On the 24 May 1901 81 of the 82 men working at the Univeral Colliery, Senghenydd, were killed in a gas and coal dust explosion.

A report showed that fire, coal dust and air produced a deadly mixture, and new laws were passed requiring the constant damping down of coal dust. However, a much bigger disaster occurred in the same mine 12 years later, killing 439 men and boys, the worst mining disaster in  UK history. Safety had not been prioritised and regulations had been ignored. Universal Colliery was finally closed on Friday 30 March 1928 with the loss of 2500 jobs.

The National Botanic Garden of Wales near Llanarthne, Carmarthenshire was opened to the public on 24th May 2000.

It is both a tourist attraction and a centre for botanical research and the conservation of rare and endangered plants. Its 'Great Glasshouse' is the largest of its kind in the world. 

On 24th May 1847, five people were killed in the Dee bridge disaster, when Robert Stephenson's railway bridge at Chester collapsed. 

An investigation concluded that the design was flawed and a  Royal Commission condemned the use of cast iron on railway bridges. Stephenson later rebuilt the bridge using wrought iron. 

The first Eurovision Song Contest was held in Lugano, Switzerland on 24th May 1956.

*  In 1970 Welsh singer Mary Hopkin came 2nd with "Knock, Knock Who's There"

*  In 1976, Brotherhood of Man, won with "Save All Your Kisses For Me".  Nicky Stevens (the dark haired female vocalist) from Carmarthen, is the only Welsh person to ever win Eurovision. 

*  In 1990, Emma (Emma Louise Booth), from Bridgend, came 10th with  "Give a Little Love Back to the World"

*  In 1996, Elaine Morgan, from Cardiff came 19th, representing France in the band  Dan Ar Braz & L'Héritage des Celtes, with the  Breton language song "Diwanit Bugale" 

*  In 2002, Jessica Garlick, from Kidwelly came 3rd with "Come Back"

*  In 2004, James Fox, from Bargoed came 16th with "Hold On To Our Love" 

*  In 2013, Bonnie Tyler, from Skewen came 19th with "Believe in Me".  

Born this day 1857 in Abergavenny,

John Williams , who was awarded the Victoria Cross for action at Rorke's Drift during the Anglo-Zulu War.

His citation reads:

Private John Williams was posted with Private Joseph Williams, and Private William Horrigan in a distant room of the hospital, which they held for more than an hour, so long as they had a round of ammunition left: as communication was for the time cut off, the Zulus were enabled to advance and burst open the door and killed Private Joseph Williams and two of the patients. Whilst the Zulus were occupied with the slaughter of these men a lull took place, during which Private John Williams, who, with two patients, were the only men now left alive in this ward, succeeded in knocking a hole in the partition, and in taking the two patients into the next ward, where he found Private Hook. These two men together, one man working whilst the other fought and held the enemy at bay with his bayonet, broke through three more partitions, and were thus enabled to bring eight patients through a small window into the inner line of defence.  

Whitsun (Sulgwyn) is recorded in the Laws of Hywel Dda as one of the three main holidays of the medieval Welsh kingdoms, the others being Christmas(Nadolyg) and Easter (Pasc).

Whitsun traditions in Wales;

* In areas of south and east Wales the Church used to organise an outdoor feast called the Whitsun Ale after the specially brewed ale that was provided. A Lord and Lady of the Ale would often be elected to preside over the festivities, which included music, dancing, sports and games. These were later replaced by fairs and parades in some areas.

* A custom once held at Lleyn was where couples desiring future happiness tried to pass through a divided tree called Y Pren Dedwydd ('The Blessed Tree').