1968 in Wales

Centuries:	18th; 19th; 20th; 21st;
Decades:	1940s; 1950s; 1960s; 1970s; 1980s;
See also:	List of years in Wales; 1968 in The United Kingdom Ireland Scotland

This article is about the particular significance of the year 1968 to Wales and its people.

Incumbents

September – In response to the news that Harold Wilson's government has proposed to use part of the disaster fund set up to help the people of Aberfan to meet the costs of removing the tip that caused the Aberfan disaster, Merthyr MP S. O. Davies says: "I have never known a prime minister to behave so disgracefully in all my 34 years in the House of Commons".^[1]
October - Trawsfynydd nuclear power station, the only nuclear power station to be located in a national park, is opened.
17 December - Official opening of first phase of the Royal Mint's new Llantrisant plant.
The Welsh Office acquires responsibility for historic monuments, and for the water supply in Wales.
In the referendum on the Sunday opening of public houses, the counties of Anglesey, Caernarfon, Cardigan, Carmarthen and Merioneth vote to stay "dry".
The first bilingual (Welsh/English) postage stamp is issued.
Hugh Cudlipp becomes Chairman of the International Publishing Corporation.

Welsh National Opera acquires a professional chorus.
Cefn Cwrt Farm, Llangrannog, is purchased for use by the Urdd Gobaith Cymru.
The Drama Tent is introduced to the Eisteddfod field.
Cwmni Theatr Cymru is formed in Bangor.
Rachel Thomas is awarded the OBE for services to Wales.
Teenager Mary Hopkin rises to stardom after her appearance on Opportunity Knocks.
In His Own Write, by John Lennon, makes its stage debut at the National Theatre in a version co-authored by and directed by Victor Spinetti.

Ewart Alexander – Omri's Burning
Irma Chilton – Cusanau
Pennar Davies – Meibion Darogan
Islwyn Ffowc Elis – Y Blaned Dirion
Menna Gallie – Travels with a Duchess
Glyn Jones – The Dragon Has Two Tongues
A. J. R. Russell-Wood – Fidalgos and Philanthropists: The Santa Casa da Misericórdia of Bahia, 1550–1755
Gwyn Thomas – A Few Selected Exits
Emlyn Williams – Beyond Belief: A Chronicle of Murder and its Detection
Urien Wiliam – Dirgelwch y rocedi

Richard Burton and Donald Houston appear in Where Eagles Dare.
Anthony Hopkins makes his first big-screen impact in The Lion in Winter, appearing alongside Timothy Dalton.
Hywel Bennett stars in Twisted Nerve.
Harry Secombe appears in Oliver!.
Timothy Dalton turns down the role of James Bond, feeling that he is too young for the part.

HTV takes over the commercial television franchise from TWW. Wynford Vaughan-Thomas, one of the founders of the new company, becomes Director of Programmes.

Helo Sut Dach Chi?, presented by Hywel Gwynfryn, is the first Welsh-language pop programme on radio.

BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year – Martyn Woodroffe
Boxing – Howard Winstone wins the World Featherweight title.
Cricket – August 31: During a match between Glamorgan and Nottinghamshire at Swansea, Gary Sobers hits six sixes off one over bowled by Malcolm Nash.
Football – Cardiff City reach the semi-finals of the European Cup Winners Cup, losing to Hamburg.
1968 Summer Olympics
- Richard Meade wins a gold medal as part of the British equestrian team in the Team Three-Day Event
- David Broome takes a bronze in the Individual Show Jumping Grand Prix.
- Martyn Woodroffe is the only British swimmer to win a medal – a silver in the men's 200 m butterfly.
Rugby union – Jeff Young makes his international debut against Scotland.

3 March – Trevor Rees-Jones, bodyguard to Diana, Princess of Wales (in Germany)
28 March – Jon Lee, musician (d. 2002)
May – Rakie Ayola, actress
28 May – Kylie Minogue, actress and singer (in Melbourne, of maternal Welsh origin)
29 May – Jessica Morden, politician
22 July – Rhys Ifans, actor
13 June – David Gray, musician
26 June – Iwan Roberts, footballer
27 July – Carl Sergeant, politician
30 July – Sean Moore, musician
19 August – Roger Freestone, footballer
23 September – Adam Price, politician
12 October – Mark Donovan, actor
18 October – Rhod Gilbert, comedian
13 December – Steve Robinson, featherweight boxer
date unknown – Carl Sargeant, politician (d. 2017)

13 January – William Williams (Crwys), poet and Archdruid, 93
25 January – Louie Myfanwy Thomas (Jane Ann Jones), novelist, 59
6 February – James Gomer Berry, 1st Viscount Kemsley
3 May – Ness Edwards, politician
16 July – William Evans (Wil Ifan), poet
24 August – Bailey Davies, Wales international rugby union player, 83
28 August – Arthur Henderson, Baron Rowley, politician
4 September – Arthur Horner, politician
10 November – Tommy Rees, Wales dual-code rugby player, 64
17 November – Carey Morris, artist
20 November – David Grenfell, politician
14 December – David James Jones (Gwenallt), poet
date unknown
- Dafydd Jones (Isfoel), poet
- Manfri Wood, last known speaker of the Welsh-Romani language^[2]

↑ Griffiths, Robert (1983). S. O. Davies: A Socialist Faith. Llandysul, Dyfed: Gomer Press. pp. 278–79. ISBN 978-0-85088-887-4. (quoted from The Western Mail, 14 September 1968)
↑ Kenrick, Donald (2010). The A to Z of the Gypsies (Romanies). Toronto: Scarecrow Press. p. 289. ISBN 9780810875616.

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