On 10th May 1837, 21 men and boys were killed  when the Plas yr Argoed colliery near Mold, flooded. Among those killed were the father and two brothers of the novelist Daniel Owen, who is generally regarded as the foremost Welsh-language novelist of the 19th century. 

On 10th May 1852 tragedy fell on the village of Pontyberem when the Gwendraeth Colliery flooded killing all 26 men and boys on the night shift. It is said that it took 18 months to recover the bodies.  

The village of Pontyberem, which is situated in the Gwendraeth Valley halfway between Carmarthen and Llanelli grew as the coal mining industry in the area developed during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.   There were four principal mines in the Pontyberem Area,  Pontyberem colliery, Pentremawr, Glynhebog and Gwendraeth colliery (Watney pit).  However, all of them are no coal mines operating in the Gwendraeth Valley, due to the subsequent demise of the coal industry.  

Born this day 1980 in Newbridge, near Caerphilly

Gavin Rees   professional boxer, nicknamed "The Rock".  In 2007, Rees shocked the boxing world by defeating Souleymane M'baye to become the WBA Light Welterweight World Champion. 

Born this day 1934 in Tredegar

Cliff Wilson - World Amateur Snooker champion 1978

Wilson is fondly remembered as one of snooker's great characters, with his dashing play, booming laugh and wheezing cough. While many of his contemporaries were locked into defensive mindsets, Wilson was an attacking player who delighted crowds with his stunning long pots, his popular exhibitions went under the banner "You've never seen anything like it!"

Wilson was a talented youngster winning the Welsh Under 19 and Welsh Amateur titles, but became disillusioned with the game and gave up snooker completely for fifteen years, during which time he worked at the steelworks at Llanwern.  When the popularity of snooker rocketed in the 1970's, Wilson returned to the game and became World Amateur Snooker champion in 1978.  Despite worsening eyesight and back problems, Wilson turned professional  and at the age of 55, he reached 14th spot in the world rankings during the 1988-89 season.

Former professional Neal Foulds said of him " There was a guy called Cliff Wilson who was probably the best potter that I ever saw. He was a relatively old man with bad eyes and he used to pot balls all over the place"

Born this day 1872 in Bombay

Tom Pearson , former Wales rugby international and captain.  Pearson also represented Wales in squash, tennis, hockey and golf.  He was the youngest player to score a try for Wales until the record was overtaken by Tom Prydie in 2010 and he holds the record for the number of tries scored in a season for Cardiff with 40 tries.  During World War I he served as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Royal Field Artillery.  

Born this day 1877 in Morriston 

Will Joseph , former Wales rugby international, who was a member of the winning Welsh team who beat the 1905 All Blacks.  He was a prop forward who was described as a strong player in tight scrums and due to his height, excellent in line outs.