Nelson Mandela received the Freedom of the City of Cardiff on this day 1998

His visit to Wales attracted a huge public interest and during a walkabout prior to the ceremony, he took time out to sing with a group of local schoolchildren.

Accepting the honour, Mr Mandela acknowledged the magnificent support that the people of South Africa had received from the people of Wales, during their struggle against apartheid.

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Today is the feast day of Saint Quiricus (Gwyl Giric)

The cult of "St. Giric" was widespread in post-Roman Wales and his feast day was one of the principal Welsh holidays, as codified by the laws of Hywel Dda.

Saint Julietta and her son Saint Quiricus (Giric) were martyred in AD 304 in Tarsus in south-central Turkey, according to legend, Julietta and the three-year-old Giric had fled to Tarsus and were identified as Christians. Julietta was tortured and when Giric, who was being held by the governor of Tarsus, scratched the governor's face, he was killed by being thrown down a set of stairs. Julietta however then celebrated  her son's death as he had died a martyr.

In anger, the governor then decreed that Julietta should be beheaded and her sides ripped apart.  Their two bodies were later rescued by two maids, from a heap of criminal's corpses and buried nearby.  In Wales, there is a least one church dedicated to the saints, in Llanilid, Mid Glamorgan, but named as St. Ilid and St. Curig.

On 16th June 1982,  Welsh miners and seamen backed health workers' demand for a 12% pay rise and brought the South Wales coalfield to a standstill.

 24,000 miners downed tools, with some also joining health workers on picket lines, because they regarded the Conservative's policies, unjust and hostile to both of their interests.  Also, more than 15,000 people, including building workers, civil servants and gas, electricity and water board workers, marched through the streets of Cardiff in support.

16th June 2013 was the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World's 30th anniversary. 

The  competition  takes place every two years at St David's Hall, Cardiff and attracts the world's finest classical singers at the start of their careers.  It is organised by BBC Cymru Wales and is televised by BBC Four and BBC Wales TV and broadcast over radio channels BBC Radio 3, BBC Radio Wales and the Welsh language BBC Radio Cymru. It is supported by Welsh National Opera and the City and County of Cardiff. 

The 1989 competition was particularly noteworthy with Welsh baritone Bryn Terfel winning the Lieder prize. Many prominent singers have served in the jury, including Carlo Bergonzi, Geraint Evans, Marilyn Horne, Gundula Janowitz, Sherrill Milnes, Christoph Prégardien, Dame Joan Sutherland, Dame Anne Evans and Dame Gwyneth Jones.  On the day between the two competition finals, some of the jury members give master classes to some of the non-finalists, which are open to the public.

Born this day 1899 in Blaina 

Jack Gore , former Wales rugby international.  Gore played all his rugby union for Blaina, at a time when the Welsh selectors would often choose tough manual workers for the forward positions.  He switched rugby league, later joining Salford in 1925, but eventually returned to Blaina where he ran the local Kings Head pub.  Jack was often suspected of being a rugby league spy for Salford and that he was instrumental in Dai Watkins, also from Blaina, following  him to Salford.