiff is redeveloped into the 85000 sqft m2 on "Old Brewery Quarter". Veteran Cardiff politician Stefan Terlezki goes to the European Parliament to press the case for eventual Ukrainian membership of the European Union. In Channel 4's 100 Worst Britons poll (which includes only living people), the following entries have Welsh connections: H from Steps – 8 Charlotte Church – 21 The Prince of Wales (now Charles III) – 24 Catherine Zeta-Jones – 39 Lawrence Llewelyn-Bowen – 42 Vinnie Jones – 61 Tom Jones – 72 The North Wales edition of the Daily Post separates from the Liverpool Daily Post. Arts and literature Awards Glyndŵr Award – Elinor Bennett National Eisteddfod of Wales: Chair – Twm Morys National Eisteddfod of Wales: Crown – Mererid Hopwood National Eisteddfod of Wales: Prose Medal – Cefin Roberts National Eisteddfod of Wales: Music Medal – Owain Llwyd Wales Book of the Year: English language: Sugar and Slate – Charlotte Williams Welsh language: O! Tyn y Gorchudd – Hunangofiant Rebecca Jones – Angharad Price Gwobr Goffa Daniel Owen – Elfyn Pritchard, Pan ddaw'r dydd John Tripp Award for Spoken Poetry: Emily Hinshelwoodhttp://emily-hinshelwood.co.uk/readings/ Emily Hinshelwood Emily Hinshelwood website 1 March 2019 1 March 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20190301201555/http://emily-hinshelwood.co.uk/readings/ dead New books English language Damian Walford Davies – Echoes to the Amen: Essays after R.S. ThomasTony Brown R. S. Thomas https://books.google.com/books?id=FMUmDAAAQBAJ&pg=PT179 15 September 2009 University of Wales Press 978-1-78316-377-9 179 Rhys Hughes – The Percolated StarsRhys Hughes The Percolated Stars https://books.google.com/books?id=M7KpAAAACAAJ February 2003 RazorBlade Press 978-0-9542267-4-9 Bernice Rubens – The Sergeants' Tale Rowan Williams – Poems of Rowan Williams Welsh language Bobi Jones – Beirniadaeth Gyfansawdd – Fframwaith Cyflawn Beirniadaeth Lenyddol Gerwyn Williams – Tafarn Tawelwch Music Albums Huw Chiswell – Dere Nawrhttps://www.discogs.com/Huw-Chiswell-Dere-Nawr/release/11108540 Huw Chiswell – Dere Nawr Discogs 1 March 2019 Elin Fflur – Dim Gair (No Words) Catrin Finch – Crossing the Stone Funeral for a Friend – Casually Dressed & Deep in Conversation Jakokoyak – Am Cyfan Dy Pethau Prydferth Karl Jenkins – Adiemus V: Vocalise Stereophonics – You Gotta Go There to Come Back Thighpaulsandra – Double Vulgar Theatre Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru established Film English-language films Michael Sheen stars in Underworld. Welsh-language films Y Mabinogi Broadcasting Welsh-language television Wawffactor is S4C's answer to Pop Idol. Côr Cymru – S4C's search for the best choir in Wales – is broadcast for the first time. English-language television Michael Sheen and Paul Rhys star in the award-winning TV drama, The Deal The Story of Welsh presented by Huw Edwards Quest For Perfection, written and presented by Russell Davies on BBC Four Jamie Baulch finishes third in the BBC's Superstars programme. Sport BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year – Nicole CookeBBC Wales Sport Personality winners https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/wales/20670643 BBC Sport 2 August 2021 Cricket 31 December – Tony Lewis is appointed a CBE in the New Year Honours List. Cycling Nicole Cooke wins La Flèche Wallonne Féminine for the first time. Football Cardiff City F.C. win promotion to the Football League Championship. Rugby union Introduction of regional rugby union teams in Wales – Professional teams launched as follows: 1 April – Newport Gwent Dragons (merger of Ebbw Vale and Newport RFCs). 6 June – Cardiff Blues. 7 July – Llanelli Scarlets. 24 July – Neath–Swansea Ospreys. Summer – Celtic Warriors (merger of Bridgend and Pontypridd RFCs). October – The Wales team participate in the Rugby World Cup in Australia. In the group stages Wales defeat Canada 41–10, Tonga 27–20, and Italy 41–10, but lose to New Zealand 37–53 to qualify for the knockout stages. The team lose to England 17–28 in the quarter-finals.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/rugby_world_cup/3243911.stm England edge Wales in thriller BBC Sport 9 November 2003 4 May 2012 Snooker 9 February – Mark Williams wins his second Masters title.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/snooker/2741905.stm Williams hammers Hendry 17 February 2003 BBC Sport 14 May 2019 5 May – Mark Williams wins the World Snooker Championship for the second time.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/snooker/2999145.stm Williams wins Crucible thriller 5 May 2003 BBC Sport 14 May 2019 30 November – Matthew Stevens beats Stephen Hendry 10–8 to lift the 2003 UK Championship title.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/snooker/3251450.stm Stevens clinches UK crown BBC Sport 30 November 2003 4 May 2012 Deaths 5 January – Roy Jenkins, politician and Chancellor of Oxford University, 82 6 January – Glyn Davies, economist, 83https://www.theguardian.com/news/2003/feb/28/guardianobituaries1 Glyn Davies 28 February 2003 Guardian Gary Akehurst 17 January 2024 17 January – Goronwy Daniel, academic and civil servant, 88https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/sir-goronwy-daniel-124980.html Sir Goronwy Daniel The Independent 20 January 2003 Meic Stephens Meic Stephens 13 June 2019 26 January – Kingsley Jones, rugby union prop, 67 3 February – Trevor Morris, football player and manager, 82 26 February – Brian Evans, footballer, 60 14 April – Bob Evans, rugby player, 82 13 May – John Savage, prime minister of Nova Scotia 1993–97, 70 29 May – Trevor Ford, footballer, 79 8 June – Leighton Rees, darts player, 63John Lowe Old Stoneface - My Autobiography https://books.google.com/books?id=hTetDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT126 8 June 2009 John Blake 978-1-78219-571-9 126 10 June – Phil Williams, politician, 64https://www.theguardian.com/news/2003/jun/13/guardianobituaries.highereducation Professor Phil Williams 13 June 2003 Andrew Roth The Guardian 5 May 2022 16 June – Ivor Bennett, rugby player, 90 17 July – Dr David Kelly, government weapons expert, presumed suicide, 59 3 August – Norah Isaac, educationalist 5 August – Benjamin Noel Young Vaughan, Bishop of Swansea and Brecon, 85The Right Rev Benjamin Vaughan. The Times (London, England), Wednesday, 20 August 2003; pg. 27; Issue 67846 20 September – Gareth Williams, Baron Williams of Mostyn, politician, 62 25 September Dai Davies, Wales and British Lions international rugby union player, 78 David Williams, crime novelist, 77 29 September – Billy Cleaver, Wales international rugby union player and colliery manager, 82 7 October – Henry Herbert, 17th Earl of Pembroke, 64https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1443608/The-Earl-of-Pembroke-and-Montgomery.html The Earl of Pembroke and Montgomery 9 October 2003 The Telegraph 17 January 2024 13 October – Anne Ziegler, English soprano who retired to North Wales, 93https://www.theguardian.com/news/2003/oct/17/guardianobituaries.artsobituaries Anne Ziegler 17 December 2003 Guardian Dennis Barker 17 January 2024 23 November – Paul Grant, bodybuilding champion, 60 27 November – Dai Francis, singer, 73Dai Francis The Daily Telegraph https://web.archive.org/web/20221117074442/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1449055/Dai-Francis.html 2022-11-17 live https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1449055/Dai-Francis.html 1 December – Hugh Rees, politician, 75 19 December – Roy Hughes, Baron Islwyn, politician, 78https://www.theguardian.com/news/2003/dec/22/guardianobituaries.obituaries Lord Islwyn of Casnewydd 22 December 2003 Guardian Andrew Roth 17 January 2024 See also 2003 in Northern Ireland References Category:2003 in Europe Category:2000s in Wales