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Decades:	1980s; 1990s; 2000s; 2010s; 2020s;
See also:	List of years in Wales; Timeline of Welsh history 2009 in The United Kingdom England Scotland Elsewhere Welsh football: 2008–09 • 2009–10

This article is about the particular significance of the year 2009 to Wales and its people.

Incumbents

First Minister
- Rhodri Morgan (until 9 December)
- Carwyn Jones
Secretary of State for Wales
- Paul Murphy (until 5 June)^[1]
- Peter Hain^[2]
Archbishop of Wales – Barry Morgan, Bishop of Llandaff
Archdruid of the National Eisteddfod of Wales
- Dic Jones (outgoing)
- Jim Parc Nest (incoming)

Events

1 January
- The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, broadcasts a New Year message on BBC television. He warns against losing sight of our "real treasure" and says: "Our hearts will be in a very bad way if they're focused only on the state of our finances."^[3]
- Record numbers of swimmers participate in New Year's Day charity swims at Amroth, Saundersfoot and Abersoch.^[4]
2 January - Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson denies having criticised the failure to include all UK Paralympic gold medal-winners in the UK New Year Honours List.^[5]
9 January - The UK Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, visits south Wales as part of a 3-day tour of the regions.^[6]
11 January - Eight rescuers are injured as four mountain rescue teams help bring two climbers to safety from the summit of Snowdon.^[7]
15 January - Welsh Conservative Assembly Members issue an announcement saying that they give their unanimous support to Nick Bourne as leader of the Assembly group.^[8]
19 January - The Cardiff International Sports Stadium opens, replacing the old Cardiff Athletics Stadium
22 January - After having been the only police force in the UK to record an increase in crime during 2007-2008, South Wales Police witnesses a 4% drop in crime in its area, according to the latest British Crime Survey.^[9]
26 January - Corus announces the loss of up to 1,100 jobs at its plants in Wales and the mothballing of the Llanwern hot strip mill.^[10]
2 February - After a 24-hour search, the Llanberis mountain rescue team recovers the bodies of two brothers from south-west England who went missing on Snowdon on 31 January.^[11]
8 February - At the 51st Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, Best Pop Vocal Album goes to Duffy for Rockferry.
11 February - Four people are killed in a mid-air collision between two light aircraft near Kenfig. They are two female air cadets from Rhondda, aged 13 and 14, and two RAF instructors.^[12]
18 February
- Duffy wins the Best Female and British Breakthrough Act awards at the 2009 BRIT Awards; her album Rockferry wins Best Album.
- The inquest opens into the Kenfig air crash of 11 February.^[13]
21 February - Rescuers have to abseil 500 feet (150 m) down a sheer rock face in the dark to rescue a team of three climbers stuck on Snowdon.^[14]
6 March - Boxer Joe Calzaghe wins a court action against his former manager Frank Warren, claiming £2 million in unpaid fees.^[15]
13 March - The Hoover Company ceases washing machine production at Merthyr Tydfil.^[16]
1 June - ftrmetro Swansea bus rapid transit system begins operation.^[17]
12 June - Hafod Eryri at the summit of Snowdon is opened.^[18]
27 June - An 11-mile stretch of the Llangollen Canal, including the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, is designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.^[19]
21 July - The first race meeting is held at Ffos Las racecourse, the first new National Hunt racecourse to be built in the United Kingdom for 80 years.^[20]
22 July - Official opening of the new Cardiff City Stadium, Wales' 2nd largest stadium, when Cardiff City F.C. drew against Glasgow's Celtic F.C.
31 July - Indesit ceases washing machine production at Kinmel Park, Bodelwyddan.^[21]
1 August - The National Eisteddfod of Wales opens at Bala.
8 August - The first test of the Ashes 2009 series, seeing England against Australia in Cricket, begins at Cardiff's SWALEC Stadium.
12 August - Wales begins the process of digital switchover with the turning off of parts of the analogue signal from the Kilvey Hill transmitter.^[22]
29 September - On his 70th birthday, Rhodri Morgan announces that he will stand down as First Minister in December.
22 October - The St David's Centre in Cardiff re-opens as one of the largest shopping centres in the United Kingdom after its multimillion-pound extension and the reconstruction of the surrounding area.
November - Mererid Hopwood, the first woman to be nominated for the position of Archdruid of the National Eisteddfod, withdraws her name from consideration, leaving T. James Jones as the only candidate.
12 November - Health & Social Services Minister Edwina Hart declines a request by Liberal Democrat Kirsty Williams to review how £1 billion has been spent on NHS services in Wales.
13 November - The agreement A New Understanding is signed by representatives of the Welsh Assembly Government and the Welsh Local Government Association.^[23]
18 November - A report by the All Wales Convention finds that public opinion is narrowly in favour of increasing the powers of the Welsh Assembly.^[24]
21 November
- Dannie Abse receives the Wilfred Owen Poetry Award.
- Pride In Barry announces the planned placement of a Blue Plaque on 19 Porth Y Castell, Barry, in memory of boxer Jack Petersen.
9 December - Carwyn Jones takes office as First Minister for Wales.^[25]
16 December - The Afan Lido leisure complex in Port Talbot is badly damaged by fire.^[26]
29 December - A crater approximately 10 feet (3.0 m) wide and 12 feet (3.7 m) deep appears in Brynmair Close, Aberaman, Rhondda Cynon Taf. Nearby residents are evacuated as the cause is investigated.^[27]

Arts and literature

Awards

Glyndŵr Award – Llŷr Williams
National Eisteddfod of Wales: Chair – withheld
National Eisteddfod of Wales: Crown – Ceri Wyn Jones
National Eisteddfod of Wales: Drama Medal – Dyfed Edwards
National Eisteddfod of Wales: Fine Art Medal – Elfyn Lewis
National Eisteddfod of Wales: Prose Medal – Siân Melangell Dafydd
Gwobr Goffa Daniel Owen – Fflur Dafydd
Wales Book of the Year:
- English language: Deborah Kay Davies – Grace, Tamar and Laszlo the Beautiful
- Welsh language: William Owen Roberts – Petrograd
Kyffin Art Prize: Louisa Theunissen^[28]
Cân i Gymru: Elfed Morgan Morris – "Gofidiau"
BBC Cardiff Singer of the World competition:^[29]
- Main Prize – Ekaterina Scherbachenko
- Song Prize – Jan Martinik

New books

Welsh language

Robat Gruffudd - A Gymri Di Gymru?
Lloyd Jones - Y Dŵr

English language

Emyr Humphreys - The Woman at the Window
Siân James - Return to Hendre Ddu
Nigel Owens - Half Time
Malcolm Pryce - From Aberystwyth with Love
John Powell Ward - The Last Green Year

Music

Theatre

May - National Theatre Wales, an English-language theatre company, is established with a grant of £3 million.^[36]

Film

Underworld: Rise of the Lycans, starring Michael Sheen

Broadcasting

Welsh-language TV

Caerdydd
S4C launches a new bilingual rugby website^[37]

English-language TV

Coal House^[38]
Doctor Who - David Tennant films his final scenes as The Doctor in Cardiff.
Gavin & Stacey - series 3

Sport

January - Simon Lawson of Cardiff wins the 28th annual Richard Burton 10 km run^[39] in a time of 31 minutes.
21 March - Wales are narrowly defeated by Ireland to finish third overall in the 2009 Six Nations Championship (rugby union).
June - The first race meeting is held at the newly constructed Ffos Las racecourse.
28 December - Blackwood-reared Dream Alliance wins the Welsh Grand National.
BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year - Ryan Giggs^[40]

Births

11 January - Dexter Lloyd Henson, son of Charlotte Church and Gavin Henson

Deaths

9 January - T. Llew Jones, writer, 93^[41]
10 January - Eluned Phillips, writer, 94^[42]
13 January - Dai Llewellyn, socialite, 62^[43]
22 January - Vic Crowe, footballer, 76^[44]
9 February
- Gareth Alban Davies, academic, 82
- Reg Davies, footballer, 79
10 February - Gerwyn Williams, rugby union footballer, 84
14 February - Sir Bernard Ashley, entrepreneur, 82^[45]
19 February - Ian L. Jenkins, former Surgeon General of the British Armed Forces, 64
26 February - Jackie Bowen, Welsh rugby union and rugby league footballer, 93
2 March - Gerard Morgan-Grenville, environmentalist, 77
12 March - Huw Thomas, broadcaster, lawyer and politician, 81
22 March - Emyr Price, historian, 64
23 March - Geoff Holmes, cricketer, 50^[46]
12 April - John Maddox, biologist, 83
22 April - Cliff Curvis, British and Commonwealth boxing champion, 81
May - Ralph Morgan, Welsh rugby union and rugby league footballer, 88?
14 May - Ken Hollyman, footballer, 86
16 May - Einion Evans, poet, 82
31 May - Brian Edrich, former Glamorgan cricket coach, 86
5 June - Haydn Tanner, Wales international rugby union footballer, 92
19 June - Major Sean Birchall, soldier, 33 (killed on active service)^[47]
6 July - Bleddyn Williams, rugby union footballer, 86
11 July - Geraint Owen, actor and politician, 43
27 July - Aeronwy Thomas, writer and daughter of Dylan Thomas, 66^[48]
18 August - Dic Jones, poet and archdruid, 75^[49]
28 August - Noel Jones, Anglican bishop, 76^[50]</ref>
6 September - Sir David Glyndwr Tudor Williams, barrister and academic, 78^[51]
9 September - Stanley Cornwell Lewis, artist, 103^[52]
7 October - Helen Watts, operatic contralto, 81^[53]
10 October - Sir Bryan Hopkin, economist, 94^[54]
11 October - Patrick Hannan, radio and TV journalist, 68^[55]
17 October - Douglas Blackwell, actor, 85
20 October - Hubert Rees, actor
12 November - Orig Williams, wrestler and TV presenter, 78^[56]
16 December - T. G. H. James, Egyptologist, 86^[57]
30 December - Maldwyn Evans, bowls champion, 72^[58]

References

^ "UK – Wales – Murphy returns as Welsh secretary". BBC. Retrieved 2016-11-13.
^ "Hain not charged over donations". BBC News. 5 December 2008. Archived from the original on 6 December 2008. Retrieved 6 December 2008.
^ Bagnall, Steve (1 January 2009). "Archbishop of Canterbury warns that money isn't everything". Daily Post. Archived from the original on 17 February 2012.
^ "Records broken at New Year swim". BBC News. 1 January 2009.
^ "Dame Tanni denies honours worry". BBC News. 2 January 2009.
^ "Jobs key to Welsh economy says PM". BBC News. 9 January 2009.
^ "Rescuers injured helping climbers". BBC News. 11 January 2009.
^ Powys, Betsan (15 January 2009). "Bourne free?". BBC News. Archived from the original on 18 January 2009.
^ Devine, Darren (23 January 2009). "Home Office report shows 4% crime drop in South Wales". WalesOnline. Media Wales.
^ "Fears over 1,100 Welsh steel jobs". BBC News. 26 January 2009.
^ "Two found dead after Snowdon hunt". BBC News. 2 February 2009.
^ "Third child tragedy for plane crash mum". WalesOnline. Media Wales. 12 February 2009.
^ Devine, Darren (18 February 2009). "Inquest into tragic plane crash opened". WalesOnline. Media Wales.
^ "Abseil in dark to rescue climbers". BBC News. 22 February 2009.
^ "Calzaghe wins case against Warren". BBC News. 17 March 2009.
^ "Hoover Washing Machines Page 2". Old Merthyr Tydfil. Retrieved 3 April 2014.
^ "ftrmetro has arrived in Swansea". goftr.com. Archived from the original on 8 February 2011.
^ "£8.4m Snowdon summit cafe opens". BBC News. 2009-06-12. Retrieved 2021-11-19.
^ "Aqueduct crowned 'world wonder'". BBC News Online. 27 June 2009.
^ "New Wales racecourse goes flat out". NewsWales. 13 July 2009. Archived from the original on 28 July 2011.
^ "305 jobs to go at Indesit factory". BBC News. 3 March 2009. Retrieved 31 March 2018.
^ "Kilvey Hill transmitter group". Digital UK. 2009. Archived from the original on 7 August 2009.
^ "Welsh Assembly Government And Local Governments Sign Up To A New Understanding". eGovmonitor.com. 13 November 2009. Archived from the original on 16 November 2009.
^ "More powers for Wales says report". BBC News. 18 November 2009.
^ "Carwyn Jones clinches leadership in Wales". WalesOnline. Media Wales. 1 December 2009.
^ "'Guarantee' fire-hit Afan Lido to be replaced". BBC News. 17 December 2009.
^ "Crater in car park investigated". BBC News. 31 December 2009.
^ "First Kyffin art prize is awarded". BBC News. 25 October 2009.
^ "BBC Cardiff Singer of the World – 2009 competition". BBC News. Archived from the original on 26 June 2009.
^ Jed Distler. "J.S. Bach: Goldbergs on harp/Finch". Classics Today. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
^ "Review - Rhydian: O Fortuna". OK magazine. 1 December 2009. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
^ "Derwyddon Dr Gonzo - Stonk!". BBC Radio Cymru (in Welsh). Retrieved 15 July 2024.
^ Emily Woodrow (13 October 2009). "Only Men Aloud! wowed the crowd at new album's launch". WalesOnline. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
^ "Album Review - Super Furry Animals". NME. Archived from the original on 2012-10-11. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
^ "Comic Relief 2009 presents 'Barry Islands in the Stream'". Tom Jones. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
^ Lyn Gardner (5 November 2009). "National Theatre of Wales: by the people, for the people". The Guardian. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
^ Rygbi
^ "BBC One - Coal House". Retrieved 4 September 2019.
^ "Burton tribute 10km run success". BBC News. 11 January 2009. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
^ "BBC Wales Sport Personality winners". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
^ "Colli 'un o eiconau'r genedl'" (in Welsh). BBC Cymru. 17 September 2019.
^ "Eluned Phillips: The only woman poet to have won the National Eisteddfod's Crown twice", The Independent obituary, 13 February 2009 Archived 22 May 2017 at the Wayback Machine. Accessed 19 August 2015
^ Burgess, Kaya (14 January 2009). "Sir Dai Llewellyn dies aged 62". The Times. London. Retrieved 14 January 2009.^{[dead link‍]}
^ Mat Kendrick (22 January 2009). "Ex-Villa manager Vic Crowe dies". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
^ "Sir Bernard Ashley". The Telegraph. 15 February 2009. Retrieved 17 September 2019.
^ "Ex-Glam star Holmes dies". South Wales Argus. 24 March 2009. Retrieved 17 September 2019.
^ "Major Sean Birchall killed in Afghanistan". gov.uk. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
^ "Daughter of Dylan Thomas has died". BBC. 28 July 2009. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
^ "Dic Jones: Archdruid of Wales and master poet in the strict metres of". The Independent. 2009-08-21. Archived from the original on 2022-05-01. Retrieved 2017-09-14.
^ "Obituaries". Daily Telegraph. No. 47, 985. 11 September 2009. p. 31.
^ "Professor Sir David Williams: legal scholar". The Times. 22 September 2009. Retrieved 28 March 2019.
^ Colin Gleadell (7 Jun 2010) "Stanley Lewis: the artist who found fame at 101", The Telegraph. Retrieved 2014-01-04.
^ "Obituary for Helen Watts". The Guardian. 15 October 2009.
^ "Sir Bryan Hopkin". www.telegraph.co.uk. 23 November 2009.
^ "Obituary – Patrick Hannan". The Daily Telegraph. 11 October 2009. Retrieved 10 October 2009.
^ "Orig Williams: Welsh wrestler". The Times. 23 November 2009. Archived from the original on May 24, 2010. Retrieved 18 April 2010.
^ "TGH James". The Daily Telegraph. 25 February 2010. Retrieved 25 July 2010.
^ Richard E. Huws. "Evans, Maldwyn Lewis ('Mal') (1937-2009), champion bowler". Dictionary of Welsh Biography. National Library of Wales. Retrieved 18 April 2019.

[1] "UK – Wales – Murphy returns as Welsh secretary". BBC. Retrieved 2016-11-13.

[2] "Hain not charged over donations". BBC News. 5 December 2008. Archived from the original on 6 December 2008. Retrieved 6 December 2008.

[3] Bagnall, Steve (1 January 2009). "Archbishop of Canterbury warns that money isn't everything". Daily Post. Archived from the original on 17 February 2012.

[4] "Records broken at New Year swim". BBC News. 1 January 2009.

[5] "Dame Tanni denies honours worry". BBC News. 2 January 2009.

[6] "Jobs key to Welsh economy says PM". BBC News. 9 January 2009.

[7] "Rescuers injured helping climbers". BBC News. 11 January 2009.

[8] Powys, Betsan (15 January 2009). "Bourne free?". BBC News. Archived from the original on 18 January 2009.

[9] Devine, Darren (23 January 2009). "Home Office report shows 4% crime drop in South Wales". WalesOnline. Media Wales.

[10] "Fears over 1,100 Welsh steel jobs". BBC News. 26 January 2009.

[11] "Two found dead after Snowdon hunt". BBC News. 2 February 2009.

[12] "Third child tragedy for plane crash mum". WalesOnline. Media Wales. 12 February 2009.

[13] Devine, Darren (18 February 2009). "Inquest into tragic plane crash opened". WalesOnline. Media Wales.

[14] "Abseil in dark to rescue climbers". BBC News. 22 February 2009.

[15] "Calzaghe wins case against Warren". BBC News. 17 March 2009.

[16] "Hoover Washing Machines Page 2". Old Merthyr Tydfil. Retrieved 3 April 2014.

[17] "ftrmetro has arrived in Swansea". goftr.com. Archived from the original on 8 February 2011.

[18] "£8.4m Snowdon summit cafe opens". BBC News. 2009-06-12. Retrieved 2021-11-19.

[bwb-nine-months-19] "Aqueduct crowned 'world wonder'". BBC News Online. 27 June 2009.

[20] "New Wales racecourse goes flat out". NewsWales. 13 July 2009. Archived from the original on 28 July 2011.

[21] "305 jobs to go at Indesit factory". BBC News. 3 March 2009. Retrieved 31 March 2018.

[22] "Kilvey Hill transmitter group". Digital UK. 2009. Archived from the original on 7 August 2009.

[23] "Welsh Assembly Government And Local Governments Sign Up To A New Understanding". eGovmonitor.com. 13 November 2009. Archived from the original on 16 November 2009.

[24] "More powers for Wales says report". BBC News. 18 November 2009.

[25] "Carwyn Jones clinches leadership in Wales". WalesOnline. Media Wales. 1 December 2009.

[26] "'Guarantee' fire-hit Afan Lido to be replaced". BBC News. 17 December 2009.

[27] "Crater in car park investigated". BBC News. 31 December 2009.

[28] "First Kyffin art prize is awarded". BBC News. 25 October 2009.

[29] "BBC Cardiff Singer of the World – 2009 competition". BBC News. Archived from the original on 26 June 2009.

[30] Jed Distler. "J.S. Bach: Goldbergs on harp/Finch". Classics Today. Retrieved 15 July 2024.

[31] "Review - Rhydian: O Fortuna". OK magazine. 1 December 2009. Retrieved 15 July 2024.

[32] "Derwyddon Dr Gonzo - Stonk!". BBC Radio Cymru (in Welsh). Retrieved 15 July 2024.

[33] Emily Woodrow (13 October 2009). "Only Men Aloud! wowed the crowd at new album's launch". WalesOnline. Retrieved 15 July 2024.

[34] "Album Review - Super Furry Animals". NME. Archived from the original on 2012-10-11. Retrieved 15 July 2024.

[35] "Comic Relief 2009 presents 'Barry Islands in the Stream'". Tom Jones. Retrieved 15 July 2024.

[36] Lyn Gardner (5 November 2009). "National Theatre of Wales: by the people, for the people". The Guardian. Retrieved 15 November 2018.

[37] Rygbi

[38] "BBC One - Coal House". Retrieved 4 September 2019.

[39] "Burton tribute 10km run success". BBC News. 11 January 2009. Retrieved 15 November 2018.

[40] "BBC Wales Sport Personality winners". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2 August 2021.

[41] "Colli 'un o eiconau'r genedl'" (in Welsh). BBC Cymru. 17 September 2019.

[42] "Eluned Phillips: The only woman poet to have won the National Eisteddfod's Crown twice", The Independent obituary, 13 February 2009 Archived 22 May 2017 at the Wayback Machine. Accessed 19 August 2015

[43] Burgess, Kaya (14 January 2009). "Sir Dai Llewellyn dies aged 62". The Times. London. Retrieved 14 January 2009.^{[dead link‍]}

[44] Mat Kendrick (22 January 2009). "Ex-Villa manager Vic Crowe dies". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 8 September 2018.

[45] "Sir Bernard Ashley". The Telegraph. 15 February 2009. Retrieved 17 September 2019.

[46] "Ex-Glam star Holmes dies". South Wales Argus. 24 March 2009. Retrieved 17 September 2019.

[47] "Major Sean Birchall killed in Afghanistan". gov.uk. Retrieved 8 September 2018.

[48] "Daughter of Dylan Thomas has died". BBC. 28 July 2009. Retrieved 15 November 2018.

[49] "Dic Jones: Archdruid of Wales and master poet in the strict metres of". The Independent. 2009-08-21. Archived from the original on 2022-05-01. Retrieved 2017-09-14.

[50] "Obituaries". Daily Telegraph. No. 47, 985. 11 September 2009. p. 31.

[51] "Professor Sir David Williams: legal scholar". The Times. 22 September 2009. Retrieved 28 March 2019.

[52] Colin Gleadell (7 Jun 2010) "Stanley Lewis: the artist who found fame at 101", The Telegraph. Retrieved 2014-01-04.

[53] "Obituary for Helen Watts". The Guardian. 15 October 2009.

[54] "Sir Bryan Hopkin". www.telegraph.co.uk. 23 November 2009.

[55] "Obituary – Patrick Hannan". The Daily Telegraph. 11 October 2009. Retrieved 10 October 2009.

[56] "Orig Williams: Welsh wrestler". The Times. 23 November 2009. Archived from the original on May 24, 2010. Retrieved 18 April 2010.

[57] "TGH James". The Daily Telegraph. 25 February 2010. Retrieved 25 July 2010.

[58] Richard E. Huws. "Evans, Maldwyn Lewis ('Mal') (1937-2009), champion bowler". Dictionary of Welsh Biography. National Library of Wales. Retrieved 18 April 2019.

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2009 in Wales

Incumbents

Events

Arts and literature

Awards

New books

Welsh language

English language

Music

Classical

Albums

Singles

Theatre

Film

Broadcasting

Welsh-language TV

English-language TV

Sport

Births

Deaths

See also

References

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