On this day 2010 St Mary’s Church, Tenby celebrated the 800th anniversary of Gerald of Wales's appointment as the first Rector of Tenby in 1210, following his passionate, although failed, campaign for Wales to have its own Archbishop.

Gerald of Wales (Giraldus Cambrensis) was born some time between 1145 and 1147 at Manorbier, he was the youngest son of William de Barri and Angharad (daughter of Gerald de Windsor and Nest, daughter of Rhys ap Tewder), making him of both Norman and Welsh descent.

Gerald received his early education from his uncle David Fitzgerald bishop of St. Davids, after which he went to study at the University of Paris. On his return in 1172, he was tasked by the Archbishop of Canterbury with collecting church taxes on wool and cheese for the diocese of St. Davids and came into conflict with Jordan, Archdeacon of Brecon, who he subsequently replaced, an office he held it until he retired. After his uncle David Fitzgerald's death in 1176 , Gerald expected to succeed him as Bishop of St Davids, but King Henry II refused his nomination and in his disappointment Gerald went to Paris where he spent three years as a very successful lecturer

In 1185, he was appointed to accompany Prince John (the future King John) to Ireland, after which he wrote his Expugnatio Hibernica and Topographia Hibernica and in 1188, he toured Wales with Archbishop Baldwin to recruit soldiers for the third crusade, an account of which is given in his Itinerarium Kambriae.

In 1198, he was offered the Bishoprics of Bangor and Llandaff in Wales and Ferns and Leighlin in Ireland, but refused them as he was still determined to become Bishop of St Davids. However, once again the King and the Archbishop of Canterbury objected to his appointment and Gerald saw this as a struggle for the recognition of St. Davids as independent of Canterbury.

The conflict lasted for five years and Gerald to Rome three times to put forward the case for St Davids to Pope Innocent III. He was ultimately unsuccessful and the story is told in his autobiography De Rebus a Se Gestis and his Dialogus de Jure et Statu Menevensis Ecclesiae. He devoted the remainder of his life to his studies, but in 1205, he went on a final pilgrimage to Rome. Gerald died in 1223 and was buried at St Davids.  

On 7th February 1301, the future Edward II, who was born at Caernarfon Castle had his appointment as Prince of Wales formalised by the Parliament of Lincoln, becoming the first non native holder of the title.  

Born this day 1945, in Llansaint, Carmarthenshire.

Gerald Davies  -  former Wales and Lions international Rugby union player, who has has been called one of the best wingers of all time.

Davies did not tour South Africa with the 1974 Lions because of his opposition to apartheid, but later in 2009 managed of the Lion's tour there.  After his retirement from playing, Davies became a respected rugby journalist and was a member of Tasker Watkins committee looking into the reform of Welsh rugby. 

Born this day 1936, in Brithdir, Bridgend

Keith Rowlands - former Wales and Lions rugby international.  He later became the first Chief Executive Officer of the International Rugby Board.  

Born this day 1935, in Swansea

Cliff Jones,   former Welsh soccer international, who was capped 59 times and a member of Tottenham Hotspur's 1960 - 61  Double-winning side, being widely considered at the time as the best left-winger in the world.  

Born this day 1933, in Cilfynydd

Stuart Burrows  -  operatic tenor.

Burrows began his working career as a teacher in Bargoed, but his magnificent singing voice soon saw him change career, to become one of  world's finest operatic tenors, he is particularly well known for his performances of Mozart's works.  

On 7th February 1916 , the Roman Catholic archdiocese of Cardiff was established.  

Born on this day 1930 in Swansea.

Peter Jones - broadcaster, best known as a sports commentator on BBC radio.

Although predominantly a football commentator, Jones also covered events such as the opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympic Games and World Cups, and also the wedding of Prince Charles and Diana Spencer. 

He was commentating during the Hillsborough disaster of 1989 and was emotionally so deeply affected by it, that it is thought to have contributed to his collapse whilst commentating on the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race of 1990 and his subsequent death the following day.