This article is about the particular significance of the year 1981 to Wales and its people.
Incumbents
Secretary of State for Wales – Nicholas Edwards
Archbishop of Wales – Gwilym Williams, Bishop of Bangor
Archdruid of the National Eisteddfod of Wales
Geraint (outgoing) Jâms Nicholas (incoming)
Events
January - First phase of St. David's Shopping Centre, Cardiff, opens to the public. 26 March - Roy Jenkins co-founds the Social Democratic Party (UK) in London. Welsh Labour MPs defecting to the new party are: Tom Ellis (Wrexham), Ednyfed Hudson Davies (Caerphilly) and Jeffrey Thomas (Abertillery). 24 February - Buckingham Palace announces the engagement of the Prince of Wales to Lady Diana Spencer. 5 April - UK census: Results reveal that the percentage of Welsh language speakers has fallen to an all-time low of 18.9% of the Welsh population and Gwynedd is the only Welsh county with a Welsh-speaking majority. 11 June - Britain's first Urban Enterprise Zone is created in Lower Swansea Valley. 29 July - Wedding of the Prince of Wales and Lady Diana Spencer at St Paul's Cathedral in London. November - Joan Ruddock becomes Chair of CND. Independent film company Teliesyn begins producing programmes for S4C, BBC Wales and HTV.
Arts and literature
6 June - The Alarm play their first gig under their new name, at the Victoria Hotel, Prestatyn. Theatre Wales is established. Harry Secombe receives a knighthood.
Awards
National Eisteddfod of Wales (held in Machynlleth) National Eisteddfod of Wales: Chair - John Gwilym Jones, "Y Frwydr" National Eisteddfod of Wales: Crown - Siôn Aled, "Wynebau" National Eisteddfod of Wales: Prose Medal - John Griffith Jones, "Cysgodion ar y Pared"
New books
English language
Clive Jenkins & Barrie Sherman - The Leisure Shock
Eiluned Lewis - The Old Home
Kenneth O. Morgan - Rebirth of a Nation: Wales 1880-1980
R. S. Thomas - Between Here and Now
Welsh language
Irma Chilton - Y Cwlwm Gwaed
Eigra Lewis Roberts - Merch yr oriau mawr
Drama
J. R. Evans - Brawd am Byth
Music
Dafydd Iwan - "Yma o Hyd" Daniel Jones - Symphony no. 10 William Mathias - Let the people praise Thee, O God
Film
English-language films
The Mouse and the Woman, starring Huw Ceredig. Dragonslayer, with exterior scenes filmed in Wales.
Welsh-language films
Broadcasting
English-language television
The Life and Times of David Lloyd George, written by Elaine Morgan and starring Philip Madoc
Welsh-language television
Croeso i S4C, presented by Owen Edwards
Sport
BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year – John Toshack
Boxing - Neville Meade becomes British heavyweight champion. Football - Neville Southall joins Everton F.C.
Births
12 January – Sarah Thomas, field hockey player
13 March – Ryan Jones, rugby player
17 March - Leigh De-Vulgt, footballer
28 March – Gareth David-Lloyd, actor
6 April – Robert Earnshaw, footballer
23 May – Gwenno Saunders, singer
24 May – Darren Moss, footballer
25 May – Huw Stephens, radio and TV presenter
18 November – Sian Reese-Williams, actress
19 November – Mark Wallace, cricketer
16 December – Gareth Williams Scottish-Welsh footballer
Deaths
January - Leslie Jones, footballer, 69
March - Dai Francis, miners' leader
1 March - Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones, theologian, 81
8 March - Nigel Birch, Baron Rhyl, politician, 74
3 April - Will Owen, miner and politician, 80
13 April - Gwyn Thomas, author, 67
15 May - J. E. Meredith, Presbyterian minister and writer, 76
16 June - Billy Hughes, footballer, 63
17 June - Ike Fowler, dual-code international rugby union player, 86
23 July - Goronwy Roberts, Baron Goronwy-Roberts, politician, 67
6 August - George Lewis, footballer, 67
18 September - Brinley Richards, poet, author and archdruid
30 September - Roy John, Wales and British Lions international rugby union player, 55 25 December - Tom Griffiths, Welsh international footballer, 75
