Events from the year

2020 2020 was heavily defined by the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to global social and economic disruption, mass cancellations and postponements of events, worldwide lockdowns and the largest economic recession since the Great Depression in t ...

Wales Wales ( cy, Cymru ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by England to the east, the Irish Sea to the north and west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the Bristol Channel to the south. It had a population in ...

Incumbents

First Minister A first minister is any of a variety of leaders of government cabinets. The term literally has the same meaning as "prime minister" but is typically chosen to distinguish the office-holder from a superior prime minister. Currently the title of ' ...

– Mark Drakeford *

Secretary of State for Wales The secretary of state for Wales ( cy, ysgrifennydd gwladol Cymru), also referred to as the Welsh secretary, is a secretary of state in the Government of the United Kingdom, with responsibility for the Wales Office. The incumbent is a member ...

–

Simon Hart Simon Anthony Hart (born 15 August 1963) is a British politician serving as the Chief Whip of the House of Commons and Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury since October 2022. He previously served as Secretary of State for Wales between 2019 ...

Archbishop of Wales The post of Archbishop of Wales was created in 1920 when the Church in Wales was separated from the Church of England and disestablished. The four historic Welsh dioceses had previously formed part of the Province of Canterbury, and so came unde ...

– John Davies, Bishop of Swansea and Brecon *

Archdruid Archdruid () is the title used by the presiding official of Gorsedd Cymru, the Gorsedd. The Archdruid presides over the most important ceremonies at the National Eisteddfod of Wales including the Crowning of the Bard, the award of the and the C ...

of the National Eisteddfod of Wales –

Myrddin ap Dafydd Myrddin ap Dafydd (born 25 July 1956) is a Welsh writer, publisher and chaired bard. In 2018 he was elected Archdruid of Wales. Myrddin ap Dafydd was born in Llanrwst, north Wales. He was educated in the town's schools and at the University Col ...

National Poet of Wales The post of National Poet of Wales ( cy, Bardd Cenedlaethol Cymru) was established in May 2005 by Academi – the Welsh National Literature Promotion Agency and Society for Writers. The current holder of the position is Hanan Issa, who was appoin ...

–

Ifor ap Glyn Ifor ap Glyn (born 1961) is a Welsh television presenter and Welsh-language poet.1 January January 1 or 1 January is the first day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. There are 364 days remaining until the end of the year (365 in leap years). This day is also known as New Year's Day since the day marks the beginning of the year ...

**The mystery runner at the annual Nos Galan races in

Rhondda Cynon Taf Rhondda Cynon Taf (; RCT; also spelt as Rhondda Cynon Taff) is a county borough in the south-east of Wales. It consists of five valleys: the Rhondda Fawr, Rhondda Fach, Cynon, Taff (Welsh: ''Taf'') and Ely valleys, plus a number of towns and vill ...

Nigel Owens Nigel Owens, (born 18 June 1971) is a Welsh former international rugby union referee, who retired in December 2020 after a 17-year career. He currently holds the world record for the most test matches refereed and is one of five international re ...

. **Assembly member

Nick Ramsay Nick Ramsay (born 10 June 1975) is a British politician who served as the Member of the Senedd (MS) for Monmouth from 2007 to 2021. Originally a member of the Welsh Conservatives, he served as Shadow Minister of Finance under Conservative Leader ...

is arrested by police after an incident at his home in Raglan, but is subsequently released without charge. * 8 January – It is revealed that Plas Glynllifon, a mansion near Caernarfon, purchased in 2016 for conversion to a hotel, is now in the hands of receivers. * 9 January – The rape victim in the Ross England case says in an interview with

Victoria Derbyshire Victoria Antoinette Derbyshire is a British journalist, newsreader and broadcaster. Her eponymous current affairs and debate programme was broadcast on BBC Two and the BBC News Channel from 2015 until March 2020. She has also presented ''News ...

that the official inquiry into the conduct of former Welsh Secretary

Alun Cairns Alun Hugh Cairns (born 30 July 1970) is a Welsh Conservative Party politician serving as the member of Parliament (MP) for Vale of Glamorgan since 2010. He served as Secretary of State for Wales from 2016 to 2019. He was previously a membe ...

was "a sham". * 12 January – Dafydd Iwan's protest song "Yma o Hyd", originally recorded in 1981, reaches the top of the iTunes chart following a campaign by the Welsh independence movement YesCymru. *

13 January Events Pre-1600 *27 BC – Augustus, Octavian transfers the state to the free disposal of the Roman Senate and the people. He receives Hispania, Spain, Roman Gaul, Gaul, and Roman Syria, Syria as his province for ten years. * 532 – ...

– The Welsh Government approves the construction of a new bridge across the river Dyfi at

Machynlleth Machynlleth () is a market town, community and electoral ward in Powys, Wales and within the historic boundaries of Montgomeryshire. It is in the Dyfi Valley at the intersection of the A487 and the A489 roads. At the 2001 Census it had a pop ...

, at a cost of £46 million. * 14 January – It is revealed that a new rapid diagnosis centre at

Neath Port Talbot Hospital Neath Port Talbot Hospital ( cy, Ysbyty Castell Nedd Port Talbot) is a general hospital located in Port Talbot, Wales. It is managed by Swansea Bay University Health Board. History The hospital, which was commissioned to replace Neath General Ho ...

has been effective in reducing waiting times and could result in savings of more than £150,000 per 1,000 patients. * 24 January – The Slate Landscape of North West Wales is nominated by the UK government for consideration as a

UNESCO The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) aimed at promoting world peace and security through international cooperation in education, arts, sciences and culture. It ...

World Heritage Site A World Heritage Site is a landmark or area with legal protection by an international convention administered by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). World Heritage Sites are designated by UNESCO for h ...

February

5 February Events Pre-1600 * 62 – Earthquake in Pompeii, Italy. *1576 – Henry of Navarre abjures Catholicism at Tours and rejoins the Protestant forces in the French Wars of Religion. *1597 – A group of early Japanese Christians are ...

– Dyfed-Powys Police announce that they have been successful in using DNA profiling to confirm the ownership of a stolen cow worth £3,000; they are the first police authority in the UK to employ the technique in such circumstances. *

9 February Events Pre-1600 * 474 – Zeno is crowned as co-emperor of the Byzantine Empire. * 1003 – Boleslaus III is restored to authority with armed support from Bolesław I the Brave of Poland. *1539 – The first recorded race is hel ...

**At the

92nd Academy Awards The 92nd Academy Awards ceremony, presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), honored films released in 2019 and took place on February 9, 2020, at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles, beginning at 5:00 p ...

, nominees include Welsh actors

Jonathan Pryce Sir Jonathan Pryce (born John Price; 1 June 1947) is a Welsh actor who is known for his performances on stage and in film and television. He has received numerous awards, including two Tony Awards and two Laurence Olivier Awards. In 2021 he was ...

(nominated for Best Actor) and

Anthony Hopkins Sir Philip Anthony Hopkins (born 31 December 1937) is a Welsh actor, director, and producer. One of Britain's most recognisable and prolific actors, he is known for his performances on the screen and stage. Hopkins has received many accolad ...

(nominated for Best Supporting Actor). **

Storm Ciara Storm Ciara was a powerful and long-lived extratropical cyclone that was the first of a pair of European windstorms to affect the United Kingdom and Ireland at peak intensity less than a week apart in early February 2020, followed by Storm Denn ...

sweeps across Wales, causing severe flooding in

Llanrwst Llanrwst ('church or parish of Saint Grwst'; ) is a market town and community on the A470 road and the River Conwy, in Conwy County Borough, Wales, and the historic county of Denbighshire. It developed round the wool trade and became known als ...

Nantgarw Nantgarw is a village in the county borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales, near Cardiff. From an electoral and administrative perspective Nantgarw falls within the ward of Taffs Well, a village some south, but historically fell within the boundari ...

and other towns and villages. * 13 February –

, AM confirms that he had been reinstated as a member of the Welsh Conservative Party Group in the Senedd and has dropped his legal challenge against the decision by group leader

Paul Davies Paul Charles William Davies (born 22 April 1946) is an English physicist, writer and broadcaster, a professor in Arizona State University and Director of BEYOND: Center for Fundamental Concepts in Science. He is affiliated with the Institute ...

to suspend him. * 16–

17 February Events Pre-1600 *1370 – Northern Crusades: Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Teutonic Knights meet in the Battle of Rudau. *1411 – Following the successful campaigns during the Ottoman Interregnum, Musa Çelebi, one of the sons of ...

–

Storm Dennis Storm Dennis was a European windstorm which, in February 2020, became one of the most intense extratropical cyclones ever recorded, reaching a minimum central pressure of . The thirteenth named storm of the 2019–20 European windstorm season, D ...

causes further floods and other damage in Wales, with at least one resultant death. Among the places worst hit are

Pontypridd () ( colloquially: Ponty) is a town and a community in Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales. Geography comprises the electoral wards of , Hawthorn, Pontypridd Town, 'Rhondda', Rhydyfelin Central/Ilan ( Rhydfelen), Trallwng ( Trallwn) and Treforest (). ...

Aberdulais Aberdulais is a village and electoral ward in Neath Port Talbot, Wales, lying on the River Neath, in the community of Blaenhonddan. The village grew around the Aberdulais Falls, the site of successive industries and now a hydro-electric statio ...

and

Crickhowell Crickhowell (; cy, Crucywel , non-standard spelling ') is a town and community in southeastern Powys, Wales, near Abergavenny, and is in the historic county of Brecknockshire. Location The town lies on the River Usk, on the southern edge ...

. Residents in

and Pentre are affected for the second time in two weeks. *

20 February Events Pre-1600 *1339 – The Milanese army and the St. George's (San Giorgio) Mercenaries of Lodrisio Visconti clash in the Battle of Parabiago; Visconti is defeated. * 1472 – Orkney and Shetland are pawned by Norway to Scotland ...

–

Natural Resources Wales Natural Resources Wales ( cy, Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru) is a Welsh Government sponsored body, which became operational from 1 April 2013, when it took over the management of the natural resources of Wales. It was formed from a merger of the Coun ...

admits that recent tree-felling activities in the Pentre area caused a blocked culvert that resulted in the second round of flooding to hit the local area during the month. * 21 February –

The Prince of Wales Prince of Wales ( cy, Tywysog Cymru, ; la, Princeps Cambriae/Walliae) is a title traditionally given to the heir apparent to the English and later British throne. Prior to the conquest by Edward I in the 13th century, it was used by the rulers o ...

visits flood victims in the

area. * 28 February –

COVID-19 pandemic in Wales The COVID-19 pandemic was confirmed to have spread to Wales on 28 February 2020, with a case being reported in the Swansea area; this first known case was a person who had recently returned from Italy. The first known case of community transm ...

: Authorities confirm the first case of

COVID-19 Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by a virus, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The first known case was identified in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. The disease quickly ...

in Wales, an individual who recently returned from holiday in Italy.

March

2 March Events Pre-1600 * 537 – Siege of Rome: The Ostrogoth army under king Vitiges begins the siege of the capital. Belisarius conducts a delaying action outside the Flaminian Gate; he and a detachment of his ''bucellarii'' are almost cut ...

- Price of cheap high-strength increases as the Public Health (Minimum Price for Alcohol) (Wales) Act 2018 comes into force. * 8 March – The

Welsh Government , image = , caption = , date_established = , country = Wales , address = , leader_title = First Minister () , appointed = First Minister approved by the Senedd, ceremonially appointed ...

publishes plans to allow some prisoners to vote in local elections. *

11 March Events Pre-1600 * 222 – Roman emperor Elagabalus is murdered alongside his mother, Julia Soaemias. He is replaced by his 14-year old cousin, Severus Alexander. * 843 – Triumph of Orthodoxy: Empress Theodora II restores the venerati ...

–

: Wales has its first case of "community transmission", when a patient in Caerphilly with no travel history tests positive for

. *

12 March Events Pre-1600 * 538 – Vitiges, king of the Ostrogoths ends his siege of Rome and retreats to Ravenna, leaving the city to the victorious Byzantine general, Belisarius. *1088 – Election of Urban II as the 159th Pope of the Cath ...

–

: A patient at

Wrexham Maelor Hospital The Wrexham Maelor Hospital ( cy, Ysbyty Maelor Wrecsam) is a district general hospital for the north east region of Wales. It is managed by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board. History The hospital has its origins in the Wrexham Union Workho ...

tests positive for COVID-19 – the first case in North Wales. *

13 March Events Pre-1600 *624 – The Battle of Badr, the first major battle between the Muslims and Quraysh. *1567 – The Battle of Oosterweel, traditionally regarded as the start of the Eighty Years' War. * 1591 – At the Battle of To ...

: Health Minister

Vaughan Gething Vaughan Gething (born 15 March 1974) is a Welsh Labour and Co-operative politician serving as Minister for the Economy since 2021. He previously served as the Minister for Health and Social Services from 2016 to 2021. He has been the Membe ...

announces that all non-urgent outpatient appointments and operations will be suspended at hospitals in Wales in a bid to delay the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. **

: Elections including those for four police and crime commissioners in Wales, scheduled for May 2020, are postponed for a year because of the pandemic. *

16 March Events Pre-1600 * 934 – Meng Zhixiang declares himself emperor and establishes Later Shu as a new state independent of Later Tang. *1190 – Massacre of Jews at Clifford's Tower, York. * 1244 – Over 200 Cathars who refuse to r ...

–

: Authorities report the first coronavirus-related death in Wales. * 18 March –

: The Welsh Government announces that all schools in Wales will close from the end of the week. * 22 March –

: The

advises Wales' "most vulnerable people" to stay indoors for a period of 12–16 weeks. * 24 March –

: It is announced that

the Prince of Wales Prince of Wales ( cy, Tywysog Cymru, ; la, Princeps Cambriae/Walliae) is a title traditionally given to the heir apparent to the English and later British throne. Prior to the conquest by Edward I in the 13th century, it was used by the rulers o ...

has tested positive for

April

1 April Events Pre-1600 * 33 – According to one historian's account, Jesus Christ's Last Supper is held. * 527 – Byzantine Emperor Justin I names his nephew Justinian I as co-ruler and successor to the throne. * 1081 – Alexios I Ko ...

–

: Multinational pharmaceutical company

Roche F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG, commonly known as Roche, is a Swiss multinational healthcare company that operates worldwide under two divisions: Pharmaceuticals and Diagnostics. Its holding company, Roche Holding AG, has shares listed on the SIX ...

denies the existence of a deal to supply Wales with COVID-19 tests after First Minister Mark Drakeford and Health Minister

blame the collapse of a deal for a shortage of testing kits. *

3 April Events Pre-1600 * 686 – Maya king Yuknoom Yich'aak K'ahk' assumes the crown of Calakmul. * 1043 – Edward the Confessor is crowned King of England. * 1077 – The Patriarchate of Friûl, the first Friulian state, is created ...

–

: The Welsh Government announces the funding arrangements necessary to keep

Cardiff Airport Cardiff Airport ( cy, Maes Awyr Caerdydd) is the only airport offering commercial passenger services in Wales. It has been under the ownership of the Welsh Government since March 2013, operating at an arm's length as a commercial business. Pa ...

solvent during the crisis. *

12 April Events Pre-1600 * 240 – Shapur I becomes co-emperor of the Sasanian Empire with his father Ardashir I. * 467 – Anthemius is elevated to Emperor of the Western Roman Empire. * 627 – King Edwin of Northumbria is converted ...

–

: The new, temporary,

Dragon's Heart Hospital Dragon's Heart Hospital ( cy, Ysbyty Calon y Ddraig) was a temporary hospital located at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. It opened on 13 April 2020 to help deal with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in Wales. It was decommissioned toward ...

, opens at Cardiff's Principality Stadium to admit its first patients. *

21 April Events Pre-1600 *753 BC – Romulus founds Rome ( traditional date). *43 BC – Battle of Mutina: Mark Antony is again defeated in battle by Aulus Hirtius, who is killed. Antony fails to capture Mutina and Decimus Brutus is murdered s ...

– The Welsh Government cancels the planned independent inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the dismissal of Carl Sargeant from the cabinet of former First Minister

Carwyn Jones Carwyn Howell Jones (born 21 March 1967) is a Welsh politician who served as First Minister of Wales and Leader of Welsh Labour from 2009 to 2018. He served as Counsel General for Wales from 2007 to 2009. Jones served as the Member of the S ...

and agrees to pay legal fees incurred by the Sargeant family.

May

* 6 May – The

National Assembly for Wales The Senedd (; ), officially known as the Welsh Parliament in English and () in Welsh, is the devolved, unicameral legislature of Wales. A democratically elected body, it makes laws for Wales, agrees certain taxes and scrutinises the Welsh Go ...

becomes Senedd Cymru – Welsh Parliament; its members become Members of the Senedd (MS) – Aelodau o'r Senedd (AS). * 7 May –

: Tracey Cooper, the chief executive of

Public Health Wales Public Health Wales (PHW; ) is an NHS Trust which was established on 1 October 2009 as part of a major restructuring of the health service in Wales. It aims to protect and improve health and wellbeing and reduce health inequalities in Wales. M ...

, admits to the Senedd's health committee that she did not know about the Welsh Government's goal of carrying out 9000 COVID-19 tests a day. * 8 May –

: First Minister Mark Drakeford announces that the

COVID-19 lockdown Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a number of non-pharmaceutical interventions colloquially known as lockdowns (encompassing stay-at-home orders, curfews, quarantines, and similar societal restrictions) have been implemented in numerous countrie ...

in Wales will be extended for a further three weeks. * 12 May – The organisers of the National Eisteddfod, which was due to be held in

Tregaron Tregaron ( "town of St Caron") is an ancient market town in Ceredigion, Wales, astride the River Brenig, a tributary of the River Teifi. Tregaron is northeast of Lampeter. According to the 2011 Census, the population of the ward of Tregaron wa ...

in the first week of August, announce an alternative event, the Eisteddfod "AmGen". * 15 May –

: The Welsh Government's plan for exiting the lockdown is announced by the First Minister.

June

* 3 June – The Welsh Government announces that schools in Wales will reopen on 29 June. *

12 June Events Pre-1600 * 910 – Battle of Augsburg: The Hungarians defeat the East Frankish army under King Louis the Child, using the famous feigned retreat tactic of the nomadic warriors. *1240 – At the instigation of Louis IX of Fran ...

–

: First Minister Mark Drakeford announces that the R number for Wales is the lowest in the United Kingdom, at 0.7. *

18 June Events Pre-1600 * 618 – Li Yuan becomes Emperor Gaozu of Tang, initiating three centuries of Tang dynasty rule over China. * 656 – Ali becomes Caliph of the Rashidun Caliphate. * 860 – Byzantine–Rus' War: A fleet of abou ...

–

: 96 workers at two North Wales food production factories test positive for COVID-19. *

19 June Events Pre-1600 * 325 – The original Nicene Creed is adopted at the First Council of Nicaea. * 1179 – The Battle of Kalvskinnet takes place outside Nidaros (now Trondheim), Norway. Earl Erling Skakke is killed, and the battle chan ...

–

: First Minister Mark Drakeford announces changes to lockdown restrictions with effect from 6 July. * 20 June – Builders' merchant

Travis Perkins Travis Perkins plc is a British builders' merchant and home improvement retailer with head offices based in Northampton. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange, and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index. History The company began in 179 ...

announces the closure of three North Wales outlets. * 26 June – After police are called to further incidents at Ogmore-by-Sea, the First Minister warns that lockdown restrictions will not be eased if people fail to observe rules on travel and social distancing.

July

* 2 July –

Airbus Airbus SE (; ; ; ) is a European multinational aerospace corporation. Airbus designs, manufactures and sells civil and military aerospace products worldwide and manufactures aircraft throughout the world. The company has three divisions: ' ...

confirms that 1,435 jobs will be lost at Broughton in Flintshire. * 3 July –

: The Welsh government confirms that travel restrictions resulting from the pandemic will be relaxed from 6 July. * 15 July – The Welsh Government agrees to debate Welsh independence for the first time since the Welsh Assembly was created in 1999. The debate is at the request of

Plaid Cymru Plaid Cymru ( ; ; officially Plaid Cymru – the Party of Wales, often referred to simply as Plaid) is a centre-left to left-wing, Welsh nationalist political party in Wales, committed to Welsh independence from the United Kingdom. Plaid wa ...

, following poll results that show a high level of approval for the devolved government's handling of the

. *

31 July Events Pre-1600 *30 BC – Battle of Alexandria: Mark Antony achieves a minor victory over Octavian's forces, but most of his army subsequently deserts, leading to his suicide. * 781 – The oldest recorded eruption of Mount Fuji (Tr ...

–

HM Coastguard His Majesty's Coastguard (HMCG) is a section of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency responsible, through the Secretary of State for Transport to Parliament, for the initiation and co-ordination of all maritime search and rescue (SAR) within the ...

announce the deployment of unmanned aircraft for search and rescue purposes over North Wales during the coming weekend.

August

* 3 August – CP Pharmaceuticals in

Wrexham Wrexham ( ; cy, Wrecsam; ) is a city and the administrative centre of Wrexham County Borough in Wales. It is located between the Welsh mountains and the lower Dee Valley, near the border with Cheshire in England. Historically in the count ...

, a subsidiary of

Wockhardt Wockhardt is a global pharmaceutical and biotechnology company headquartered in Mumbai, India. It produces formulations, biopharmaceuticals, nutrition products, vaccines and active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). History Wockhardt was foun ...

, is announced as having won a contract to supply COVID-19 vaccine for the

COVID-19 vaccination programme in the United Kingdom The COVID-19 vaccination programme in the United Kingdom is an ongoing mass immunisation campaign for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom. Vaccinations began on 8 December 2020 after Mar ...

. *

10 August Events Pre-1600 * 654 – Pope Eugene I elected to succeed Martinus I. * 955 – Battle of Lechfeld: Otto I, Holy Roman Emperor defeats the Magyars, ending 50 years of Magyar invasion of the West. * 991 – Battle of Maldon: Th ...

– Flash flooding affects Aberystwyth and thunderstorms occur throughout North Wales. *

17 August Events Pre-1600 * 309/ 310 – Pope Eusebius is banished by the Emperor Maxentius to Sicily, where he dies, possibly from a hunger strike. * 682 – Pope Leo II begins his pontificate. * 986 – Byzantine–Bulgarian wars: Battle ...

– It is revealed that Wales's only

golden eagle The golden eagle (''Aquila chrysaetos'') is a bird of prey living in the Northern Hemisphere. It is the most widely distributed species of eagle. Like all eagles, it belongs to the family Accipitridae. They are one of the best-known birds of ...

living in the wild has been found dead, probably from natural causes. * 26 August – A major fire breaks out near

Llangennech Llangennech (()) is a village and community in the area of Llanelli, Carmarthenshire, Wales, which covers an area of . It is governed by Llangennech Community Council and Carmarthenshire County Council. Llangennech is also the name of the count ...

when a freight train loaded with diesel fuel is derailed on a journey from Milford Haven. No one is seriously injured, but diesel oil spills into the River Loughor. Local residents are evacuated.

September

* 7 September –

: The first local lockdown in Wales is announced, as the county of Caerphilly is placed under restrictions that will last at least a month. It follows the discovery that 98 people have tested positive in a week, giving the county the highest infection rate in Wales. * 21 September – Right-wing extremists from all over the UK are blamed by the police and First Minister for blocking the entrance to a former army camp at

Penally Penally ( cy, Penalun) coastal village, parish and community southwest of Tenby in Pembrokeshire, Wales. The village is known for its Celtic Cross, Penally Abbey (a Gothic style country house), the neighbouring St. Deiniol's Well, WWI Practice t ...

in Pembrokeshire being used temporarily to house asylum seekers from Iran and Iraq. *

25 September Events Pre-1600 * 275 – For the last time, the Roman Senate chooses an emperor; they elect 75-year-old Marcus Claudius Tacitus. * 762 – Led by Muhammad al-Nafs al-Zakiyya, the Hasanid branch of the Alids begins the Alid Revolt a ...

**Swansea, Llanelli and Cardiff go into local lockdown, joining Caerphilly, Newport, Bridgend, Merthyr, Blaenau Gwent and Rhondda Cynon Taf. **

Ford Bridgend Engine Plant The Ford Bridgend Engine Plant was an internal combustion engine factory owned by Ford of Europe and located in Bridgend, Wales. Between 1980 and 2020, it made over 22 million engines used in Ford, Volvo, Jaguar and Land Rover cars. The plant's ...

closes. *

30 September Events Pre-1600 * 489 – The Ostrogoths under Theoderic the Great defeat the forces of Odoacer for the second time. * 737 – The Turgesh drive back an Umayyad invasion of Khuttal, follow them south of the Oxus, and capture their b ...

– It is confirmed that eight patients have died in an outbreak of COVID-19 at the

Royal Glamorgan Hospital The Royal Glamorgan Hospital ( cy, Ysbyty Brenhinol Morgannwg), is a District General Hospital in Ynysmaerdy, Talbot Green, Rhondda Cynon Taf, South Wales. It is managed by the Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board. History The hospital wa ...

, Llantrisant, and that 60 patients have been infected from a source at the hospital. All surgery at the hospital is suspended. Pontypridd MP Alex Davies-Jones and AM

Mick Antoniw Mick Antoniw ( uk, Мік Антонів; born 1 September 1954) is a Welsh Labour and Co-operative politician, serving as Counsel General for Wales since 2021, and previously from 2016 to 2017. He has been the Member of the Senedd (MS) for Pon ...

issue a joint statement expressing their concern.

October

* 9 October **In the postponed Queen's Birthday Honours 2020, Welsh recipients include

Warren Gatland Warren David Gatland (born 17 September 1963) is a New Zealand rugby union coach and former player who is currently in his second spell as the head coach of the Wales national team. As head coach of Wales from 2007 to 2019, he won four Six N ...

, former Wales rugby head coach, and opera singer Rebecca Evans (CBE), Wales rugby captain

Alun Wyn Jones Alun Wyn Jones (born 19 September 1985) is a Welsh professional rugby union player who plays as a Rugby union/lock, lock for the Ospreys (rugby union), Ospreys and the Wales national rugby union team, Wales national team. He is List of rugby u ...

(OBE) and artist

Glenys Cour Glenys Irene Cour ( Carthew, born 1924) is a Welsh artist. Biography Cour was born in Fishguard, Pembrokeshire, Wales in 1924. From 1945 until 1948, she studied at Cardiff College of Art under Ceri Richards and married the sculptor Ronald ...

(MBE). ** Death of Kaylea Titford - Kaylea Titford, an 16-year-old Welsh girl with spina bifida and hydrocephalus, is found dead in squalid conditions. *

10 October Events Pre-1600 * 680 – The Battle of Karbala marks the Martyrdom of Husayn ibn Ali. * 732 – Charles Martel's forces defeat an Umayyad army near Tours, France. *1471 – Sten Sture the Elder, the Regent of Sweden, with the ...

– Bangor, Gwynedd, goes into a local lockdown, joining other North Wales counties: Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire and Wrexham. *

23 October Events Pre-1600 *4004 BC – James Ussher's proposed creation date of the world according to the Bible. *42 BC – Liberators' civil war: Mark Antony and Octavian decisively defeat an army under Brutus in the second part of the Battle ...

– A 'firebreak' lockdown is imposed by the Welsh government for a 16-day period. Supermarkets and other large stores are prohibited from selling 'non-essential goods', because many smaller retailers are forced to close. * 27 October – After a petition is submitted to the Senedd, requesting it remove the ban on selling non-essential goods, the government reviews the policy and issues clarification.

November

17 November Events Pre-1600 * 887 – Emperor Charles the Fat is deposed by the Frankish magnates in an assembly at Frankfurt, leading his nephew, Arnulf of Carinthia, to declare himself king of the East Frankish Kingdom in late November. * 1183 &nd ...

– There are calls for an inquiry into the handling of COVID-19 cases in hospitals and care homes after it is revealed that 53 people were discharged from hospital into Welsh care homes within days of testing positive during the early stages of the pandemic. * 20 November – The Welsh government announces that the 17-day Wales firebreak lockdown had an impact on coronavirus figures but warns that restrictions might be re-imposed before Christmas if the downturn does not last. *

26 November Events Pre-1600 * 783 – The Asturian queen Adosinda is held at a monastery to prevent her king from retaking the throne from Mauregatus. * 1161 – Battle of Caishi: A Song dynasty fleet fights a naval engagement with Jin dynasty ...

– New COVID restrictions, to come into force on 4 December, are provisionally announced.

December

20 December Events Pre-1600 *AD 69 – Antonius Primus enters Rome to claim the title of Emperor for Nero's former general Vespasian. * 1192 – Richard I of England is captured and imprisoned by Leopold V of Austria on his way home to England ...

– COVID restrictions are amended, and the previously announced relaxation of rules over the Christmas break is rescinded. The Welsh government announces a complete lockdown in Wales with effect from midnight, with a relaxation of only a few hours on Christmas Day. * 29 December – Police impose fines on visitors from England who have broken COVID restrictions in order to visit

Pen y Fan Pen y Fan () is the highest peak in South Wales, situated in the Brecon Beacons National Park. At above sea-level, it is also the highest British peak south of Cadair Idris in Snowdonia. It is the highest point ( county top) of the historic c ...

. * 31 December – Welsh people honoured in the Queen's New Year Honours list include Professor Anthony Keith Campbell (CBE), surgeon Farah Batti (OBE), footballer Alan Curtis (MBE), and Carol Doggett, matron of

Morriston Hospital Morriston Hospital ( cy, Ysbyty Treforys) is a 750-bed hospital located in Cwmrhydyceirw near Morriston in Swansea, Wales. It is managed by Swansea Bay University Health Board. Alongside its role as a district general hospital, Morriston is a ...

(MBE).

Arts and literature

National Eisteddfod of Wales

Gŵyl AmGen prizes: *Cystadleuaeth y Stôl Farddoniaeth (Poetry Competition) – Terwyn Tomos *Cystadleuaeth y Stôl Ryddiaith (Prose Competition) – Llŷr Gwyn Lewis

Awards

Wales Book of the Year The Wales Book of the Year is a Welsh literary award given annually to the best Welsh and English language works in the fields of fiction and literary criticism by Welsh or Welsh interest authors. Established in 1992, the awards are currently ad ...

2020: **English language: Niall Griffiths, ''Broken Ghost'' **Welsh language: Ifan Morgan Jones, ''Babel'' *

Dylan Thomas Prize The Dylan Thomas Prize is a leading prize for young writers presented annually. The prize, named in honour of the Welsh writer and poet Dylan Thomas, brings international prestige and a remuneration of £30,000 (~$46,000). It is open to published ...

: Bryan Washington

New books

English language

* Peter Finch – ''The Machineries of Joy'' * Michael Franklin (ed.) – ''Writers of Wales: Hester Lynch Thrale Piozzi'' * Euron Griffith – ''Miriam, Daniel and Me'' * Richard Owain Roberts – ''Hello Friend We Missed You'' * Eloise Williams – ''Wilde''

Welsh language

* Hazel Walford Davies – ''O.M. – Cofiant Syr Owen Morgan Edwards'' * Huw Jones – ''Dwi Isio Bod Yn...''

Music

New albums

* Shirley Bassey – ''

I Owe It All to You "I Owe It All to You" is a pop song written by Alonzo, Jim Guthrie, Adam Messinger, and Damhnait Doyle for Eva Avila Eva Avila (born Eva Gougeon-Ávila on 25 February 1987) is a Canadian singer, songwriter and actress. She won the fourth ...

'' * Georgia Ruth – ''Mai''

New compositions

* Paul Mealor – ''Piano Concerto''

Film

*'' Dream Horse'', directed by

Euros Lyn Euros Lyn (; born 1971) is a Welsh film and television director, best known for his work in '' Doctor Who'', '' Sherlock'', ''Black Mirror'', '' Daredevil'', ''His Dark Materials'' and '' Heartstopper''. Early life Lyn was born in Cardiff. Hi ...

Broadcasting

English language

*''Hidden Wales'', series 2, presented by Will Millard *''Memory Lane'', presented by

Jennifer Saunders Jennifer Jane Saunders (born 6 July 1958) is an English actress, comedian, singer and screenwriter. Saunders originally found attention in the 1980s, when she became a member of The Comic Strip after graduating from the Royal Central School of ...

, features

Michael Sheen Michael Christopher Sheen OBE (born 5 February 1969) is a Welsh actor, television producer and political activist. After training at London's Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), he worked mainly in theatre throughout the 1990s with stage rol ...

, with footage from

Port Talbot Port Talbot (, ) is a town and community in the county borough of Neath Port Talbot, Wales, situated on the east side of Swansea Bay, approximately from Swansea. The Port Talbot Steelworks covers a large area of land which dominates the south ...

and

Hay-on-Wye Hay-on-Wye ( cy, Y Gelli Gandryll), simply known locally as "Hay" ( cy, Y Gelli), is a market town and community in Powys, Wales; it was historically in the county of Brecknockshire. With over twenty bookshops, it is often described as "the to ...

. *''

Richard Parks Richard David Parks (born 14 August 1977) is a former Wales international rugby union player turned extreme endurance athlete and television presenter. In rugby he represented Newport RFC, Pontypridd RFC, Celtic Warriors, Leeds Tykes, Perp ...

: Can I Be Welsh and Black?'' (documentary by ITV Cymru) *''Tudur's TV Flashback'', series 4, presented by Tudur Owen

Welsh language

*''Pandemig: 1918 / 2020'', directed by Eirlys Bellin *''Waliau'n Siarad''

Sport

* Horse Racing **

27 December Events Pre-1600 * 537 – The second Hagia Sophia in Constantinople is consecrated. *1512 – The Spanish Crown issues the Laws of Burgos, governing the conduct of settlers with regard to native Indians in the New World. *1521 &ndash ...

– the 2020

Welsh Grand National The Coral Welsh Grand National is a Premier Handicap National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Chepstow, Wales, over a distance of abo ...

is abandoned due to waterlogging caused by Storm Bella and postponed to 9 January 2021. *

Rugby Union Rugby union, commonly known simply as rugby, is a close-contact team sport that originated at Rugby School in the first half of the 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand. In it ...

1 February Events Pre-1600 *1327 – The teenaged Edward III is crowned King of England, but the country is ruled by his mother Queen Isabella and her lover Roger Mortimer. *1411 – The First Peace of Thorn is signed in Thorn (Toruń), Mona ...

– Wales defeat Italy 42–0 at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, in the opening match of the

2020 Six Nations Championship The 2020 Six Nations Championship (known as the Guinness Six Nations for sponsorship reasons) was the 21st Six Nations Championship, the annual rugby union competition contested by the national teams of England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland ...

. Wales's under-20 team and women's team are both defeated by the corresponding Italian teams.

Deaths

Terry Jones Monty Python O2 Arena (cropped)

* 10 January – Alun Gwynne Jones, Baron Chalfont, 100 *

21 January Events Pre-1600 * 763 – Following the Battle of Bakhamra between Alids and Abbasids near Kufa, the Alid rebellion ends with the death of Ibrahim, brother of Isa ibn Musa. *1525 – The Swiss Anabaptist Movement is founded when Con ...

–

Terry Jones Terence Graham Parry Jones (1 February 1942 – 21 January 2020) was a Welsh comedian, director, historian, actor, writer and member of the Monty Python comedy team. After graduating from Oxford University with a degree in English, Jones and ...

, comedian, actor, writer, director and historian, 77 * 4 February – Terry Hands, theatre director, former artistic director of Theatr Clwyd, 79 *

– Sir John Cadogan, organic chemist, 89 * 15 February – Cavan Grogan, lead singer of

Crazy Cavan and the Rhythm Rockers Crazy Cavan 'n' the Rhythm Rockers (also known as Crazy Cavan and the Rhythm Rockers, Cavan & The Rhythm Rockers, Crazy Cavan & The Rhythm Rockers) were a Welsh rockabilly band associated with the Teddy Boy scene. The band formed in 1970, and ...

, 70 *

29 February February 29, also known as leap day or leap year day, is a date added to leap years. A leap day is added in various solar calendars (calendars based on the Earth's revolution around the Sun), including the Gregorian calendar standard in mo ...

– Ceri Morgan, darts player, 72 * 7 March – Matthew Watkins, rugby player, 41 (cancer) *

19 March Events Pre-1600 *1277 – The Byzantine–Venetian treaty of 1277 is concluded, stipulating a two-year truce and renewing Venetian commercial privileges in the Byzantine Empire. * 1279 – A Mongol victory at the Battle of Yamen ends ...

– Peter Whittingham, footballer with

Cardiff City F.C. Cardiff City Football Club ( cy, Clwb Pêl-droed Dinas Caerdydd) is a professional association football club based in Cardiff, Wales. It competes in the Championship, the second tier of the English football league system. Founded in 1899 as R ...

, 35 (head injury) *

23 March Events Pre-1600 * 1400 – The Trần dynasty of Vietnam is deposed, after one hundred and seventy-five years of rule, by Hồ Quý Ly, a court official. * 1540 – Waltham Abbey is surrendered to King Henry VIII of England; the last r ...

–

Tristan Garel-Jones William Armand Thomas Tristan Garel-Jones, Baron Garel-Jones, PC (28 February 1941 – 23 March 2020) was a British politician. A member of the Conservative Party, he served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Watford from 1979 to 1997, befor ...

, politician, 79 *

27 March Events Pre-1600 *1309 – Pope Clement V imposes excommunication and interdiction on Venice, and a general prohibition of all commercial intercourse with Venice, which had seized on Ferrara, a papal fiefdom. * 1329 – Pope John XXII ...

–

Aneurin Hughes Aneurin Rhys "Nye" Hughes (11 February 1937 – 27 March 2020) was a British diplomat known for his long involvement with the European Commission. He was the EU Ambassador to Norway and Iceland from 1987 to 1995 and to Australia and New Zealand f ...

, diplomat, 83 *

– C. W. Nicol, writer, singer, actor and environmentalist, 79 * 5 April – Peter Walker, Glamorgan cricketer, 84 * 8 April – John Downing, photographer, 79 * 14 April ** John Collins, footballer, 71 ** Cyril Lawrence, English footballer, former

player, 99 (

) * 15 April – John T. Houghton, physicist and climate scientist, 88 (

) * 22 April – Jimmy Goodfellow, former Cardiff FC manager and physiotherapist, 76 * 25 April – Liz Edgar, showjumper, 76 *May – Steve Blackmore, rugby player, 58 (brain tumour) *

13 May Events Pre-1600 *1373 – Julian of Norwich has visions of Jesus while suffering from a life-threatening illness, visions which are later described and interpreted in her book '' Revelations of Divine Love''. * 1501 – Amerigo Vespu ...

– Keith Lyons, sports scientist, 68 * 9 June – Paul Chapman, rock guitarist, 66 *

– Ricky Valance, singer, first Welshman to have a UK number one solo hit, 84 *

16 June Events Pre-1600 * 363 – Emperor Julian marches back up the Tigris and burns his fleet of supply ships. During the withdrawal, Roman forces suffer several attacks from the Persians. * 632 – Yazdegerd III ascends the throne as king ...

–

Mohammad Asghar Mohammad Asghar (30 September 1945 – 16 June 2020), known as Oscar, was a Welsh politician who was a Member of the Senedd for South Wales East. He was a member of the Welsh Conservatives, and previously of Welsh Labour, and Plaid Cymru. ...

, politician, 74 *

24 July Events Pre-1600 * 1132 – Battle of Nocera between Ranulf II of Alife and Roger II of Sicily. *1148 – Louis VII of France lays siege to Damascus during the Second Crusade. *1304 – Wars of Scottish Independence: Fall of ...

–

Denise Idris Jones Denise Idris Jones (7 December 1950 – 24 July 2020; née Woodrow) was a Labour member of the National Assembly for Wales for the Conwy Assembly constituency between 2003 and 2007. She served on the Culture, Welsh Language & Sport Commi ...

, politician, 69 * 26 July **

Chris Needs Christopher Needs, MBE (12 March 1954"Chris Needs" ''BBC Radio Wales'' May 2007 Needs said the song "Here in My Heart" by Al Martino was from the year he was born. – 26 July 2020) was a Welsh radio broadcaster, best known as a regular even ...

, radio presenter, 68 **

Keith Pontin Keith Pontin (14 June 1956 – 2 August 2020) was a Welsh professional footballer who played as a central defender. Pontin began his career with Cardiff City, making nearly 200 league appearances and earning two caps for the Welsh national team. ...

, footballer, 64 * 28 July –

Clive Ponting Clive Sheridan Ponting (13 April 1946 – 28 July 2020)Richard Norton-Taylor, "The Ponting Affair", Cecil Woolf, London, 1985, p. 14. was a senior British civil servant and historian. He was best known for leaking documents about the sinkin ...

, former civil servant and academic at the

University of Wales, Swansea Swansea University ( cy, Prifysgol Abertawe) is a public university, public research university located in Swansea, Wales, United Kingdom. It was chartered as University College of Swansea in 1920, as the fourth college of the University of Wales. ...

, 74 * 2 August – Mark Ormrod, historian, 62 (bowel cancer) *

22 August Events Pre-1600 * 392 – Arbogast has Eugenius elected Western Roman Emperor. * 851 – Battle of Jengland: Erispoe defeats Charles the Bald near the Breton town of Jengland. *1138 – Battle of the Standard between Scotland ...

–

Ted Grace Edward Laurence Grace (13 March 1931 – 22 August 2020) was an Australian politician. He represented the Australian Labor Party (ALP) in the House of Representatives from 1984 to 1998, holding the New South Wales seat of Fowler. Early life Gr ...

, Swansea-born politician in Australia, 89 * 26 August – David Mercer, sports presenter, 70 *

4 September Events Pre-1600 * 476 – Romulus Augustulus is deposed when Odoacer proclaims himself "King of Italy", thus Fall of the Western Roman Empire, ending the Western Roman Empire. * 626 – Li Shimin, Posthumous name, posthumously known as ...

– Sir Simon Boyle, former British Steel executive and Lord Lieutenant of Gwent 2001–2016, 79 *

9 September 9 (nine) is the natural number following and preceding . Evolution of the Arabic digit In the beginning, various Indians wrote a digit 9 similar in shape to the modern closing question mark without the bottom dot. The Kshatrapa, Andhra and ...

–

Tony Villars Anthony Keith Villars (24 January 1952 – 9 September 2020) was a Welsh international footballer. Career Born in Pontypool, Villars was a member of the youth set-up and groundstaff at Newport County but quit the job because the pay was so poor ...

, footballer, 69 * 21 September – John Meirion Morris, sculptor, 84 * 24 September – John Walter Jones, first Chief Executive of the Welsh Language Board, 74 *

–

Emyr Humphreys Emyr Humphreys (; 15 April 191930 September 2020) was a Welsh novelist, poet, and author. His career spanned from the 1940s until his retirement in 2009. He published in both English and Welsh. Early life and career Humphreys was born on 15 ...

, writer, 101 * 19 October –

Spencer Davis Spencer Davis (born Spencer David Nelson Davies; 17 July 193919 October 2020) was a Welsh singer and musician. He founded The Spencer Davis Group, a band that had several hits in the 1960s including "Keep On Running", "Gimme Some Lovin'", and ...

, musician, 81 *

26 October Events Pre-1600 *1185 – The Uprising of Asen and Peter begins on the feast day of St. Demetrius of Thessaloniki and ends with the creation of the Second Bulgarian Empire. * 1341 – The Byzantine civil war of 1341–1347 formally be ...

– Tony Wyn-Jones, DJ, 77 * 29 October – J. J. Williams, rugby player, 72 * 13 November ** Gwyn Jones, footballer, 85 **Sir John Meurig Thomas, scientist, 87 *

19 November Events Pre-1600 * 461 – Libius Severus is declared emperor of the Western Roman Empire. The real power is in the hands of the ''magister militum'' Ricimer. * 636 – The Rashidun Caliphate defeats the Sasanian Empire at the Battle of ...

– Helen Morgan, hockey international, 54 (cancer) * 20 November –

Jan Morris (Catharine) Jan MorrisJan Morris, Paul Clements, University of Wales Press, 2008, p. 7 (born James Humphry Morris; 2 October 192620 November 2020) was a Welsh historian, author and travel writer. She was known particularly for the ''Pax Brita ...

, writer, 94 *

22 November Events Pre-1600 * 498 – After the death of Anastasius II, Symmachus is elected Pope in the Lateran Palace, while Laurentius is elected Pope in Santa Maria Maggiore. * 845 – The first duke of Brittany, Nominoe, defeats the Fra ...

– Ray Prosser, rugby union player and coach, 93 *

17 December Events Pre-1600 * 497 BC – The first Saturnalia festival was celebrated in ancient Rome. * 546 – Siege of Rome: The Ostrogoths under king Totila plunder the city, by bribing the Byzantine garrison. * 920 – Romanos I Lekap ...

– John Barnard Jenkins, nationalist activist, 87

References

{{reflist, colwidth=30em 2020s in Wales Years of the 21st century in Wales *Wales