# 1977 in Wales

This article is about the particular significance of the year 1977 to Wales and its people.

## Incumbents

* Secretary of State for Wales – John Morris
* Archbishop of Wales – Gwilym Williams, Bishop of Bangor
* Archdruid of the National Eisteddfod of Wales – Bryn

## Events

* 6 January - Roy Jenkins becomes President of the European Commission.
* 26 March - Operation Julie results in the break-up of a drugs ring centred on Llanddewi Brefi and the recovery of 1.5 kg of LSD.
* date unknown
** The Welsh Health Common Services Authority is created.
** Opening of the bilingual secondary school, Ysgol Uwchradd Bodedern, on Anglesey.

## Arts and literature
### Awards

* Ian Parrott receives the John Edwards Memorial Award from the Guild for the Promotion of Welsh Music.
* Jonathan Pryce wins a Tony award for his performance on Broadway in The Comedians.
* National Eisteddfod of Wales (held in Wrexham)
* National Eisteddfod of Wales: Chair - Donald Evans
* National Eisteddfod of Wales: Crown - Donald Evans
* National Eisteddfod of Wales: Prose Medal - Robert Gerallt Jones
* Wales Book of the Year (Welsh language) - Owain Owain, Mical, (Gwasg Gomer)

### New books
#### English language

* Alice Thomas Ellis - The Sin Eater
* Paul Ferris - Dylan Thomas: The Biography
* Raymond Garlick - Incense
* Ellis Peters - A Morbid Taste for Bones (first in the Brother Cadfael series of novels)
* Craig Thomas - Firefox
* Gwyn Alf Williams - Goya and the Impossible Revolution

#### Welsh language

* Käte Bosse-Griffiths - Byd y Dyn Hysbys
* Zonia Bowen - Llydaweg i'r Cymro
* Jane Edwards - Dros Fryniau Bro Afallon
* Donald Evans - Egin
* Owain Owain - Mical
* R. J. Rowlands - Cerddi R. J. Rowlands y Bala
* Gwyn Thomas - Cadwynau yn y Meddwl

### Music

* Injaroc - Halen Y Ddaear
* Dafydd Iwan - Carlo a Chaneuon Eraill, I'r Gad
* Punk rock band The Toilets is formed in Rhyl, predecessor of The Alarm.

## Film

* Richard Burton receives his sixth Best Actor nomination at the Academy Awards for his role in Equus.

## Broadcasting
### Welsh-language radio

* 3 January - BBC Radio Cymru begins broadcasting.

### Welsh-language television

* Glas Y Dorlan (sitcom)

### English-language television

* Kilvert's Diary

## Architecture

* Castell Gyrn (Denbighshire) is built by John Taylor of Chapman Taylor architects for himself.

## Sport

* Athletics - The first UK Athletics Championships are held at Cwmbran.
* BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year – Phil Bennett
* Billiards - Clive Everton reaches the semi-finals of the World Championship.
* Boxing - Johnny Owen wins the British bantamweight title.
* Darts - Wales wins the Home International Series and the first Darts World Cup.
* Fencing - Wales wins the Quadrangular Tournament.
* Greyhound racing - Cardiff Greyhounds closes and the Welsh Greyhound Derby is run for the last time.
* Rugby union - Wales win the Triple Crown.
* Long-distance swimming - David Jones of Port Talbot becomes the first Welshman to swim the Bristol Channel.
* Formation of the Welsh Hang Gliding Association and the Welsh Federation of Coarse Anglers.
* Snooker - Doug Mountjoy wins the Masters, defeating Ray Reardon in an all-Welsh final.

## Births

* 3 February - Mike Powell, cricketer
* 26 February - Shane Williams, rugby player
* 4 March - Gareth Wyatt, rugby player
* 16 March - Steve Jones, TV presenter
* 18 March - Alex Jones, TV presenter
* 10 April - David Phelps, sport shooter
* 12 April - Jason Price, footballer
* 20 April - Robert Wilfort, actor
* 27 April - Edward Elwyn Jones, organist and conductor
* 30 April - Robert Evans, playwright
* 11 September
** Jonny Buckland, English-born musician
** Matthew Stevens, snooker player
* 18 November - Deiniol Jones, rugby player

## Deaths

* 10 February - Grace Williams, composer, 70
* 11 February - Thomas Ifor Rees, diplomat, 86
* 22 February - Hubert William Lewis, Victoria Cross recipient, 80
* 5 March - Tom Pryce, Formula One racing driver, 27
* 20 March - Glyn Gething, rugby player, 84
* 25 March - Aubrey Williams, army officer, 88
* 30 March - Sir William Emrys Williams, 80
* 5 April - Meirion Thomas, botanist and plant physiologist, 82
* 18 April - Irene Steer, Olympic swimmer, 87
* 22 April - Ryan Davies, entertainer, 40
* 27 May - Jac L Williams, educationist
* 12 June - Ronnie James, British champion boxer, 59
* 27 June - Bert Day, Wales international rugby union player, 69
* 26 July - Sir Ben Bowen Thomas, civil servant and academic, 78
* 10 August - Watcyn Thomas, rugby player, 71
* 16 August - (at Colchester) Hugh Iorys Hughes, engineer, 75
* 27 September - Llewelyn Wyn Griffith, author of Up to Mametz, 87
* 1 November - Jim Sullivan, rugby league player, 73
* 11 December - Neil Williams, Canadian-born aerobatics pilot, 33
* date unknown - Cecil Smith, footballer