Tân yn Llŷn (Fire in Llŷn) - 8th September 1936.  

When the government decided to on establish an RAF bombing school at the historic and cultural site of Penyberth on the Llŷn peninsula, despite approximately half a million protests, there was intense anger throughout all of Wales. 

Three Plaid Cymru members, Saunders Lewis, Lewis Valentine and DJ Williams, decided that the only course of action remaining was to set fire to the bombing school.  this they duly did on 8th September 1936, giving themselves up immediately at Pwllheli police station,

At the trial at the Old Bailey in London, the three men  were sentenced to nine months imprisonment in Wormwood Scrubs, but on their release they were treated to a heroes welcome at a pavilion in Caernarfon, by 15,000 people and the incident has attained iconic status among Welsh nationalists.  

Born on this day 1922 in Swansea.

Harry Secombe , one of Britain's best-loved comic entertainers. Remembered for his high-pitched laugh and blowing raspberries, Harry also possessed a wonderful tenor singing voice.

Secombe began singing as a child in local church choirs, later performing in troop concerts, whilst serving in the army in North Africa and Italy during World War Two. He also met Spike Milligan during his army service, with the two teaming up after the war with Peter Sellers and Michael Bentine in the highly successful radio programme "The Goon Show", which helped launch their respective careers.

Secombe went on to have his own popular TV shows and to appear in many films, such as Oliver, The Magnificent Seven Deadly Sins and Starstruck. He was Knighted in 1981 and in 1983 became the host of the TV religious programme, Highway, which ran for nearly ten years.

In his final years, Harry battled with cancer and a severe stroke. He died on 11th April 2001.

Born on this day 1969 in Mancot, near Chester. 

Gary Speed, MBE  - former Welsh soccer captain and manager. 

In his playing career, Speed played for Leeds United, with whom he won the English Football League First Division Championship in 1992, Newcastle United, Bolton Wanderers and Sheffield United, making in total  840 domestic appearances. He appeared for Wales 85 times and was captain on 44 occasions. Speed was appointed the manager of Sheffield United in 2010 but left the club after a few months to manage the Wales national team. 

Speed was a versatile player but played mainly as a left-side attacking midfielder. He was captain of most the sides for which he played, described by team mates as an 'inspirational figure' who led by example and demanded the best from those around him.  He was well known as a 'consummate professional' both on and off the field, hardworking, honest and self-critical.  He had a reputation as an extremely fit footballer which allowed him to avoid injury and to continue playing until the age of 39.  

Outside of football, he also had a reputation as a friendly and supportive person, who cared for and took an interest in the lives of the people around him, which made him a popular and well-respected figure. Speed committed suicide on 27 November 2011, aged 42.

For volunteering to go to the battle front, to rescue a wounded officer at Sebastopol on 9th September 1855 during The Crimean War, Cardiff born corporal Robert Shields of the 23rd Regiment of Foot (later the Royal Welch Fusiliers) was awarded the Victoria Cross.

The Crimean War (October 1853 – February 1856) was a conflict over the territories of the declining Ottoman Empire, between the Russian Empire and an alliance of the French, British and Ottoman Empire and the Kingdom of Sardinia.  The conflict mainly took place on the Crimean peninsula of Ukraine located on the northern coast of the Black Sea. 

The Crimean War is known for logistical and tactical errors, the lessons learned from which changed the future course of warfare.  It is also famous for the pioneering work of nurses, Betsi Cadwaladr and Florence Nightingale. 

The Crimean War was one of the first wars to be documented extensively in written reports and photographs.  News from war correspondents kept the public  better informed of the day-to-day events of the war than had been the case in any other war to that date, as with the advent of  the telegraph it meant that by the end of the war, news from the war zone  reached London in only a few hours.  Consequently, public opinion played a larger role in this war than in any other war in history. 

The outcome of the Crimean War marked the ascendancy of France to the position of pre-eminent power on the Continent and the beginning of a decline for Tsarist Russia.

The Severn Bridge spanning the River Severn and River Wye, between Chepstow and Aust, was opened on 8th September 1966. 

1824   Thomas Telford, who had been asked to advise on how to improve mail coach services between London and Wales. proposed a bridge across the Severn, approximately in the same location as the one eventually constructed. 

1879   As the railways became the dominant mode of long-distance travel, the Severn Railway Bridge at Sharpness was opened, followed by the main line Severn Tunnel in 1886. 

1926   The growth of road traffic on the A48 passing through Chester  led to a ferry carrying cars and passengers being set up. 

1935   Monmouthshire and Gloucestershire County Councils jointly promoted a Parliamentary Bill to build a bridge over the estuary.  However, the Bill was rejected by Parliament after opposition from the Great Western Railway Company. 

After World War II, plans began to be made for a nationally funded network of trunk roads, including a Severn Bridge,  However Government funding was prioritised for the Forth Road Bridge. 

1961   Construction of the Severn Bridge commenced.  

1966   The Severn Bridge was completed.