2007 in Wales

none 2007 This article is about the particular significance of the year 2007 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 2 January – A survey finds that eight of the top ten "unhealthiest places to live" in the UK are in Wales, with Merthyr Tydfil leading the list.https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/local-news/towns-among-most-sick-uk-2280677 Towns among most sick in the UK WalesOnline 11 January 2007 20 September 2018 12 January – Welsh actor Michael Sheen is nominated for a BAFTA award for Best Supporting Actor in a Film (for his performance as Tony Blair in The Queen).http://awards.bafta.org/award/2007/film Film in 2007 20 September 2018 16 January – It is announced that a £14 billion training academy for all three armed forces is to be built at St Athan in south Wales. (The project was scrapped three years later.)https://www.thetimes.com/article/huge-defence-training-project-scrapped-as-the-cuts-hit-home-gwt877v0bcj Huge defence training project scrapped as the cuts hit home 19 October 2010 The Times 18 June 2024 30 January – Connie Fisher wins the Critics' Circle Most Promising Newcomer Award.https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2007/jan/31/theatre2 31 January 2018 Problem solved: new talent award for Connie Fisher The Guardian 20 September 2018 1 February – Travel Magazine names Oxwich beach the most beautiful in Britain.https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_west/6375469.stm Gower beach named Britain's best 19 February 2007 BBC News 8 July 2021 7 February – A letter bomb is sent to the main Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency centre in Swansea, south Wales.https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2007/feb/19/ukcrime Police arrest letter bombs suspect 19 February 2007 The Guardian 20 September 2018 Four workers are taken to Morriston Hospital in Swansea, including a woman with cuts to her hands and body. 9 February – Unpredicted snow storms wreak havoc across the country. 602 schools and many more business forced to close. Traffic is heavily disrupted. Parts of the M4 motorway temporary close and 500 people are trapped in cars on the A48 between Carmarthen and Cross Hands. 12 February – A report by the National Trust reveals that more than 70% of the coastline in Wales, including 143 miles of coastline, is under threat from coastal erosion and flooding. 22 February – It is confirmed that Prince Harry, the son of the Prince of Wales, will be serving with his regiment in Iraq. February – A lightning strike severely damages Llandaff Cathedral organ. March – Llwynywermod estate in the Brecon Beacons is purchased by the Duchy of Cornwall to provide a Welsh residence for the Prince of Wales (now Charles III). 1 April – Prescription charges are abolished for NHS patients in Wales. 2 April – Smoking ban comes into force in all enclosed public places. 4 May – In the elections for the National Assembly for Wales, Labour suffer a net loss of three seats, Plaid Cymru make a net gain of three seats, and all other parties retain the same number of seats as before the election. Labour no longer have an overall majority. Alun Pugh becomes the only Assembly minister to lose his seat, defeated by Conservative Darren Millar. Labour defector John Marek loses his seat to his former constituency secretary, Lesley Griffiths. Plaid Cymru's Mohammad Asghar becomes the first Assembly member from an ethnic minority. 8 May – First public flight on the publicly subsidised air service between the new Anglesey Airport and Cardiff International Airport. 16 May – It is announced that Prince Harry will not, after all, be serving with his regiment in Iraq.https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2007/may/16/iraq.military Prince Harry will not serve in Iraq 16 May 2007 Guardian Peter Walker 12 January 2025 26 May – It is announced that the Military Cross awarded to Siegfried Sassoon will go on display at the Royal Welch Fusiliers museum in Caernarfon.https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/sassoon-medal-for-museum-display-2254754 Sassoon medal for museum display 28 May 2007 WalesOnline 12 January 2025 4 June – Claire Jones is appointed official harpist to the Prince of Waleshttps://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/south_west/6719685.stm Royal harpist prepares for debut 4 June 2007 news.bbc.co.uk 17 June – Paul Potts, from Port Talbot, wins the national final of the first series of Britain's Got Talent.https://www.theguardian.com/media/2007/jun/17/realitytv.broadcasting This is my lifelong dream, says the singing salesman The Guardian 17 June 2007 London Vanessa Thorpe 22 May 2010 live https://web.archive.org/web/20080116023052/http://observer.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0%2C%2C2104959%2C00.html 16 January 2008 27 June – One Wales agreement between Welsh Labour Party and Plaid Cymru. July - The International Eisteddfod at Llangollen is the best-attended since the event began, with ticket sales up 11% on the previous year. 26 July – Efforts to save the life of Shambo, a black Friesian bull living at the Hindu Skanda Vale Temple near Llanpumsaint, finally fail and the bull is put down after testing positive for tuberculosis.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/6916077.stm BBC News update 25 July 2007 21 December 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20071221035134/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/6916077.stm live 4–11 August - The National Eisteddfod of Wales is held at Mold, Flintshire. 14 September – Ioan Gruffudd marries Alice Evans. 17 September – Five people are killed in a two-car collision on the M4 motorway at Newport. 30 September – Unveiling of the first Welsh national memorial to the Falklands War takes place in Cardiff.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/7020079.stm Memorial unveiled for Falklands 30 September 2007 BBC 8 July 2021 16 October – Houses are evacuated when part of the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal's bank collapses at Gilwern.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/south_east/7078959.stm Canal to be drained after burst 5 November 2007 BBC 16 September 2019 Arts and culture Awards National Eisteddfod of Wales: Chair – T. James Jones National Eisteddfod of Wales: Crown – Tudur Dylan Jones National Eisteddfod of Wales: Prose Medal – Mary Payne National Eisteddfod of Wales: Drama Medal – Nic Ros Wales Book of the Year: English language: Lloyd Jones, Mr Cassini Welsh language: Llwyd Owen, Ffydd Gobaith Cariad Dylan Thomas Award: BBC Cardiff Singer of the World competition:http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/cardiffsinger/sites/2007/ https://web.archive.org/web/20061208072327/http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/cardiffsinger/sites/2007/ dead December 8, 2006 2007 competition 2007 BBC Cardiff Singer of the World BBC 28 July 2011 Main Prize – Shenyang Song Prize – Elizabeth Watts Glyndŵr Award – Shani Rhys JamesBBC - Wales - Arts - Shani Rhys James https://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/arts/sites/shani-rhys-james/ www.bbc.co.uk 2 August 2021 Cân i Gymru: Einir Dafydd and Ceri Wyn Jones – "Blwyddyn Mas" New books Welsh language Tony Bianchi – PryfetaPryfeta (Nofel Fuddugol Gwobr Goffa Daniel Owen Eisteddfod Genedlaethol Cymru Sir y Fflint a'r Cyffiniau 2007) by Tony Bianchi Waterstones https://www.waterstones.com/book/pryfeta-nofel-fuddugol-gwobr-goffa-daniel-owen-eisteddfod-genedlaethol-cymru-sir-y-fflint-ar-cyffiniau-2007/tony-bianchi/9780862439996 www.waterstones.com 2 August 2021 en Mererid Hopwood – Ar Bwys Watcyn L Jones – Cofio Capel Celynhttps://www.ylolfa.com/products/9781847710321/cofio-capel-celyn https://web.archive.org/web/20211024084720/https://www.ylolfa.com/products/9781847710321/cofio-capel-celyn dead October 24, 2021 Cofio Capel Celyn Y Lolfa 16 September 2019 Gareth Miles – Y Proffwyd a’i Ddwy Jesebel Mary Annes Payne – Rhodd Mamhttps://news.bbc.co.uk/welsh/hi/newsid_6930000/newsid_6937400/6937435.stm Medal ryddiaith i Mary 8 August 2007 cy BBC Arlein 8 June 2018 English language Phil Carradice – People’s Poetry of the Great War Grahame Davies – Real Wrexham Peter Ho Davies – The Welsh Girl Eirian Jones – The War of the Little Englishman: Enclosure Riots on a Lonely Welsh Hillside Owen Sheers – Resistance J. P. R. Williams – Given the Breaks: My Life in Rugby Music Albums The Gentle Good – Dawel Disgyn (EP) Aled Jones – Reason To Believe Karl Jenkins – This Land of Ours (with the Cory Band and Cantorion) Katherine Jenkins – Viva Kelly Jones – Only the Names Have Been Changed Natasha Marsh – Amour Paul Potts – One Chance Gruff Rhys – Candylion Lisa Scott-Lee – Never and Now Stereophonics – Pull the Pinhttps://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/8wcz/ Stereophonics Pull The Pin Review D'Cruze Sonja BBC 2007 29 July 2013 Bryn Terfel – A Song in My Heart Elin Manahan Thomas – Eternal Light Film The Baker, starring Damian Lewis and directed by Gareth Lewis, is set and filmed in Wales.http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/818798 https://web.archive.org/web/20090212103033/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/818798 dead 2009-02-12 The Baker BFI 12 January 2025 Broadcasting 3 January – Ian Watkins, better known as "H" from Steps, becomes an entrant in the fifth UK series of Celebrity Big Brother. On the same day, he announces he is gay. 18 January – S4C introduces a new corporate logo and brand.http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/article/ds41509.html S4C gets a rebrand 2007-01-11 Oatts Joanne 2007-01-09 Digital Spy https://web.archive.org/web/20070111094254/http://digitalspy.co.uk/article/ds41509.html 11 January 2007 live 14 July – Radio Tircoed begins broadcasting on a permanent basis as a community radio station. 8 October – BBC Radio Cymru relaunches its C2 youth and music output. 29 November - XFM South Wales launches. Welsh-language television Codi Canu English-language television Coal House (documentary series) Keith Allen stars as the Sheriff of Nottingham in a second series of Robin Hood. Coming Home Gavin & Stacey, starring Ruth Jones, Joanna Page and Rob Brydon Glyn's Virgin Voters, one-off documentary featuring Glyn WiseBFI: Glyn's Virgin Voters (2007). Accessed 24 September 2015 Sport 17 January – ISPAL (Institute for Sport, Parks and Leisure) is officially launched. 17 March – Wales defeat England in their final match of the 2007 Six Nations Championship, to finish fifth in the final table (beating Scotland only on overall points difference). 10 May – The James Bevan Trophy is launched, to commemorate the Australian-born Welsh-raised man who was the first ever captain of the Wales rugby team. 3 June – Wales reach the semi-finals of the World Sevens (rugby union) tournament at Murrayfield. 19 June – Darren Morgan wins the European Masters snooker championship. July – The Welsh Super Cup (football) is scheduled to be held at Aberystwyth. 3 August – Wales are defeated 62-5 by England in a warm-up match for the Rugby World Cup. 29 September – Wales lose to Fiji in their decisive Group B match, and thus fail to reach the quarter-finals of the Rugby World Cup. 29 September – Wales wins the gold medal at the European Mixed Curling Championships in Madrid, Spain. The Welsh team of Adrian Meikle (skip), Lesley Carol (third), Andrew Tanner (second), Blair Hughes (lead) and Chris Wells (alternate) took the Gold Medal in a thrilling Final against Denmark. BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year – Joe CalzagheBBC Wales Sport Personality winners BBC Sport https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/wales/20670643 2 August 2021 Births 17 March – Ruby Evans, artistic gymnastRuby Evans https://www.eurosport.com/olympics/athletes/profile/evans-ruby-1904731/ www.eurosport.com 30 July 2024 17 December – James, son of Prince Edward and Sophie (then Earl and Countess of Wessex). The child is given his father's subsidiary title of "Viscount Severn" as a courtesy title, in recognition of his mother's Welsh ancestry.Wessex titles for Edward and Sophie BBC News 19 June 1999 https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/special_report/1999/06/99/royal_wedding/373120.stm 3 May 2011 (Prince Edward, Sophie and James have since become Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, and Earl of Wessex {by courtesy}, respectively.) Deaths 4 January – Gren, cartoonist, 72https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/6230567.stm BBC News Iconic newspaper cartoonist dies 4 January 2007 4 September 2019 12 January – Berwyn Jones, athlete, 66http://www.cowbridge-today.co.uk/article.cfm?id=153&headline=OBITUARY:%20Berwyn%20Jones&sectionIs=news&searchyear=2007 Obituary:Berwyn Jones 17 January 2007 Ian Golden Cowbridge Gem 4 September 2019 14 January – Peter Prendergast, painter, 60https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1539966/Peter-Prendergast.html Obituary:Peter Prendergast 20 January 2007 4 September 2019 The Daily Telegraph 21 January – Peter Clarke, Children's Commissioner for Wales, 58https://www.theguardian.com/society/2007/jan/22/childrensservices.welshassembly Welsh child tsar dies 22 January 2007 Sara Gaines The Guardian 4 September 2019 24 January – David Morris, MEP and peace activist, 76https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2007/may/22/wales.devolution The Rev David Morris 22 May 2007 Darren Williams The Guardian 4 September 2019 30 January – Griffith Jones, actor, 97https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/griffith-jones-435305.html Griffith Jones 7 February 2007 The Independent 4 September 2019 20 June 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20180620004727/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/griffith-jones-435305.html dead 6 February – Sir Gareth Roberts, physicist, 66 http://www.britishscienceassociation.org/web/News/ReportsandPublications/Magazine/MagazineArchive/SPAArchive/SPAJune07/ObituaryJune07.htm Sir Gareth Roberts 2007-02-06 2011-05-24 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20110604002505/http://www.britishscienceassociation.org/web/News/ReportsandPublications/Magazine/MagazineArchive/SPAArchive/SPAJune07/ObituaryJune07.htm 4 June 2011 dmy-all 7 February – Brian Williams, Welsh international rugby player, 44 10 February – Bill Clement, Welsh international rugby player and Secretary of the WRU, 91 21 February – John Robins, rugby player, 80 22 February – Edgar Evans, opera singer, 94 1 April – Ivor Wynne Jones, journalist, 80 3 April – Marion Eames, novelist, 85 12 April Len Hill, sportsman, 65 Maldwyn Jones, historian, 84 13 April – Tony Goble, artist, 63Peter Wakelin 27 April 2007 https://www.theguardian.com/news/2007/apr/27/guardianobituaries.artsobituaries Tony Goble: One of Wales's best loved artists, he dedicated himself to the local community The Guardian 15 September 2019 22 May – Ifor Owen, illustrator, 91 11 June – Mercer Simpson, writer, 81 12 June – Colin Fletcher, backpacker and writer, 85https://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/19/sports/othersports/19fletcher.html Colin Fletcher, 85, a Trailblazer of Modern Backpacking, Dies The New York Times 19 June 2007 12 August – Alwyn Rice Jones, former Archbishop of Wales and Bishop of St Asaph, 73https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/6943178.stm Former Archbishop of Wales dies 12 August 2007 BBC News 15 September 2019 16 August Will Edwards, politician, 69 Roland Mathias, poet, 91 6 September – Byron Stevenson, footballer, 50 9 September Steve Jones, rugby player, 55 Sir Tasker Watkins, VC, 88http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0200wales/tm_headline=welsh-hero-tasker-dies-at-88%26method=full%26objectid=19759728%26siteid=50082-name_page.html Welsh hero Tasker dies at 88 icWales.co.uk 9 September 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20120527142124/http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/tm_headline=welsh-hero-tasker-dies-at-88&method=full&objectid=19759728&siteid=50082-name_page.html 27 May 2012 deadmedic 14 October – Carol Evans, cricketer, 68 31 October (in Málaga) - Ray Gravell, rugby player and radio presenter, 56Obituary: Ray Gravell https://www.theguardian.com/news/2007/nov/02/guardianobituaries.rugbyunion Paul Rees 2 November 2007 The Guardian 15 November – W. S. Jones, author, 87http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/w-s-jones-758763.html https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/w-s-jones-758763.html 2022-05-01 subscription W. S. Jones 20 November 2007 The Independent Meic Stephens 8 July 2021 December Ron Davies, footballer, 75 Richard Williams, conductor date unknown – Norman Harris, rugby player See also 2007 in Northern Ireland References Category:2007 in Europe Category:2000s in Wales