KELLY JONES

Born this day 1974 in Cwmaman, near Aberdare

Kelly Jones, singer, songwriter and guitarist.  Best known as the lead singer of the band Stereophonics.

JEFFERSON DAVIS

Born this day 1808 in Christian County, Kentucky (Both of his' paternal grandparents were from Snowdonia) 

Jefferson Davis, leader of the Confederacy during the American Civil War, serving as President of the Confederate States of America.

BARMOUTH BRIDGE

Pont Abermaw - The Barmouth Bridge -  was opened on 3rd June 1867.  It linked Barmouth to the rail network for the first time. 

The Barmouth Bridge is a single-track largely wooden railway viaduct that crosses the estuary of the Mawddach River, it was built entirely of wood, by the Aberystwyth and Welsh Coast Railway and included a lifting drawbridge to permit the passage of tall ships, which was rebuilt in 1901 as a steel swing bridge.

THOMAS BECKET

On this day 1162, Thomas Becket was consecrated as Archbishop of Canterbury

Thomas Becket divided opinion in Wales.

It seems that many admired his stance against Henry II, but he angered others in his refusal to allow an archbishopric for St Davids, these contradicting viewpoints can be seen in particular from Giraldus Cambrensis (Gerald of Wales), who was committed to freeing the Church in Wales from its subservience to Canterbury, but was also wore an ampoule of Becket's blood around his neck, saying of him "It is clear that, in our lifetime, Saint Thomas, as archbishop of Canterbury, won a glorious victory for the freedom of the church by fighting on until he was martyred".

1162 Thomas Becket was consecrated Archbishop of Canterbury

1165   Henry II was gathering an army at Shrewsbury to meet the challenge of Owain Gwynedd who was renewing the struggle for independence and an independent archbishopric for St Davids but he did not have the support of Becket since this would involve a weakening  Canterbury's influence over the Welsh dioceses.  Owain had appointed his own Bishop of Bangor and was excommunicated by Becket for doing so.

1170 Becket was killed, The Brut y Tywysogydn, says of him 'a man of great piety and saintliness and righteousness.' 

1173 Becket was canonized and the cult of St Thomas grew and prospered and there were many dedications to him in churches in Wales.

CHRISTIAN MALCOLM

Born this day 1979 in Cardiff and brought up in Newport

Christian Malcolm, athlete who was 200 metre World Junior Champion in 1998 and World Junior Athlete of the Year in the same year.