Born on this day 1973 in Llwydcoed, near Aberdare.  

Actor - Ioan Gruffudd. 

Gruffudd was an accomplished oboist in his teens, playing in the South Glamorgan Youth Orchestra for several years and won prizes for his baritone singing at the National Eisteddfod, while at school.  He started his acting career at the age of 13 in a Welsh television film called Austin (1986) and then later moved on to the Welsh language soap opera Pobl y Cwm from 1987 to 1994, which led to him being offered the lead role in the 1996 TV remake of Poldark.  He then came to international attention as Fifth Officer Harold Lowe in the film Titanic (1997), and as Lt John Beales in Black Hawk Down (2001). However, he is best known in the UK for playing the role of Horatio Hornblower in Hornblower (1998–2003).  Gruffudd has also starred as Oscar Wilde's lover John Gray in Wilde (1997), as British anti-slavery abolitionist William Wilberforce in Amazing Grace (2006) and as Tony Blair in W (2008), as well as having roles in the films 102 Dalmations and King Arthur (2004). 

Gruffudd is a native Welsh speaker and was inducted into the Gorsedd Beirdd Ynys Prydain at the highest rank of druid in the National Eisteddfod in 2003, with the bardic name "Ioan".  

On 6th October 1864, the Denbigh, Ruthin and Corwen Railway was completed through to Corwen,  which was a vital development in the town's importance as the centre of the local Agriculture industry.  The railways also opened up North Wales as a tourist destination, especially for Chester, Liverpool, Birmingham and other English cities.  Their arrival also had a major impact on North Wales newspapers as daily London newspapers became available on the day of publication.  

From the birth of the railway network, 120 railway companies existed in England, Wales and Scotland.  This resulted in there being no standard practice for any of their procedures.  By 1921 the 120 companies were combined into four groups: the London Midland and Scottish; the Great Western Railway; the London and North Eastern Railway; and the Southern Railway, which led to more efficient and economical working and by 1948, the four companies were merged into one publicly-owned undertaking with the title ‘‘British Railways’’.  

 The "Wrexham riot" occurred in October 1601,

Supporters of the poet and patron of literature, Sir John Salusbury were involved in violent clashes with surviving supporters of the Essex Rebellion (an unsuccessful rebellion against Elizabeth I of England), during Salusbury's attempt for election to parliament.   These conflicts are referred to as the "Wrexham riot".  Salusbury's cousins Owen and John were implicated in the rebellion, Owen being killed in the fighting. After the Rebellion, Salusbury, who became MP for Denbighshire, was knighted for his support in suppressing it. 

Salusbury was a member of the Salusbury family of Lleweni, Denbighshire.  He was born in 1567 and educated at Oxford University, where he matriculated aged just 14. He later studied law and was appointed to the court of Elizabeth I.  Salubury was a staunch Protestant and became noted for his "ostentatious loyalty" to the queen, in contrast to other members of his family, who were associated with Catholic sympathies and plots against her.

Born on this day 1951 in Singapore. 

Clive Rees - former Wales rugby international and British and Irish Lion and captain of London Welsh for the club's 1984-85 centenary season. 

Rees studied at Loughborough College, where he earned the nickname Billy Whizz because he ran so fast his legs were a blur.  A nickname by which Rees is still fondly referred to.  His speed made him an excellent Sevens player and he soon attracted the attention of the Welsh selectors, especially after he outpaced JJ Williams in a trial match.

He went on to gain 13 international caps and even though he never scored a try for Wales himself, but his blistering speed and support play contributed to many.  His legendary carving run down the left wing at Murrayfield in 1983 produced one of the all-time great Welsh tries.  Rees played in an era before professionalism and achieved his success in the game while still a highly respected school teacher.

Born this day 1948 in Maesteg.

Olympian Tony Simmons, who finished 4th in the 10,000 metres at the 1976 Olympics and 2nd in the 10,000 metres at the 1974 European Athletics Championships.  He also set a world record  for the half marathon in 1978.