RHYS AP MAREDUDD

Rhys ap Maredudd, the last ruler in the kingdom of Deheubarth, instigated a revolt against Edward I on 8th June 1287. 

1197  - After the death of Rhys ap Gruffydd (The Lord Rhys), the rule Dehubarth is contested by his sons under increasing Norman pressure for its control 

c.1250  - Rhys ap Maredudd was born, his father Maredudd was a grandson of The Lord Rhys

1271  - Rhys succeeds his father as the Lord of Cantref Mawr (a truncated portion of Deheubarth, controlled from Dinefwr Castle).  his father had ruled subject to Llywelyn ap Gruffydd of Gwynedd, but as Rhys had no such agreement with Llywelyn, he submitted to the rule of Edward I of England during the Anglo-Welsh war of 1276–77.

1282  - Following the death of Llywelyn and the subjugation of Wales, Rhys continued to rule in Cantref Mawr and was given additional lands for his allegiance to the English crown.

1282  -  Rhys was forced to base himself at Drislwyn castle, as Edward refused to give him the control of Dinefwr.  However, Rhys remained loyal to Edward in the hope of being restored to Dinefwr.

1287  - With no sign of being restored to Dinefwr, Rhys rebelled and captured the castle as well as the one at Carreg Cennen.  Although the revolt was initially quelled, it broke out again and was only ended after Rhys was besieged in January 1288 for ten days at the castle at Newcastle Emlyn.

1291  - Rhys was was eventually captured and executed for treason at York the following year. 

SIR GALAHAD

On the 8 June 1982, the RFA Sir Galahad was attacked by the Argentine Air Force, resulting in 48 soldiers and crewman being killed in the subsequent explosions and fires.

The hulk was later sunk and is now an official war grave.  Among the survivors, was Guardsman Simon Weston who suffered 46% burns and whose story has been widely reported in television and newspaper coverage. 

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FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT

Born this day 1867 in Richland Center, Wisconsin (his mother was a Welsh speaker from south Cardiganshire)

Frank Lloyd Wright, who is regarded as one of the world's most influential architects, for his contemporary designs and his innovative building style. 

During his career, Lloyd Wright was responsible for Tokyo's Imperial Hotel, New York City's Guggenheim Museum and  Fallingwater house in Western Pennsylvania, which was voted by the American Institute of Architecture as the "best all-time work of American architecture".

He embraced his Welsh heritage, by giving some of his buildings Welsh names, such as his two "Taliesin" houses and others he adorned with the Welsh motto "Y gwir yn erbyn y byd" ("The truth against the world").

The University of Wales conferred an honorary doctorate upon him in 1956, and a bronze bust of him is held by the National Museum.

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BONNIE TYLER

Born this day 1951 in Skewen

Bonnie Tyler (born Gaynor Hopkins) internationally renowned singer, with a distinctively husky voice.  Best remembered for her hits "Lost in France", "It's a Heartache" and "Holding Out for a Hero".  She represented the UK at the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest in Malmo, Sweden with "Believe in Me", finishing 19th.

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EVAN ROBERTS

Born this day 1878 in Loughor

Evan Roberts, who was a leading figure of the 1904-1905 Welsh Christian Revival 

Roberts attended church regularly as a child, memorizing scripture at night.  At age 11, he started working in the coal mines with his father but later moved to Newcastle Emlyn to study for the ministry.  It was here that after a service by the evangelist Seth Joshua, that he began to believe in the "Baptism of the Spirit" Roberts then began to evangelise, travelling the country and speaking to congregations that attracted thousands of people.  However, his rigorous schedule led to him suffering a physical and emotional breakdown in 1906.

Roberts died in 1951 and was buried at Moriah Chapel in Loughor, where a memorial column commemorates his contribution to the revival.

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ANGUS MCBEAN

Born this day 1904 in Newbridge, Caerphilly

Angus McBean, surrealist photographer and mask maker.

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EVAN JAMES WILLIAMS

Born this day 1903 in Cwmsychbant near Llanybydder, Ceredigion

Evan James Williams, Famous for his studies of the collision mechanism of atomic particles and predicting the existence of meson, a new atomic particle.  He is also remembered for devising an efficient method of attacking German submarines during World War II.

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DOUG MOUNTJOY

Born on this day in 1942 in Tir y Berth near Caerphilly.

Doug Mountjoy - Snooker player. 

Doug was born into a mining community in Glamorgan and began life as a miner himself. He was runner-up in the Welsh Amateur championship of 1966 and won the title two years later. He won it again in 1976 as well as the World Amateur championship, after which he turned professional and won the Benson & Hedges Masters, beating Ray Reardon in the final. He won the UK title and the Irish Masters the following season as well as being a member of the winning Welsh team in the World Cup.  He won the World Cup with Wales again in 1980 and finished the 1980/81 season by reaching the Embassy world final in which he was beaten by Steve Davis.  Mountjoy's last season on the ranking tour was 1996/97, after which he coached in the Middle East.