2008 in Wales

none thumb | right | alt=A photograph of a stone circle monument on a grassy hill with a view of the surrounding landscape under a cloudy sky | The Gorsedd circle of stones in Fishguard, associated with the 1936 eisteddfod and a historic visit by Augustus John and Dylan Thomas July 2023 2008 This article is about the particular significance of the year 2008 to Wales and its people. Incumbents First Minister – Rhodri Morgan Secretary of State for Wales Peter Hain (to January 24) Paul Murphy Archbishop of Wales – Barry Morgan, Bishop of Llandaff Archdruid of the National Eisteddfod of Wales Selwyn Iolen (outgoing) Dic Jones (incoming) Events 18 January – Last working of Tower Colliery, the last deep mine in the South Wales Valleys (official closure: 25 January). 24 January – Peter Hain resigns from his government offices (including Secretary of State for Wales) after the Electoral Commission refers to the Metropolitan Police his failure to report donations amounting to £100,000. 25 January – Official closure of Tower Colliery in the Cynon Valley, the last deep coal mine to be worked in Wales.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/7200432.stm Coal mine closes with celebration 25 January 2008 BBC News 25 January 2008 11 February – At the 50th Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, the Grammy Award for Best Opera Recording goes to Hansel and Gretel, starring Rebecca Evans. 18 February – Plans to publish Wales's first daily newspaper in the Welsh language, under the title Y Byd (The World), are abandoned because of inadequate finance. 1 March (St David's Day) Soprano Helen Field gives the broadcast première of Alun Hoddinott's Serenissima on BBC Radio 3, shortly before the composer's death.https://radio-lists.org.uk/r3/2008/R3_2008_0301-0307_3columns_6pt_10pages.pdf Radio 3 listings March 2008 Radio lists 19 November 2024 Cardiff sees record-breaking numbers march in the annual St David's Day parade, from National Museum Cardiff to the Senedd in Cardiff Bay.September 2021 7 March – Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom visits Swansea to open its new leisure centre, a replacement for the building she opened in 1977. 16 April Swansea's new bowls stadium hosts the World Indoor Singles and Mixed Pairs Championship for bowls. First minister Rhodri Morgan officially opens Amazon.co.uk's 400000 sqft m2 on Fulfilment Centre in Jersey Marine. 1 May – All Wales local council elections. 31 May – Swansea Bay Film Festival begins. 12 June – Cardiff Castle opens a new interpretation centre at a cost of £6 million.http://www.culture24.org.uk/art/art58168 New £6 Million Interpretation Centre Opens At Cardiff Castle 13 June 2008 Culture24 17 May 2019 13 June – While taking part in BBC Radio Cymru's weekly radio show, Dau o'r Bae, Alun Cairns apologises for referring to Italians as "greasy wops".https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2008/jun/14/conservatives.wales The Guardian London Tory candidate apologises for 'greasy wops' comment 14 June 2008 23 April 2010 14 June – In the 2008 Birthday Honours list, Russell T Davies is awarded the OBE and Joe Calzaghe the CBE.United Kingdom list: 58729 14 June 2008 1–28 1 28 June – At the Wales Book of the Year Awards, Heritage Minister Rhodri Glyn Thomas reads out the wrong name, and runner-up Tom Bullough arrives on stage only to find he has lost out to Dannie Abse. Bullough comments "The Book of the Year event was out-and-out the worst night of my life."https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2008/07/30/awards-gaffe-the-perfect-publicity-for-writer-s-book-91466-21428819/ Awards gaffe the perfect publicity for book 30 July 2008 Rhodri Clark Media Wales WalesOnline 17 May 2019 18 July – Rhodri Glyn Thomas resigns from his position in the Welsh Assembly Government after having been reprimanded for smoking in a pub.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/south_east/7514458.stm Cigar blunder minister quits job 18 July 2008 BBC News 17 May 2019 July – North East Wales Institute of Higher Education, based at Wrexham, is renamed Glyndŵr University. 2 August – The National Eisteddfod of Wales opens in Cardiff.https://www.bbc.co.uk/cymru/eisteddfod2008/ Eisteddfod Genedlaethol Cymru cy BBC Wales 19 November 2024 11 August – A resurvey of Mynydd Graig Goch in the Moel Hebog group of Snowdonia summits determines its height to be 2,000 ft 6in (609.75m) rather than the 1998 ft (609m) previously recorded, qualifying it as a mountain.https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/north_west/7623904.stm BBC News Survey turns hill into a mountain 19 September 2008 17 August 2012https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2008/sep/19/wales The Guardian London The Welshmen who went up a hill, but came down a mountain Martin Wainwright Martin Wainwright (journalist) 19 September 2008 17 August 2012 12 September – The Tower, Meridian Quay, is topped out, becoming the tallest building in Swansea and the tallest residential building in Wales.https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/pictures-show-changing-face-swansea-10777011 These pictures show the changing face of Swansea city centre through the years Robin Turner 22 January 2016 Media Wales WalesOnline 18 March 2019 5 October – Delyth Morgan, Baroness Morgan of Drefelin, replaces Kevin Brennan as Lords Minister for the Department for Children, Schools and Families. 20 November – AM and Heritage Minister Alun Ffred Jones makes history by using the Welsh language for the first time as a representative of the UK government at a European Union meeting in Brussels.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/7739425.stm 'Historic' use of Welsh in EU 20 November 2008 BBC News 17 May 2019 14 December – Trinity College, Carmarthen, announces negotiations with University of Wales, Lampeter, with a view to a merger. 19 December – A haul of 22 million counterfeit cigarettes, the biggest such seizure ever in Wales, is recovered by Cardiff customs officers in a container from Dubai.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/7834042.stm 22m counterfeit cigarettes found 16 January 2009 BBC News 17 May 2019 31 December – In the New Year Honours 2009, Michael Sheen is awarded the OBE and Owain Arwel Hughes the CBE. Cyclists Nicole Cooke and Geraint Thomas receive the MBE. Arts and culture Gillian Clarke succeeds Gwyn Thomas as National Poet of Wales. Awards Glyndŵr Award – Tudur Dylan Jones National Eisteddfod of Wales:Eisteddfod Genedlaethol Cymru: The Week's Results https://web.archive.org/web/20141030135157/http://www.eisteddfod.org.uk/english/2014/the-weeks-results/ 2014-10-30 . Accessed 9 November 2014 Chair – Hilma Lloyd Edwardshttps://eisteddfod.wales/archive/eisteddfod-winners/winners-chair Chair Winners National Eisteddfod of Wales 20 January 2021 13 February 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210213204407/https://eisteddfod.wales/archive/eisteddfod-winners/winners-chair dead National Eisteddfod of Wales: Crown – Hywel Griffithshttps://eisteddfod.wales/archive/eisteddfod-winners/crown-winners Crown Winners National Eisteddfod of Wales 20 January 2021 7 November 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20191107194429/https://eisteddfod.wales/archive/eisteddfod-winners/crown-winners dead National Eisteddfod of Wales: Prose Medal – Mererid Hopwoodhttps://eisteddfod.wales/archive/eisteddfod-winners/winners-prose-medal Prose Medal Winners National Eisteddfod of Wales 20 January 2021 7 November 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20191107194428/https://eisteddfod.wales/archive/eisteddfod-winners/winners-prose-medal dead National Eisteddfod of Wales: Drama Medal – Glesni Hâf Jones, Dŵr Mawr Dyfnhttps://eisteddfod.wales/archive/eisteddfod-winners/winners-drama-medal Drama Medal Winners National Eisteddfod of Wales 20 January 2021 5 February 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200205150408/https://eisteddfod.wales/archive/eisteddfod-winners/winners-drama-medal dead Gwobr Goffa Daniel Owen: Bet Jones, Craciauhttps://eisteddfod.wales/archive/eisteddfod-winners/winners-daniel-owen-memorial-prize Daniel Owen Memorial Prize Winners National Eisteddfod of Wales 20 January 2021 Wales Book of the Year: English language: Dannie Abse – The PresenceDannie Abse – obituary https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/11126588/Dannie-Abse-obituary.html 21 January 2016 The Telegraph 28 September 2014 Welsh language: Gareth Miles – Y Proffwyd a'l Ddwy Jesebelhttps://www.theguardian.com/books/2008/jul/02/news.culture The Presence wins a Welsh book award 2 July 2008 The Guardian 19 November 2024 Dylan Thomas Award: Nam Le Cân i Gymru: Aled Myrddin – "Atgofion" New books The Academi – Encyclopaedia of Wales / Gwyddoniadur Cymru Geraint Talfan Davies – At Arm's Length: Recollections and Reflections on the Arts, Media and a Young Democracy Rhys Evans – Gwynfor Evans: a Portrait of a Patriot Ray Gravell – Grav in his Own Words Simon Jenkins – Wales: Churches, Houses, Castles Peter Lord – Winifred Coombe Tennant: a Life through Art (National Library of Wales) Iolo Morganwg and the Romantic Tradition in Wales: The Correspondence of Iolo Morganwg, Vols 1, 2 & 3 (ed. Geraint H. Jenkins, Ffion Mair Jones & David Ceri Jones) Ian Skidmore – Kyffin: a Figure in a Welsh Landscape Dai Smith – Raymond Williams: a Warrior's Tale Louie Myfanwy Thomas (d. 1968) writing as Jane Ann Jones – Pererinion Rowan Williams – Dostoevsky: Language, Faith and Fiction Music Classical Alun Hoddinott – Music for String Quartet Karl Jenkins – Stabat MaterBoosey & Hawkes Composers, Classical Music and Jazz Repertoire https://www.boosey.com/cr/perusals/score?id=1182 18 March 2021 www.boosey.com Albums The Automatic – This Is a Fix Duffy – Rockferry The Gentle Good – While You Slept I Went Out Walking Katherine Jenkins – Sacred Arias Kids in Glass Houses – Smart Casual Bryn Terfel – First Love: Songs from the British Isles Singles Feeder – Miss You Film Jonathan Pryce appears in Leatherheads. Michael Sheen plays David Frost in Frost/Nixon Catherine Zeta-Jones stars in Death Defying Acts Freebird is filmed and set in Wales. Flick, starring Faye Dunaway, is filmed in Wales. Broadcasting Welsh-language TV Natur Cymru (with Iolo Williams) Noson Chis a Meinir English-language TV Teen Tribes (with Rhod Gilbert) (BBC2)https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b009nmvw Teen Tribes BBC 19 November 2024 The Wright Taste Sport BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year – Shane WilliamsBBC Wales Sport Personality winners https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/wales/20670643 BBC Sport 2 August 2021 BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year – Eleanor Simmonds Cycling March – Geraint Thomas is a member of the gold medal-winning team in the UCI Track Cycling World Championships - Men's Team Pursuit. September – Nicole Cooke wins the UCI Road World Championships - Women's Road Race. Darts Mark Webster wins the 2008 BDO World Darts Championship.http://www.sport.co.uk/news/Sportcouk/12/Welshman_Mark_Webster_Wins_the_BDO_World_Darts_Championship.aspx Welshman Mark Webster Wins the BDO World Darts Championship sport.co.uk 14 January 2008 8 May 2012 Thomas, Matthew Football 9 March – Cardiff City F.C. defeat Middlesbrough F.C. to reach the semi-finals of the FA Cup for the first time since 1927. 6 April – Cardiff City F.C. defeat Barnsley F.C. to reach the final of the FA Cup for the first time since 1927. 17 May – Cardiff City F.C. are defeated by Portsmouth F.C. in the final of the FA Cup 16 August – Opening round of the Welsh Cup 2008-09 Rugby union 2 February – Wales defeat World Cup finalists England in their first match of the 2008 Six Nations Championship. 8 March – Wales defeat Ireland to clinch the Triple Crown. 15 March – Wales defeat France to win the Grand Slam for the second time in five years. 12 April – Ospreys defeat Leicester Tigers and lift the EDF Energy Cup trophy. 2008 Summer Olympics 10 August – Cyclist Nicole Cooke wins the gold medal in the Women's road race. 16 August – In rowing, Tom James wins a gold medal as one of the British team's victorious coxless four. 18 August – Cyclist Geraint Thomas wins gold as a member of the GB Team Pursuit team. 21 August – David Davies of Barry wins the silver medal in the Men's marathon 10 kilometre swim. Births Deaths 1 January – Aled Rhys Wiliam, writer, 81https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/aled-rhys-wiliam-welsh-scholar-and-broadcaster-768822.html https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/aled-rhys-wiliam-welsh-scholar-and-broadcaster-768822.html 2022-05-01 subscription live Aled Rhys Wiliam: Welsh scholar and broadcaster 8 January 2008 The Independent 20 January 2021 Laura Mattan, wife of Mahmood Hussein Mattan, the last man to be hanged at Cardiff Prison, who campaigned to have his wrongful conviction overturned, 78https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/wife-last-man-hanged-cardiff-2201653 Wife of last man hanged in Cardiff dies, 78 10 January 2008 WalesOnline 5 July 2023 4 February – Peter Thomas, Baron Thomas of Gwydir, politician, 87https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/lord-thomas-of-gwydir-first-tory-welsh-secretary-779110.html https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/lord-thomas-of-gwydir-first-tory-welsh-secretary-779110.html 2022-05-01 subscription live Lord Thomas of Gwydir: First Tory Welsh Secretary 7 February 2008 The Independent 16 September 2019 8 March – Patrick Gibbs, RAF Wing Commander, author and film critic, 92 12 March – Alun Hoddinott, composer, 78https://www.theguardian.com/music/2008/mar/14/obituaries.mainsection Alun Hoddinott: Prodigy who became a prolific composer and patriarchal figure in Welsh music The Guardian Lewis, Geraint 14 March 2008 6 February 2011 18 March – Philip Jones Griffiths, photojournalist, 72https://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/20/arts/design/20griffiths.html?ex=1363752000&en=fc96fff81dd8019e&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink Philip Jones Griffiths, photographer, Dies at 72 Kennedy Randy 20 March 2008 New York Times 3 May 2008 24 March – Neil Aspinall, Beatles' friend and assistant, 65Neil Aspinall, 'the fifth Beatle', dies aged 66 https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1582594/Neil-Aspinall-the-fifth-Beatle-dies-aged-66.html The Daily Telegraph 25 March 2008 23 September 2012 12 April (in Heywood, Greater Manchester) – Dai Royston Bevan, rugby player, 80 17 April – Gwyneth Dunwoody, politician, 77https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/7353743.stm MP Gwyneth Dunwoody dies aged 77 17 April 2008 BBC News online live https://web.archive.org/web/20080421091715/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7353743.stm 21 April 2008 dmy-all 25 April – Humphrey Lyttelton, jazz musician and former Port Talbot steelworker, 86https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7367385.stm Jazz legend Lyttelton dies at 86 BBC News 25 April 2008 25 April 2008 1 May – Mark Kendall, footballer, 49https://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/news-archive-1/obituary-mark-kendall/ Obituary – Mark Kendall Tottenham Hotspur F. C. 20 January 2021 19 May – Dai Davies, sports journalist, 69 28 May – Elinor Lyon, English children's novelist who retired to Harlech, 86https://www.theguardian.com/books/2008/jun/24/culture.obituaries Elinor Lyon The Guardian Julia Eccleshare 24 June 2008 20 January 2021 12 June – Derek Tapscott, international footballer, 75https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/derek-tapscott-arsenal-and-wales-striker-847907.html https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/derek-tapscott-arsenal-and-wales-striker-847907.html 2022-05-01 subscription live Derek Tapscott: Arsenal and Wales striker 23 October 2011 The Independent 20 January 2021 16 June – Gareth Jones, rugby player, 28 22 June – Ron Stitfall, footballer, 82https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/c/cardiff_city/7470805.stm FAW mourn defender Ron Stitfall BBC Sport 24 June 2008 20 January 2021 30 June – Anthony Crockett, Bishop of Bangor, 62https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/2230584/The-Right-Reverend-Anthony-Crockett.html The Right Reverend Anthony Crockett The Daily Telegraph 1 July 2008 16 September 2019 14 July – George Noakes, former Archbishop of Wales, 83http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article4374198.ece https://web.archive.org/web/20100523101347/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article4374198.ece dead 23 May 2010 The Right Rev George Noakes: Archbishop of Wales, 1987–1991 22 July 2008 Times, The (London) 27 July 2008 12 August (in London) – Michael Baxandall, art historian, 74https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/professor-michael-baxandall-influential-art-historian-with-a-rigorously-cerebral-approach-to-the-study-of-painting-and-sculpture-901782.html https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/professor-michael-baxandall-influential-art-historian-with-a-rigorously-cerebral-approach-to-the-study-of-painting-and-sculpture-901782.html 2022-05-01 subscription live Professor Michael Baxandall: Influential art historian with a rigorously cerebral approach to the study of painting and sculpture 22 October 2011 The Independent 20 January 2021 18 August – Bob Humphrys, TV sports presenter, 56https://www.theguardian.com/media/2008/aug/21/television.television Bob Humphrys 21 August 2008 Paul Rees The Guardian 16 September 2019 20 August – Leo Abse, politician, 91Goodman Geoffrey Leo Abse https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2008/aug/21/labour.houseofcommons The Guardian 16 June 2017 20 August 2008 10 September – Vernon Handley, conductor, 77https://www.theguardian.com/music/2008/sep/12/classicalmusicandopera Vernon Handley 12 September 2008 John Amis John Amis The Guardian 19 August 2019 7 October – Leslie Hardman, rabbi, 95 22 October – George Edwards, footballer, 87https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/tributes-city-wales-star-who-2148096 Tributes to City and Wales star who loved sport South Wales Echo Evans, Catherine Mary 23 October 2008 3 December 2013 en 27 October – Colin Gale, footballer, 76 12 November – Richard Rhys, 9th Baron Dynevor, 73https://www.thetimes.com/travel/destinations/uk-travel/lord-dynevor-patron-of-the-arts-in-wales-73qrj57d8mw Lord Dynevor: patron of the arts in Wales December 18, 2008 The Times 7 July 2021 7 December – John Ellis Williams, novelist, 84 See also 2008 in Northern Ireland References Category:2008 in Europe Category:2000s in Wales