2004 in Wales

none 2004 This article is about the particular significance of the year 2004 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 Robyn Llŷn (outgoing) Selwyn Iolen (incoming) Events 6 January – An inquest is opened into the death of Diana, Princess of Wales.Keesing's Record of World Events https://books.google.com/books?id=jS0MAQAAMAAJ 2004 Longman 19 January – The jury at the inquest into the death of 12-year-old Stuart Cunningham-Jones, killed in a school bus crash near Cowbridge in December 2002, rules that this death was an accident,https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2004/jan/20/1 School bus death was 'accidental' 20 January 2004 Alexis Akwagyiram The Guardian 27 January 2019 caused by "interference with the steering wheel" by other children on the bus. 23 February – The former Welsh Secretary Ron Davies announces he is joining the new Forward Wales party led by John Marek.https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2004/feb/23/wales.devolution Ron Davies joins new Welsh party 23 February 2004 The Guardian 27 January 2019 1 March The Prince of Wales visits the Vale of Glamorgan and attends a special service in Cowbridge.Deborah Fisher Royal Wales https://books.google.com/books?id=7XmvBwAAQBAJ&pg=PA44 1 September 2010 University of Wales Press 978-0-7083-2312-0 44 Cardiff is granted Fairtrade City status.https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/cardiff-becomes-first-fairtrade-capital-2443142 Cardiff becomes first Fairtrade capital WalesOnline 1 March 2004 27 January 2019 13 March – The market town of Cowbridge celebrates the 750th anniversary of its charter. 15 March – A second bridge over the river Monnow is opened in Monmouth.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/south_east/3512626.stm Monmouth's new bridge opens BBC News 15 March 2004 27 January 2019 31 March The Taith Joint Board is established, to develop and implement actions and strategies for transport in north Wales.http://www.taith.gov.uk/ Taith Homepage 2018-09-04 https://web.archive.org/web/20140520215800/http://www.taith.gov.uk/ 2014-05-20 dead The National Woollen Museum re-opens at Dre-fach Felindre.Rhiannon Mason Museums, Nations, Identities: Wales and Its National Museums https://books.google.com/books?id=LDfXAAAAMAAJ 2007 University of Wales Press 978-0-7083-1972-7 54 28 April – The Wales Trades Union Congress annual conference opens at Llandudno. 15 May – Singer James Fox represents the UK in the Eurovision Song Contest, finishing 16th.https://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/what-to-listen-to/eurovisions-united-kingdom-entries-where-are-they-now Britain's Eurovision Song Contest entries: where are they now? 2 May 2018 The Telegraph 27 January 2019 18 May – Denbighshire becomes the first local authority in Wales to ban smoking on all council property and for all its workers.https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/smoked-out-2929669 Smoked out Daily Post 19 May 2004 30 January 2019 28 May Technology Wales 2004 opens at the Celtic Manor Resort, Newport. Guardian Hay Festival, annual literary festival, opens at Hay-on-Wye. 31 May – The Urdd National Eisteddfod opens at Llangefni.http://www.urdd.net/Eisteddfodau/Mon2004/PrifS.html cy Croeso i Eisteddfod Môn 2004 Urdd 30 January 2019 May – Ospreys in Britain: First ospreys in modern times breed in Wales, at the site which becomes the Glaslyn Osprey Project (where the chicks do not survive), followed by another pair near Welshpool (one chick reared successfully).Welsh Ospreys Dyfi Osprey Project Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust http://dyfiospreyproject.com/history-of-british-ospreys/welsh-ospreys 2015-12-05 https://web.archive.org/web/20151208073530/http://dyfiospreyproject.com/history-of-british-ospreys/welsh-ospreys 2015-12-08 dead 4 June – Professor Merfyn Jones is named as the new Vice Chancellor of the University of Wales, Bangor. 6 June – Rhodri Morgan, the First Minister of Wales is criticized for not attending celebrations to mark the 60th anniversary of D-Day. 10 June – As a result of the local elections, there is power sharing in nine councils across Wales, Labour control in eight, Independents in three, and Plaid Cymru and the Conservatives control one each. 24 June – Police in Swansea arrest twenty people on charges of drug dealing. 2 July – Jeffrey John, an openly gay clergyman originally from Tonyrefail, is inducted as Dean of St Albans.Keesing's Record of World Events https://books.google.com/books?id=jS0MAQAAMAAJ 2004 Longman 6 July The International Musical Eisteddfod opens in Llangollen. The Queen unveils the memorial fountain erected in London in memory of Diana, Princess of Wales. 14 July The National Assembly for Wales brings the Wales Tourist Board, Welsh Development Agency and ELWa under its immediate control. 19 July – The Royal Welsh Show opens at Builth Wells, celebrating its centenary.https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/mid/3849509.stm Queen to attend Royal Welsh 29 June 2004 BBC News 17 January 2024 28 July – It is announced that the North East Wales Institute of Higher Education, Swansea Institute of Higher Education, Trinity College, Carmarthen and the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama will all become part of the University of Wales. 30 July – The National Eisteddfod of Wales opens at Tredegar House near Newport. 12 August – The Keep Cardiff Tidy campaign wins a special merit award at the Association of Public Service Excellence Awards 2004. 26 August – The Festival of History in North Wales opens in Llanfairfechan. 28 August – Bryn Terfel's Faenol Festival opens. 7 September – Kalan Kawa Karim, an Iraqi Kurd, dies after what police take to be a racist attack in Swansea city centre.Maria Olaussen Christina Angelfors Africa Writing Europe: Opposition, Juxtaposition, Entanglement https://books.google.com/books?id=vIr-T6WhuhYC&pg=PA246 2009 Rodopi 978-90-420-2593-6 246 7 October – The Western Mail changes from broadsheet to tabloid/compact format. 8 October – Breconshire Brewery wins the "Champion Beer of Wales" competition at the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) Great Welsh Beer Festival in Cardiff. 26 October – The Monmouth-based inventor, Andrew Hubert von Staufer, wins the Platinum Award for Design and Gold Award for Leisure at the British Invention Show.https://www.eurekamagazine.co.uk/content/news/a-triumph-for-invention/ A triumph for invention 1 November 2004 Tom Shelley Eureka Magazine 18 January 2024 1 November – Neil Kinnock becomes head of the British Council.https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2004/feb/20/foreignpolicy.uk Kinnock to head British Council 20 February 2004 The Guardian 18 January 2024 2 November – Flights to Egypt become available for the first time from Cardiff International Airport. 8 November – The Welsh Assembly Government launches its "free swimming for over-60s" pilot scheme. 19 November – The Wales Children in Need concert is held at Wrexham, starring Bryan Adams. 26 November – Official opening of the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff 31 December – In the New Year Honours List, author Leslie Thomas is made an OBE for services to literature. Arts and literature 23 March – The National Library of Wales successfully bids for an 18th-century Welsh manuscript auctioned in Los Angeles. 5 April – Launch of Katherine Jenkins' first album, Première. May – Foundation of Swansea City Opera company. 17 August – Announcement of the Dylan Thomas Prize, a new £60,000 literary prize. The first award will be made in 2006. November Roger Rees is appointed artistic director of the Williamstown Theatre Festival in Williamstown, Massachusetts. Welsh National Opera moves into the Wales Millennium Centre. 7 December – The Stereophonics introduce their new drummer, Argentinian Javier Weyler. Magenta wins the Classic Rock Society award for Best Live Band. Christina Booth wins Best Female Vocalist. Awards Glyndŵr Award – Peter Prendergast National Eisteddfod of Wales: Chair – Huw Meirion Edwards National Eisteddfod of Wales: Crown – Jason Walford Davies National Eisteddfod of Wales: Prose Medal – Annes Glyn National Eisteddfod of Wales: Music Medal – Owain Llwyd Wales Book of the Year: English language: Niall Griffiths, Stump Welsh language: Jerry Hunter, Llwch Cenhedloedd Gwobr Goffa Daniel Owen – Robin Llywelyn, Un Diwrnod yn yr Eisteddfod John Tripp Award for Spoken Poetry: Clare Potter New books Welsh language Hywel Teifi Edwards – O'r pentre gwyn i Gwmderi Bethan Gwanas – Hi yw fy Ffrind Eirug Wyn – Dyn yn y Cefn Heb Fwstash English language Peter Finch – Real Cardiff Niall Griffiths – Stump Mererid Hopwood – Singing in Chains: Listening to Welsh Verse Rhys Hughes – A New Universal History of Infamy Jon Ronson – The Men Who Stare at Goats Music Karl Jenkins – In These Stones Horizons SingInternational Who's who in Popular Music Europa Publications Limited 2009 266 Katell Keineg – July Alun Tan Lan – Aderyn Papurhttps://www.bbc.co.uk/cymru/cerddoriaeth/artistiaid/alun_tan_lan.shtml Alun Tan Lan BBC Cymru 18 January 2024 Lostprophets – Start Something Manic Street Preachers – Lifebloodhttps://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/manicstreetpreachers-lifeblood The Manic Street Preachers: Lifeblood | PopMatters Garrett John 12 November 2004 PopMatters 1 October 2012 Richard Rees – Y Baswr o Bennal (posthumous album release) Tom Jones and Jools Holland (album) Tystion – Miwsig I'ch Traed A Miwsig I'ch Meddwl Film Ioan Gruffudd stars as Lancelot in King Arthur. I'll Sleep When I'm Dead is filmed partly in Fishguard. The Libertine is filmed partly at Tretower Court. Welsh-language films Dal: Yma/Nawr, with John Cale, Ioan Gruffudd, Guto Harri, Cerys Matthews, Siân Phillips Broadcasting 3 May – A new community radio station, WHAM! RADIO 1449, is launched in Blaenavon. 16 July – The filming of a new Doctor Who series begins in Cardiff. 28 July – S4C and the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society sign a deal guaranteeing nationwide TV coverage of the Royal Welsh Show for the next five years. 17 October – Pobol y Cwm, the Welsh language soap opera, celebrates its thirtieth anniversary by receiving a "Hall of Fame" award from the Royal Television Society. November – Bread of Heaven, a series of six programmes about the history of religion in Wales, presented by Huw Edwards, begins its run on BBC 1 Wales. November–December – Mine All Mine, written by Russell T Davies and starring Griff Rhys Jones. Rob Brydon stars in The Keith Barret Show. Welsh-language television Alex Jones presents the first series of Hip neu Sgip? Ralïo Sport 4 June – Simon Khan breaks the course record at the Celtic Manor Wales Open golf tournament. 24 June – Joe Calzaghe pulls out of scheduled world title fight against Glen Johnson because of injury. 30 August – The 19th World Bog Snorkelling Championships are held at Llanwrtyd Wells. 15 September – Mark Hughes resigns as manager of the Welsh national team after being appointed manager of Blackburn Rovers. 16 September – The Wales Rally GB begins in Cardiff. 17 September – The 2004 Paralympics open in Athens: Welsh athletes will return home with twelve gold, six silver and nine bronze medals. 9 October – The Wales national football team loses 2–0 to England at Old Trafford in Manchester. 12 November – John Toshack becomes the new manager of the Wales national football team.http://www.uefa.com/worldcup/news/newsid=257350.html https://web.archive.org/web/20180206002630/http://www.uefa.com/worldcup/news/newsid=257350.html dead February 6, 2018 Wales turn to Toshack UEFA Trevor Haylett 12 November 2004 5 February 2018 20 November – The Wales rugby union side loses 25–26 to New Zealand at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff. 3 December – Wrexham A.F.C. goes into administration. BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year – Tanni Grey-ThompsonBBC Wales Sport Personality winners BBC Sport https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/wales/20670643 2 August 2021 Deaths 3 January – T. G. Jones, footballer, 86https://www.theguardian.com/news/2004/mar/13/guardianobituaries.football TG Jones 13 March 2004 James Corbett The Guardian 30 January 2019 5 January – Vivian Jenkins, rugby player, 92https://www.theguardian.com/media/2004/jan/15/pressandpublishing.guardianobituaries Vivian Jenkins 15 January 2004 David Frost The Guardian 30 January 2019 21 January – John T. Lewis, mathemategydd, 71 Pule Joseph V. John T. Lewis (1932–2004) Bulletin of the Irish Mathematical Society 54 15–24 Irish Mathematical Society 2005 22 January – Islwyn Ffowc Elis, author, 79https://www.theguardian.com/news/2004/mar/22/guardianobituaries.booksobituaries Islwyn Ffowc Elis 22 March 2004 D Ben Rees The Guardian 30 January 2019 5 February – Nicholas Evans, artist, 97https://www.theguardian.com/news/2004/mar/15/guardianobituaries.artsobituaries Nicholas Evans 15 March 2004 Peter Wakelin The Guardian 30 January 2019 21 February – John Charles, footballer, 72https://www.theguardian.com/news/2004/feb/23/guardianobituaries.football John Charles 23 February 2004 Brian Glanville The Guardian 30 January 2019 29 March – Eifion Jones, marine botanist, 79https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/driver-killed-after-crash-lorry-2920872 Driver killed after crash with lorry Daily Post 24 November 2004 Eryl Crump 27 January 2019 4 April – Alwyn Williams, geologist, 82 5 April – Gweneth Lilly, writer and teacher, 83Rees D. Ben David Benjamin Rees 20 April 2004 Gweneth Lilly The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/news/2004/apr/20/guardianobituaries.booksobituaries 20 April 2021 17 April – Geraint Howells, politician, 79https://www.theguardian.com/news/2004/apr/19/guardianobituaries.liberaldemocrats Lord Geraint Andrew Roth 19 April 2004 The Guardian 27 January 2019 25 April – Eirug Wyn, author, 53 (myeloma) May – Cyril Kieft, racing driver and sportscar manufacturer, 92"Cyril Kieft dies", Autosport, 13 May 2004. Accessed 20 May 2014 20 May – Dennis Coslett, Free Wales Army activist, 64https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/dennis-coslett-549958.html https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/dennis-coslett-549958.html 2022-05-01 subscription live Dennis Coslett – Dashing commandant of the Free Wales Army The Independent 2004-05-21 2 June – Alun Richards, novelist, 74https://www.theguardian.com/news/2004/jun/19/guardianobituaries.booksobituaries Alun Richards Dai Smith Dai Smith (academic) 19 June 2004 The Guardian 27 January 2019 9 June – Harry Harris, footballer, 70 15 June J. Gwyn Griffiths, poet, Egyptologist and nationalist political activist, 92Lloyd Alan B. 2005 Professor J. Gwyn Griffiths 1911-2004 https://www.jstor.org/stable/3822402 The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 91 181–185 10.1177/030751330509100112 3822402 194901325 0307-5133 subscription John Lasarus Williams, nationalist activist, 79 17 July – Sir Julian Hodge, banker, 99John Cunningham (21 July 2004) "Sir Julian Hodge" (obituary), The Guardian. 18 July – Emrys Evans, banker 29 July – Linford Rees, psychiatrist, 89https://www.theguardian.com/news/2004/aug/13/guardianobituaries.obituaries Obituary: Linford Rees TheGuardian.com 12 August 2004 5 August – Jim Alford, athlete, 90https://worldathletics.org/news/news/jim-alford-1938-empire-games-gold-medallist-d Jim Alford 1938 Empire Games gold medallist dies at 90 World Athletics 18 January 2024 8 August – Richard Taylor, skater and skier, 23 (injuries from skating accident)Tributes paid to talented Taylor https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/3546682.stm BBC Sport 8 August 2004 22 October 2012 20 August – Arthur Lever, footballer, 84 1 September – Gordon Parry, Baron Parry, 78https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/lord-parry-39166.html Lord Parry 6 September 2004 The Independent Meic Stephens Meic Stephens 11 November 2019 10 September – Glyn Owen, actor, 76https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/glyn-owen-39219.html Glyn Owen obituary The Independent 1 December 2014 12 September 2004 15 September – Sue Noake, athletics official 20 September – Bill Shortt, footballer, 83 25 September – Michael Treharne Davies, Catholic writer, 68 13 October – Bernice Rubens, novelist, 7694398 Rubens, Bernice (1923-2004) Cunningham Valentine 2008 21 October – Brinley Rees, academic, 84 9 November – Emlyn Hughes, English footballer of Welsh parentage, 57 (brain cancer)https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/3995263.stm Football great Emlyn Hughes dies 9 November 2004 BBC News 14 November – David Stanley Evans, astronomer, 88http://www.saao.ac.za/assa/html/ds_evans_obituary.html Astronomical Society of Southern Africa David - Stanley Evans (1916-2004) https://web.archive.org/web/20060927164311/http://www.saao.ac.za/assa/html/ds_evans_obituary.html 2006-09-27 15 November – John Morgan, comedian, 74 25 November – John St. Bodfan Gruffydd, landscape architect, 94 29 November – Jonah Jones, sculptor, writer, and educationist, 85 4 December – Sir Anthony Meyer, politician, 84 14 December – Harry Bowcott, international rugby player and president of the Welsh Rugby Union, 97 See also 2004 in Northern Ireland References Category:2004 in Europe