1934 in Wales

This article is about the particular significance of the year 1934 to Wales and its people.

Incumbents

Events

22 September - At Gresford Colliery in Wrexham, 265 miners are killed in a mining accident. Later in the year, Paul Robeson performs in Caernarfon in a benefit concert for victims of the accident.
23 October - Opening of the Guildhall, Swansea, designed by Percy Thomas.
24 October - Aneurin Bevan marries fellow MP Jennie Lee.
date unknown
*Anthracite production in Wales reaches its peak.
*The Special Areas Act is passed to help areas such as the South Wales Valleys that have been particularly affected by the Great Depression in the United Kingdom.
*Courtaulds establishes a new rayon factory at Greenfield.
*Tudor Thomas's work on corneal grafting restores the sight of a man who had been nearly blind for 27 years.

Arts and literature

Sir Henry Walford Davies is appointed Master of the King's Musick.
The Welsh Folk Dance Society is founded at Bala.
Caradog Prichard becomes sub-editor of the News Chronicle.
Richard Hughes and his wife move into Laugharne Castle.

Awards

National Eisteddfod of Wales
National Eisteddfod of Wales: Chair - William Morris, "Ogof Arthur"
National Eisteddfod of Wales: Crown - Eirug Davies, "Y Gorwel"

New books

Edward Tegla Davies - Y Llwybr Arian
Margiad Evans - Turf or Stone
D. Gwenallt Jones - Plasau'r Brenin
Jack Jones - Rhondda Roundabout
Eiluned Lewis - Dew on the Grass
Howard Spring - Shabby Tiger
Dylan Thomas - ''18 Poems''

Drama

James Kitchener Davies - ''Cwm Glo''

Music

Harry Parr Davies becomes accompanist to Gracie Fields.

Film

Ray Milland appears in We're Not Dressing.
Gareth Hughes appears in Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch.
Yr Ail Fordaith Gymraeg , a silent film made by Ifan ab Owen Edwards focusing on the activities of Urdd Gobaith Cymru

Broadcasting

A new radio station is established at Bangor.

Sport

Badminton - Wales is a founder member of the Badminton World Federation.
Cricket - Cyril Walters becomes the first Welshman to captain an England Test team
Rugby Union
*10 March - Wales defeat Ireland 13-0 in a game held at St Helen's, Swansea

Births

11 February – Mary Quant, fashion designer
25 February – Nicholas Edwards, Baron Crickhowell, politician
28 March – Graham Vearncombe, footballer
30 March – Dic Jones, bard and archdruid
18 April – Brynmor John, politician
16 May – Kenneth O. Morgan, historian and academic
10 May – Cliff Wilson, snooker player
13 June – Gren, cartoonist
5 July – Philip Madoc, actor
13 July – Dai Ward, footballer
6 August – Billy Boston, rugby league footballer
16 August – Dave Thomas, golfer and architect
4 September – Clive Granger, econometrician
19 August – Ron Jones, athlete
20 September – David Marquand, academic and MP
1 November – William Mathias, composer
6 November – Betty Campbell, née Johnson, Wales's first black head teacher
24 November – Dewi Zephaniah Phillips, philosopher
date unknown – Mary Lloyd Jones, painter and printmaker

Deaths

6 January – Dorothy Edwards, novelist, 30
8 January – Ivor Bowen, judge, 71
23 January – Charles McLaren, 1st Baron Aberconway, owner of Bodnant, 83
2 February – Edward Bevan, Bishop of Swansea and Brecon, 72
4 February – Harry Wetter, Welsh international rugby union player, 52
25 February – Daniel Protheroe, composer and conductor, 67
28 February – David Davies, textile merchant, 81
3 May – Courtenay Morgan, 1st Viscount Tredegar, 68
24 May – William Nathaniel Jones, politician, 76
14 June – George Thomas, Wales international rugby union player, 76/77
30 June – Hugh Evans, author and publisher, 79
19 July – Christopher Williams, painter, 61
28 August – Edgeworth David, geologist and explorer, 76
11 October – John Kelt Edwards, cartoonist, 59
13 November – Sir Evan Vincent Evans, journalist, 81
4 December – Henry Davies, cricketer, 69