2005 in Wales

none 2005 This article is about the particular significance of the year 2005 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 10 January – Jane Hutt loses her job as Health Minister in the Welsh Assembly Government, a post she has held since 1999. She is replaced by Dr Brian Gibbons. First Minister Rhodri Morgan denies it is a dismissal, and moves Hutt to the post of Business Minister.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/4161621.stm Hutt is sacked as health minister 10 January 2005 BBC News 30 January 2019 22 January – The Tsunami Relief concert held at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff – the largest live music event in the UK since Live Aid. Performers included Eric Clapton, Jools Holland, Manic Street Preachers, Lulu, Aled Jones, Kelly Jones, Charlotte Church, Katherine Jenkins, Feeder, Snow Patrol, Liberty X, Craig David, Heather Small, Keane.https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/4195985.stm Stadium tsunami gig raises £1.25m 23 January 2005 BBC News Wales 30 January 2019 14 February – An earthquake with a strength of 3.8 is felt in Llandudno. April – Launch of Audiences Wales.http://www.audienceswales.co.uk/public/index.cfm Audiences Wales website https://web.archive.org/web/20130517121155/http://www.audienceswales.co.uk/public/index.cfm 2013-05-17 2013-04-28 dead 2 April – First Minister Rhodri Morgan travels to Vietnam to take part in a trade mission. 9 April – As announced on 10 February, the Prince of Wales (now Charles III) marries Camilla Parker Bowles; however, she uses the style HRH The Duchess of Cornwall rather than Princess of Wales. 27 April – March Networks, a company founded by Sir Terry Matthews, makes an initial public offering. 5 May – In the 2005 United Kingdom general election, the Labour Party retains its national majority but the Conservative Party wins three Welsh constituencies, the first time since 1997 that they have held any parliamentary seats in Wales, and the former Labour MP Peter Law retains his Blaenau Gwent constituency standing as an independent. In the new Cabinet, Paul Murphy is replaced as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. 6 May – Welsh Secretary, Peter Hain, makes a public apology to soprano Katherine Jenkins for using her image on election leaflets without her permission. Following the general election, Hain is also appointed Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whilst retaining his Wales appointment. 13 June – Poet Dannie Abse is injured and his wife Joan is killed in an accident on the M4 in South Wales.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/5217658.stm BBC News Poet tells of wife's crash death 2006-07-26 2014-11-16 17 June – Gwenno Mair Davies is presented with the Crown of the Urdd National Eisteddfod at a ceremony in Caernarfon, after the original winner, Llinos Dafydd, hands it back amid accusations of plagiarism.http://news.bbc.co.uk/welsh/hi/newsid_4250000/newsid_4256100/4256194.stm Coron: Anrhydeddu enillydd Crown: Honouring a winner 17 June 2005 BBC Cymru Newyddion cy 19 August 2026 21 June – A new exhibition, "Cardiff's Century", opens to commemorate its first hundred years as a city. 29 June – Aspers is selected as the casino operator to invest in Cardiff's planned new £700 million International Sports Village.https://www.building.co.uk/news/cardiff-bay-secures-major-casino/3053138.article Cardiff Bay secures major casino 29 June 2005 Building 13 July 2019 July – A rare sooty tern is spotted in the Skerries, Anglesey.https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/sooty-tern-sweeps-record-books-2908635 Sooty tern sweeps into record books 12 July 2005 North Wales Daily Post 13 July 2019 10 July – The Liberty Stadium opens in Swansea. On 23 July, Swansea City A.F.C. play their first match here; it is also home to the Ospreys (rugby union) team.https://www.swanseacity.com/news/tags/liberty-stadium Liberty Stadium Swansea City A.F.C. 13 July 2019 13 July – The Prince of Wales opens a new building to house the Narrow Gauge Railway Museum at Tywyn Wharf railway station, Gwynedd. 30 July – An anti-racism rally is held in Cardiff as a result of an attack on the Shah Jalal Mosque and Islamic Cultural Centre. 5 August – Aled Jones is among those admitted to the Gorsedd of bards. 16 September – 2005 South Wales E. coli O157 outbreak first identified in Merthyr Tydvil.Hugh Pennington Pennington Hugh Public Inquiry into the September 2005 Outbreak of E.coli O157 in South Wales 2009-03-19 17–18 October – National Waterfront Museum opens in Swansea. 19 October – Liverpool City Council issues a formal apology for the flooding of the Tryweryn valley to create the reservoir of Llyn Celyn during the 1950s. 28 October – Cardiff celebrates its centenary as a city. November – Swansea University announces its new Institute of Advanced Telecommunications (IAT). 1 November – The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall arrive in the United States for their first overseas visit since their marriage. 1 December – The village of Ystradfellte is connected to mains electricity, probably the last in Wales to be wired.Electric Dream Daily Mirror London https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2005/12/02/electric-dream-115875-16437734/ 2005-12-02 2010-08-27 20 December – On his first visit to Wales as Leader of the Opposition, David Cameron states that "devolution is here to stay". Trinity College, Carmarthen, becomes part of the University of Wales. A Welsh language version of Scrabble is marketed for the first time. Arts and literature January Karl Jenkins is awarded the OBE in the New Year's Honours List. Sian Pearce becomes the first female musical director of the Morriston Orpheus Choir. 9 April – Celebration Fanfare by the Welsh composer Alun Hoddinott is performed at the wedding of the Prince of Wales. 17 April – Rhys Ifans wins the Best Actor award at the British Academy Television Awards. Michael Sheen is also nominated. May – Gwyneth Lewis becomes the first National Poet for Wales. 25 May – Katherine Jenkins's album Second Nature is named Album of the Year at the 2005 Classical BRIT Awards. 19 June – The American soprano Nicole Cabell wins the final of the Cardiff Singer of the World competition for 2005. 2 July – Katherine Jenkins and the Stereophonics perform in the Live8 concerts. November – Dawn, by Shreepali Patel, is awarded the D. M. Davies Award at the Cardiff Screen Festival. December – Connie Fisher makes her first professional theatre appearance in panto at Milford Haven Torch Theatre. Gillian Clarke is appointed Cardiff's first "Capital Poet". Awards Glyndŵr Award – Dr John Davies National Eisteddfod of Wales: Chair – Tudur Dylan Jones National Eisteddfod of Wales: Crown – Christine James National Eisteddfod of Wales: Prose Medal – Dylan Iorwerth for Darnau National Eisteddfod of Wales: Drama Medal – Manon Steffan Gwobr Goffa Daniel Owen – Sian Eirian Rees Davies for I Fyd Sy Well Urdd National Eisteddfod: Chair – Hywel Meilyr Griffiths Urdd National Eisteddfod: Crown – Gwenno Mair Davies Wales Book of the Year: English language: Owen Sheers, The Dust Diaries Welsh language: Caryl Lewis – Martha Jac a Sianco New books Welsh language Geraint Griffiths & John Davies – Hewl Mererid Hopwood – Seren Lowri English language Phil Carradice – Wales at War Richard Gwyn – The Colour of a Dog Running Away Gavin Henson – My Grand Slam Year Stefan Terlezki – From War to Westminster Music Classical Jeffrey Lewis – Sacred Chants Albums Feeder- Pushing The Senses Bullet for My Valentine – The Poison Charlotte Church – Tissues and Issues Dave Edmunds – Alive and Pickin' (album) The Gentle Good – Find Your Way Back Home (EP) Meinir Gwilym – Sgandal Fain Siân James – Y Ferch o Bedlam Llio Rhydderch – Gwenllian Other Mal Pope – Amazing Grace (musical) Group 9 Bach formed Film Ioan Gruffudd stars in Fantastic Four. New Anglo-Welsh suspense film, The Dark, stars Sean Bean. Welsh-language films Y Lleill, directed by Emyr Glyn Williams Television 1 March – S4C publishes its first Statement of Programme Policy. 21 March – BBC Wales announces major restructuring. 23 April – BAFTA Cymru awards ceremony held at Cardiff International Arena. 27 April – Gethin Jones makes his debut as a Blue Peter presenter. 31 May – Iona Jones is appointed S4C's new Chief Executive. Welsh-language television Con Passionate (drama) Hacio (current affairs programme for young people) English-language television Iolo's Welsh Safari 2005 presented by Iolo Williams Welsh Journeys (series 2) presented by Jamie Owen Big Welsh Challenge (series 1) Paul Rhys stars as Beethoven Doctor Who (revival) produced by Russell T Davies, made by BBC Wales (with location filming at Tredegar House) Sport BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year – Gareth ThomasBBC Wales Sport Personality winners https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/wales/20670643 BBC Sport 2 August 2021 Cycling 27 June – Julian Winn, former Olympic competitor, is named as the new Welsh cycling national coach. Rugby Union 19 March – The Welsh national team defeats Ireland to win the Six Nations rugby tournament and secure its first "grand slam" since 1978. Births Deaths 19 January – Peter Dawson trade union leader, 64 23 January – Morys Bruce, 4th Baron Aberdare, 85https://www.theguardian.com/news/2005/feb/19/guardianobituaries.politics Lord Aberdate 19 February 2005 Andrew Roth The Guardian 12 January 2022 29 January – Eric Griffiths, musician, 64 24 February – Professor Sir Glanmor Williams, historian, 84https://www.theguardian.com/news/2005/mar/25/guardianobituaries.obituaries Sir Glanmor Williams 25 March 2005 D. Ben Rees The Guardian 12 January 2022 8 March – Alice Thomas Ellis, novelist, 72https://www.theguardian.com/news/2005/mar/10/guardianobituaries.booksobituaries Alice Thomas Ellis 10 March 2005 Clare Colvin The Guardian 12 January 2022 26 March – James Callaghan, Lord Callaghan of Cardiff, former Cardiff MP and prime minister, 92https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2005/mar/27/uk.obituaries Jim Callaghan: four offices of state, one beloved wife 27 March 2005 Gaby Hinsliff The Guardian 12 January 2022 1 April – John Davies, cricketer, 79 2 April – Trevor Foster, Rugby league player, 90 21 April – Gwynfor Evans, first Plaid Cymru MP and leader of the party for 40 years, 92https://www.theguardian.com/media/2005/apr/22/broadcasting.welshassembly Gwynfor Evans 22 April 2005 Patrick Hannan The Guardian 12 January 2022 16 May – Sir Rees Davies, historian, 66https://www.theguardian.com/news/2005/may/26/guardianobituaries.obituaries Sir Rees Davies 26 May 2005 John Watts The Guardian 12 January 2022 17 May – John Griffith Vaughan, seed scientist, 79https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1492399/Professor-John-Vaughan.html Professor John Vaughan 20 June 2005 The Telegraph 12 January 2022 22 May – Phil Clift, cricketer, 86 28 May – David Oswald Thomas, philosopher, 81 31 May – Martyn Davies, rugby player 19 June – Tich Gwilym, musician, 54 30 July – Derrick Morris, heart transplant survivor, 75 20 August – Clifford Williams, actor and director, 78 1 October – Peter Hubbard-Miles, politician, 78 3 October – Jeff Young, rugby player, 63 4 October – Mike Gibbins, Welsh musician and songwriter, 56https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/61211/badfinger-drummer-michael-gibbins-dies Badfinger Drummer Michael Gibbins Dies Billboard October 5, 2005 1 November – Lady Rose McLaren, socialite, 86 4 November – Wilfred Abse, psychoanalyst, 91 David Wilfred Abse, M.D. (1915-2005) Group Analysis 2007-12-01 Volkan Vamik D. 40 4 558–560 10.1177/0533316407086335 21 November – Aileen Fox, archaeologist and widow of Sir Cyril Fox, 98https://www.theguardian.com/news/2006/jan/20/guardianobituaries.obituaries Aileen Fox 20 January 2006 Henrietta Quinnell The Guardian 12 January 2022 References Category:2005 in Europe