In  1800 at the age of 15, Mary Jones (16 December 1784 – 28 December 1864)  from Llanfihangel-y-Pennant, walked for 25 miles, barefoot over rugged land and mountains to purchase a Bible in Bala. 

Mary came from a very religious family and from a young age, had been educated in a Circulating School, in which the Bible was used as central part of learning, she was therefore  very keen to obtain her own copy and reportedly saved for nearly six years to have enough money to buy one.

One of the only people in North Wales, who had copies of the bible at that time, was the Calvinistic Methodist  clergyman Thomas Charles from Bala, so Mary set out on the 25 miles walk to get one.  However, on her arrival, she discovered that Charles had sold out of copies he had, but impressed with her determination, he found somewhere for her stay for the two days, before new supplies arrived and then sold her three copies for the price of one.

WALES 3 - NEW ZEALAND 0

Wales defeated New Zealand at rugby union for the first time on 16th December 1905. 

The New Zealand team arrived in Cardiff for the last game of their tour of Britain and Ireland, unbeaten to face Wales, who had just won the triple crown.  The only score of a hard, fast and uncompromising match was a try by Welsh winger, Teddy Morgan, however later in the game, Welsh centre Rhys Gabe prevented an almost certain score by New Zealander Bob Deans.   

Interestingly, during the scrums, Wales used four men in the front row, against New Zealand's three, ensuring  that they won the ball at every scrum and the. match is also notable for being the first time a nations national anthem was sung before a sporting event, when the Welsh team responded to the traditional New Zealand Haka, by singing  ‘Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau’.   

  A national anthem was sung for the first time before a sporting fixture on 16th December 1905 when Wales faced New Zealand at Cardiff Arms Park.

After the All Blacks had performed their customary haka, the Welsh team in a pre planned response, started to sing the national anthem.  The home supporters soon joined in, with the result that "Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau" echoed around the stadium in one of the greatest emotional moments in sport. 

The Imperial Copyright Act of 1911, ratified on 16th December of that year, enabled the National Library of Wales in Aberystwyth, to acquire free copies of all works published in the United Kingdom.

Born on this day 1960 in Briton Ferry

David Pickering - former Wales rugby union international and captain.  After retiring from playing, Pickering coached Neath, before becoming Wales team manager and Chairman of the Welsh Rugby Union.