On 12th January 1976, the most popular novelist in the world, Dame Agatha Christie died leaving a multi-million pound fortune, much of which is used to promote the arts in Wales. 

In 1951 a young Welsh boy named Mathew Prichard was taken by his grandmother, Agatha Christie, to the Prince of Wales Theatre, Cardiff to see his first play, "Black Coffee" which she had written 25 years earlier. The following year she signed the world rights of "The Mousetrap" to her grandson as a 9th birthday present.

Prichard, now chairman of Agatha Christie Ltd which manages the literary and media rights to Agatha Christie's works around the world, set up the Colwinston Charitable Trust (named after the village in the Vale of Glamorgan), which uses royalties to promote the arts in Wales. The Welsh National Opera, Wales Millennium Centre, and Chapter Arts, have all benefited from the trust’s financial support.   

On 12th January 1402, Owain Glyndwr captured his arch-enemy Reginald de Grey, 3rd Baron Grey de Ruthyn. 

Reginald de Grey was in a long-running legal dispute with Glyndŵr, over the ownership of some of Glyndwr's land.   King Richard II  had been found in Glyndwr's favour, but on the usurpation of King Henry IV, Lord Grey was allowed to seize the land.

Glyndŵr responded in law in 1400, only to be told to grant de Grey concessions.  The relationship between the two men was further strained when de Grey delayed giving Glyndŵr the summons from Henry IV to provide service in Scotland, until such time that it was impossible for  Glyndwr to respond in time.  This was seen by Henry IV as a treasonous act and Glyndŵr's estates were forfeited.

So on 16th September 1400, Owain took up arms, burned Grey's property and ravaged his lands.  Then on 24th September, Glyndwr's forces were encircled at Welshpool and de Grey invited Glyndŵr to a reconciliation meeting.  However de Grey arrived with a substantial army and attempted to imprison Glyndŵr.   Glyndŵr escaped and went into hiding, but this confirmed him as a traitor in English eyes and King Henry now confiscated the estates of his supporters.

Glyndwr's rebellion then gathered momentum and in 1402, de Grey was captured  in an ambush near Ruthin and a ransom of 10,000 marks demanded for his release, which Henry eventually paid.

Born on this day 1810 in Swansea. 

John Dillwyn Llewelyn -  photography pioneer, politician, scientist and philanthropist. 

John Dillwyn inherited two estates in the Swansea, Neath area and according to instructions in his father's will, added the name of Llewelyn to his own.

*  Llewelyn was married to a cousin of William Henry Fox Talbot, the British inventor of photography, who inspired Llewelyn to be at the forefront of photographic innovation in the 1850s.  Llywelyn's Oxymel process,  using vinegar and honey to preserve images made taking outdoor photographs much more practical. 

*  Llewelyn was the High Sheriff of Glamorgan and helped some of the leaders of the Rebecca Riots in the 1840s.

*  With the threat of a French invasion he trained his own militia, the 5th Company Glamorgan Rifle Volunteers. 

*  He helped his friend Sir Charles Wheatstone, sink a length of insulated wire in Swansea Bay as part of his telegraphy experiments.

*  The grounds of his Swansea estate were notable for their original landscape design.  He was also particularly interested in astronomy and built only the second  equatorial observatory in Wales.  

*  Llewelyn was a noted patron of many good causes, especially local schools and hospitals. 

*  He built cottages for his employees on his estate at what is now the village of Penllergaer. 

*  He gave the land for the public park, Parc Llewelyn, near Morriston.

Born on this day 1907 in Pembroke.

Reg Thomas  -  middle distance runner, who competed in the 1928 and 1932 Olympic Games.

Thomas was a Squadron Leader in the Royal Air Force, when on 14th March 1946 he was killed when the Lancaster bomber he was piloting, crashed on take-off at RAF Aston Down.