1995 Disappearance of Richey Edwards

Richard James Edwards (born 1967, disappeared 1995, officially presumed dead 2008) was a Welsh musician who was lyricist and rhythm guitarist of the alternative rock band Manic Street Preachers. He was born and raised in Blackwood, Caerphilly. Edwards was initially a driver and roadie for Manic Street Preachers, but he soon became accepted as the band's main spokesman and fourth member. His real contribution to Manic Street Preachers was in the words and design. It was widely believed that he took his own life by jumping from the bridge. Many people who knew him, however, have said that he was never the type to contemplate suicide.

1977 Johnny Owen wins Bantamweight Championship

John Richard Owens (1956 - 1980) was a professional boxer from Wales who fought under the name Johnny Owen. His fragile appearance earned him many epithets, including ‘the Bionic Bantam’ and ‘the Merthyr Matchstick’. He became the first ever Welsh holder of the Bantamweight Championship of the Commonwealth. He challenged champion Lupe Pintor, losing a torturously difficult contest by way of twelfth round knockout. Owen never regained consciousness, fell into a coma and died seven weeks later. Twenty years later, a memorial to Johnny Owen was unveiled in Merthyr Tydfil. At the request of the late fighter's father, the unveiling was performed by Lupe Pintor.

1966 Aberfan disaster

The Aberfan disaster was a catastrophic collapse of a colliery spoil tip in the Welsh village of Aberfan, near Merthyr Tydfil, killing 116 children and 28 adults. It was caused by a build-up of water in the accumulated rock and shale, which suddenly started to slide downhill in the form of slurry. Over 40,000 cubic metres of debris covered the village in minutes, and the classrooms at Pantglas Junior School were immediately inundated, with young children and teachers dying from impact or suffocation. A few children were pulled out alive in the first hour, but no survivors were found after 11 a.m. Rescue work had to be temporarily halted during the day when water began pouring down the slope again, and because of the vast quantity and consistency of the spoil, it was nearly a week before all the bodies were recovered.

1938 Temple of Peace and Health is opened

The Welsh National Temple of Peace and Health, is a non-religious civic building in Cardiff. Since its foundation the building has always served a dual function as headquarters for health and international affairs organisations. The Temple of Peace and Health was the brainchild of David Davies, 1st Baron Davies, and it was designed by the architect Sir Percy Thomas, who was awarded the Bronze medal from the Royal Institute of British Architects for its design. In founding this public building, Lord Davies hoped to combine the ideals of peace and health. He wanted these two great humanitarian causes to be expressed in the architectural design of the building. The foundation stone was laid by Viscount Halifax in 1937.

1922 Urdd Gobaith Cymru is founded

Urdd Gobaith Cymru, literally, the Welsh League of Hope, but normally translated as the Welsh League of Youth, is a Welsh-medium youth movement. The Urdd is Wales's largest youth organisation and it was founded in 1922 by Sir Ifan ab Owen Edwards. The first Urdd local branch was established in Treuddyn in 1922. The logo of the Urdd is a triangle of green (symbolising Wales), red (symbolising fellow-man), and white (symbolising Christ). In 1925 the first "Peace and Goodwill Message" from the youth of Wales to the youth of the world was issued by the Urdd, a custom that continues every year on 18 May.

1902 Opening of Great Orme

The Great Orme (Welsh - Y Gogarth or Pen y Gogarth) is a prominent limestone headland on the north coast of Wales, next to the town of Llandudno. It is echoed by the Little Orme, a smaller but very similar limestone headland on the eastern side of Llandudno Bay in the parish of Llanrhos. Its English name derives from the Viking (Old Norse) word for sea serpent. The Great Orme being the head, with its body being the land between the Great and Little Ormes. Although the Vikings left no written texts of their time in North Wales, they certainly raided the area though they appear to have not founded any permanent settlements.

1894 Mining disaster at Albion Colliery

Cilfynydd is a village in the county borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf, a mile from the South Wales Valleys town of Pontypridd, and 13 miles north of the capital city, Cardiff. The Albion Steam Coal Co. began sinking a coal mine in 1884 at Ynyscaedudwg Farm. The Albion Colliery opened in August 1887, served by the Llancaiach Branch line of the Taff Vale Railway. Albion was the scene of the second worst disaster in the South Wales Coalfield, after the later disaster at the Universal Colliery at Senghenydd in 1913 (439 men are killed). Massive explosion caused by the ignition of coal dust following an explosion of firedamp killed 290 men and boys. Almost everyone in the community lost someone in the disaster.