Owain Glyndwr's greatest victory.

On this day 1402 the “Battle of Bryn Glas”, which was part of the Glyndwr Rising, occurred at Pilleth near Knighton.

A Welsh army vastly outnumbered and poorly armed, but under the leadership of Owain Glyndwr, took on and defeated a far superior English army. The victory was Wales's greatest against the English and resulted in the collapse of English governance in Wales. For the English, it was a national humiliation on such a scale that within days, news had reached Rome  and it led to the destabilisation of English politics for several years afterwards.

By 1401, The Welsh Rebellion was on the verge of collapse Henry IV had toured north Wales, hanging suspected rebels and pillaging settlements and the two-tier society where Englishmen held privileges above Welshmen was re-emerging. But in early 1402, Glyndwr galvanised his support and the rebellion was reinvigorated, he had taken Ruthin and held Lord Grey, Henry’s trusted counselor for ransom, when in riposte, Henry raised an army of 2,000 men from Herefordshire and appointed Edmund Mortimer as commander and on June 22, 1402, when Glyndwr was near Knighton the two armies confronted each other. Although heavily outnumbered, Glyndwr gambled on dividing his army, knowing that the majority of his army including his archers held the higher ground, he hid a small detachment in a valley to the left. As Mortimer's army advanced up the slope, they came into range of the Welsh archers before they could return fire, they were showered with Welsh arrows. At this time two crucial events turned the battle, firstly the concealed Welsh troops joined in the conflict and then some Welsh archers, who had infiltrated Mortimer's force, turned and fired into the English ranks.

The English army was routed and 600 of them killed. It is said that after the battle, Welsh women camp followers dismembered many the English victims in reprisal for their acts of brutality and rape in the preceding campaigns. Sir Edmund Mortimer was taken prisoner and as Henry IV made no effort to pay a ransom for him, he switched his allegiance to Glyndwr and married Owain's daughter Caitrin.

Born this day 1876 in Haverfordwest 

Gwen John - Artist who worked in France for most of her career.

Her paintings are mainly portraits of anonymous female sitters and although overshadowed by her brother, Augustus John,  her reputation has steadily grown, since her death in 1939.  After leaving the Slade School of Art in London, she moved to Paris, where she modelled for Rodin (who was also her lover) and  studied with Whistler.  Regarded as an eccentric, in 1910, Gwen moved to the outskirts of Paris, where she led an increasingly reclusive lifestyle. 

 Some of the best examples of her pictures are held at the National Museum Cardiff and in Tate Britain, London.  

The Treaty of Pipton was signed on 22nd June 1265  and confirmed an alliance between Simon de Montfort and Llywelyn ap Gruffudd,  after de Montfort's defeat of Henry III at the Battle of Lewes in 1264.  

The treaty, signed at Pipton, Powys, gave for a permanent peace between the two and in exchange for the sum of 30,000 marks, Llywelyn was acknowledged as the Prince of Wales. The alliance was cemented by Llywelyn's betrothal to de Montfort's only daughter Eleanor.  

On 22 June 1283  Dafydd ap Gruffudd and his youngest son Owain  were captured near Berea Mountain.  In the struggle, he was  seriously wounded and then taken to Edward I at Rhuddlan. Dafydd and Owain were then taken to Chester and then on to Shrewsbury, probably accompanied by his wife Elizabeth de Ferrers, their daughter Gwladys, Dafydd's six illegitimate daughters and his infant niece Gwenllian ferch Llywelyn (the daughter of his brother, Llywelyn).  Then on 28th June, Edward summoned a parliament at Shrewsbury to decide Dafydd's fate.  He was found guilty of high treason against the King and condemned to death on 30th September.  He then became the first prominent person in recorded history to be hanged, drawn and quartered.    

Gwladys and Gwenllian were both sent to convents in Lincolnshire, Gwenllian to Sempringham, where she died in 1336 and Gwladys to Sixhills. Dafydd's sons, Llywelyn and Owain were imprisoned at Bristol Castle, where; Llywelyn died in mysterious circumstances in 1287 or 1288, while is last recorded alive in August 1325.  It is thought that Dafydd may have had another (illegitimate) son, Dafydd Goch, who survived. 

Today is the feast day of Saint Aaron of Aleth The patron saint of anybody who lives a passionate and steadfast lifestyle.

He was a sixth century Welshman who became Bishop of Aleth and lived in a monastery on Cezembre, a small island in Brittany.

Born this day 1901 in Llanwonno, Rhondda Cynon Taff

Naunton Wayne - Character actor, educated at Clifton College. He is best known for his role alongside Basil Radford, in Hitchcock's 1938 film version of The Lady Vanishes, the two actors became inextricably linked and struck such a major chord with film audiences as an upper crust pair of bungling British gents, that the two were teamed up time and time again.

Born on this day 1936 in Treorchy

Clive Thomas - former football referee who operated in the English Football League and for FIFA during his career.

Thomas officiated in both the 1974 and 1978 World Cups, and in the 1976 European Championship. During a long and sometimes controversial career as a referee in the old English First Division he was known as "The Book" for his strict interpretation of the laws of the game.

One such incident being when he blew the final whistle seconds before Zico of Brazil scored what would have been the winning goal from a corner in a 1978 World Cup match against Sweden. He also didn't approve of extravagant goal celebrations and often broke them by ordering players to return to their positions for the restart.

On or about 21st June 1404, Owain Glyndwr held his first Parliament, at Machynlleth and at which he was Crowned Prince of Wales.

This followed a successful campaign of around four years, in which Glyndŵr had liberated most of Wales and brought an end to Anglo - Norman colonisation, with major victories in 1401 at the Battle of Hyddgen, 1402  at the 'Battle of Bryn Glas' and  in 1403 at the'Battle of Bryn Owen - Stalling Down'.  

On 21st June 1792, Iolo Morganwg organised the first Gorsedd of Bards at Primrose Hill, London, (photograph shows a plan of the Gorsedd Circle in Iolo Morganwg's handwriting, note that "'the Bards stand unshod and uncovered within the circle")

Iolo Morganwg, an academic originally from Llancarfan in Glamorgan, living in London, believed that Celtic Welsh culture and heritage needed to be promoted and arranged the first Gorsedd in a ceremony at Primrose Hill, London, on 21st June 1792 (supposedly based on the activities of the ancient Celtic Druidry). An outer circle of small stones was formed and a larger Gorsedd Stone placed in the centre and only the Bards, barefoot and bareheaded and identified by their green, blue or white ribboned armbands, were permitted to enter.   Several further ceremonies were held in London and in 1795 Iolo returned to Glamorgan to hold his first Gorsedd in his native country. However, the authorities believed that he was encouraging revolutionary activity and it was not until 1815 that Gorseddau were able to flourish properly.

It was later discovered to a fantasy of Iolo's imagination, but the institution he established, was cherished by Welsh people, who saw it as a means of promoting a distinct Welsh culture and in 1819, the Gorsedd was formally linked with the  National Eisteddfod.

The National Gorsedd of Wales, "Gorsedd Beirdd Ynys Prydain" ("The Gorsedd of Bards of the Island of Britain") is an association of individuals who have made a significant and distinguished contribution to Welsh culture and it supports Welsh literatue, music and poetry in particular. Its activity is most visible at The National Eisteddfod

* Gorsedd Beirdd Ynys Prydain was founded in 1792 by Iolo Morganwg, who also invented much of its ritual, supposedly based on the activities of the ancient Celtic Druidry.

* The Gorsedd y Beirdd made its first appearance at the Eisteddfod at the Ivy Bush Inn in Carmarthen in 1819, and its close association with the Festival has remained.

* There are three equal ranks of membership in the Welsh Gorsedd. Ovates who wear green robes, Bards who wear blue robes, and Druids who wear white robes.

* The concept of the three roles of bards, ovates and druids is thought to originate from the writings of the ancient Greek historian and geographer Strabo, the "bardoi" being the poets and singers, the "o'vateis", the specialists in the natural world and the "druidai" who studied moral philosophy.

* The head of a Gorsedd known as an Archdderwydd (Archdruid) wears a golden robe, is elected for a term of three years and is responsible for conducting the Gorsedd ceremonies during Eisteddfod week. To become an Archdruid, an individual must have won one of the Eisteddfod's three highest awards: the Crown, the Chair, or the Literature Medal. * Often a new inductee will take a pseudonym or bardic name.

* During these ceremonies, the Archdruid and the members of the Gorsedd gather on the Eisteddfod stage and when the Archdruid reveals the identity of the winning poet, the 'Corn Gwlad' (a trumpet) is played and the Gorsedd Prayer is chanted. The Archdruid then partially withdraws a sword from its sheath three times, and cries "A oes heddwch?" ("Is there peace?"), to which the assembly reply "Heddwch" ("Peace").  Then the Archdruid drinks from Horn of Plenty and is presented with a basket of 'flowers, after which a floral dance is performed

*  The triple line symbol called "awen" ( /|\) representing the sun, is commonly used to represent a Gorsedd.  

The first stretch of the line to be opened was that from Cardiff to Navigation House (later named Abercynon) on October 9th 1840, with the line extended to Merthyr on April 12th 1841. The chief engineer was Brunel and initially he used a narrow gauge, single line track, because of the narrowness of the Taff valley and trains were only able to pass at stations. The line, however, was upgraded to a double line in 1857. One of the notable features of the line is the 110-foot span, skew stone arch viaduct at Pontypridd, which is still in use today.

 

Born on this day 1845 in Merthyr.

Sir Samuel Walker Griffith . Principal author of the Constitution of Australia, politician and Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia.

Griffith's family migrated to Queensland when he was eight and after finishing school and university, he travelled Europe spending much of his time in Italy. On his return, he studied law and became involved in politics and as leader of the liberal party he was elected Premier of Queensland 1n 1883. He was regarded as a liberal reformer, he opposed the use of Kanaka slave labour and introduced a bill to legalise trade unions. However his government used the military to break the great shearers' strike, and he earned the nickname "Oily Sam". On his return to his legal career, he was appointed as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Queensland, before becoming the first Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia in 1903. Griffith died in 1920 and was commemorated by the naming of Griffith University in South East Queensland.  

Born this day 1964 in Swansea.

Dean Saunders - Former Wales soccer international, capped 75 times, scoring 22 goals - making him one of the nation's highest scoring and most capped players of all time. Following his retirement from playing, he has managed of Wrexham, Doncaster Rovers and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Born this day 1975 in Swansea

Non Evans MBE.  International sportswoman who has represented Wales at four different sports, rugby union, wrestling, weightlifting and judo,  She is the first woman to have competed  at the Commonwealth Games in three different sports.

Rugby;  Former captain and Wales' all-time leading points scorer, with 87 caps and 64 tries. .

Judo;  She won a silver medal at both the 1992 and 1996 Commonwealth Judo Championships and competed for Wales at the 2002 Commonwealth Games.

Weightlifting;  Evans finished 9th in the under 63 kg class at the 2002 Commonwealth Games. 

Wrestling;  In 2010 she came second in the under-59 kg class at the British Championships, which earned her selection for the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

Born this day 1916 in Newport, Gwent

Johnny was the son of a postmaster, who learned to play the violin as a child,  touring the valleys of South Wales, with his cello playing father. Morris then worked as a solicitor's clerk, on a building site, as a salesman and managing a 2,000-acre  farm in Wiltshire, before his broadcasting career took off when he was discovered telling stories in a pub.

Born this day 1933 in Abercynon

Dai Dower MBE.  One of Wales' most successful boxers of all time, who after representing Great Britain at the 1952 Olympic Games, became British, Empire and European Flyweight champion, before losing to all time great Pascual Perz for the World title.  He retired at the relatively young age of 25.

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Eleanor de Montfort, wife of Llywelyn ap Gruffydd died in childbirth on this day 1282, giving birth to Gwenllian, their only child.  It transpired to be a pivotal event in Welsh history. 

Eleanor's maternal grandfather was King John of England.

Eleanor's maternal uncle was Henry III of England.

Eleanor's maternal cousin was Edward I of England.

Her father was Simon De Montfort (leader of the Second Barons War against his brother in law, Henry III. 

1264    Simon De Montfort and Llywelyn ap Gruffydd became allies and it was agreed that Llywelyn (aged 42) and Eleanor (aged 13) would marry.

1265    Simon De Montfort was killed at the Battle of Evesham by the forces of Edward I and Eleanor and her mother fled to the Dominican nunnery at Montargis, in France,

1275    Her mother died and she was married by proxy to Llywelyn ap Gruffudd.

1276    Eleanor began the sea voyage from France to north Wales, but was captured by sailors from Bristol on behalf of Edward I and held prisoner at Windsor for nearly three years

1278    Following the signing of the Treaty of Aberconwy,  which forced Llywelyn to submit to Edward, Eleanor was released.  Eleanor and Llywelyn were then able to marry at the cathedral church at Worcester, with Edward giving her away and paying for the wedding feast.  Following the ceremony, Eleanor became officially known as Princess of Wales and Lady of Snowdon. 

1282    Eleanor died in childbirth on 19 June 1282 at the royal home at Abergwyngregyn and  her body was carried  to the Franciscan Friary of Llanfaes on Anglesey 

Llywelyn was devastated by Eleanor's death, as he appears to have put all of his hopes into stabilising the country and his succession through children sired by her and he suffered what some historians have speculated to be a nervous breakdown.  This was the start of the end game for Welsh independence as Llywelyn then joined his brother Dafydd in a futile rebellion against English rule.  They were soon surrounded in North Wales, with Edward offering Llywelyn terms of one thousand pounds a year and an estate in England if he would surrender his control in Wales to Edward.  Llywelyn rejected  the offer and within a month, he was killed in an ambush at Cilmeri.  His leaderless forces were routed shortly afterwards and the occupational English forces led by Edward I moved in.

Born on this day 1790 in Gyffin, Caernarfonshire.

John Gibson  - Neoclassical sculptor who spent most of his career in Italy. His parents moved to Liverpool when he was nine years old and he was apprenticed at fourteen to a firm of cabinet-makers and wood-carvers, he later became apprenticed as a worker in marble, which he saw as his true vocation. His first patron was William Roscoe, the historian, whose grand-daughter, Mrs. Henry Sandbach of Hafodunos, near Abergele, remained his close friend and what was probably his only link with Wales in his later years. In 1817, he arrived in Rome, where he studied sculpture under Canova and Thorwaldsen and his work was strongly influenced by classical tradition and by the Greeks, even to the colouring of his sculptures. Most of the remainder of his life was spent at Rome, carrying out commissions for leading art patrons of the period.

In all worldly affairs and the business of daily life he was simple and guileless in the extreme, but was resolute in matters of principle. He was described as a man who "dressed with extraordinary slovenliness and indifference to clothes. Everything about him bespoke the utmost unconsciousness and democratic plainness of life".

Gibson died in Rome on 7th January 1866 and bequeathed all his property and the contents of his studio to the Royal Academy, where his work is open to public view.

On this day 1958 at the FIFA World Cup in Gothenburg, Sweeden, Wales played Brazil, losing 1 - 0 to the eventual champions.  The winning goal was the first international goal scored by the great Pele.  

Wales had caused a shock in progressing to the quarter-finals by beating Hungary 2-1 in a play-off, with goals from Ivor Allchurch and Terry Medwin, after the two ended level on points in their group.  The Welsh had earlier drawn against Hungary, Mexico and hosts Sweden.  Critically Wales were without their best player, the "Gentle Giant" John Charles, who was injured for the Brazil match.

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Born this day 1951 in Machynlleth

David Russell Hulme ,  conductor and musicologist known for his research and publications on the music of Sir Arthur Sullivan.

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" Ymosodiad Dewr; Amddiffyniad Sicr" - "Bold in Attack; In Defence Secure".  

The Welsh Chess Union (Undeb_Gwyddbwyll_Cymru) was formed on 19th June 1954.  The Union comprises six county associations or "zones": Dyfed, East Glamorgan, Gwent, North Ceredigion, West Wales, and Cheshire and North Wales.

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On this day 1928 when she arrived in Burry Port, Amelia Earhart became the first woman to fly across the Atlantic Ocean.

Aviator Wilmer Stultz asked Amelia to join him on the flight from Newfoundland to Wales in the trinator plane "Friendship" and upon its landing at Burry Port, she became the first woman ever on a transatlantic flight. When interviewed afterwards, she pledged to one day make the flight solo and true to her word in 1932, she became the first woman to make the crossing solo when she flew from Harbour Grace, Newfoundland to Ireland. Tragically Earhart disappeared (presumed dead) over the central Pacific during an attempt to make a circumnavigational flight of the globe in 1937.

The historic 1928 flight and landing which was completed in 20hrs 49 minutes is commemorated by the Amelia Earhart Gardens in Burry Port on Stepney Road.   

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Killed this day 1815 at The Battle of Waterloo 

Sir Thomas Picton , on whom, opinion was and remains divided.

A military hero, a roisterer, a duellist, a fornicator and a “blood-soaked governor” of Trinidad, described by Wellington as  “a rough, foul-mouthed devil as ever lived.”.  Opinion on  was and remains divided.

Sir Thomas Picton, was born on 24 August 1758 at Poyston, near Haverfordwest and embarked on a military career from an early age.  He is best remembered for his bravery and death at The Battle of Waterloo (on the allied side, he was the highest-ranking victim of the battle).   Interestingly, it is reported that he fought the battle wearing his civilian clothes and a top hat, as his luggage had not arrived in time. Public monuments were later erected to his memory in St Paul's Cathedral and Carmarthen.

However, Picton had also gained notoriety whilst governor of Trinidad from 1797 to 1803. In one of the greatest scandals of the age, he was recalled to London and found guilty of the brutal execution, torture and mutilation of slaves.  However, a retrial found Picton’s behaviour, legal though deplorable, which allowed him to continue his military career. 

Some Welsh connections to The Battle of Waterloo, which occurred this day 1815. 

*  The 23rd Royal Welch Fusiliers  were positioned on the crest behind Hougoumont, where they were ravaged by cannon balls and harassed by regular cavalry attacks, the whole day,  knowing that they formed the cornerstone of the front line and that they must hold at all costs.  Out of an initial force of 641 men, the 23rd lost 5 officers and 13 rank & file, with 6 officers and 80 rank and file wounded. 

*  Sir Thomas Picton of Pembrokeshire was the highest ranking victim of the battle on the allied side

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Born this day 1971 in Mynyddcerrig, Gwendraeth Valley

Nigel Owens , Wales's most capped  international rugby union referee, who was the only Welsh Rugby World Cup referee  in France 2007 and New Zealand 2011.  He also refereed two consecutive Heineken Cup finals in 2008 and 2009.  Owens, a former school technician is a fluent Welsh speaker and was made a member of the Gorsedd of Bards in 2011.  He is also known as one of the presenters on the S4C programmes, Jonathan and Welsh language chat show Bwrw'r Bar.

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The Edge of Love,  a film released on 18th June 2008 and starring Matthew Rhys, Kiera Knightley and Sienna Miller  concerns the famous Welsh poet Dylan Thomas (played by Rhys), his wife Caitlin Macnamara (played by Miller) and their married friend  Vera Phillips( played by Knightley ) 

The story is based loosely on real events, during the London blitz of World War II.  Vera Phillips  runs into and falls in love again with her first love, the poet, Dylan Thomas who is now married to and has a child with the spirited Caitlin Macnamara.   The storyline then follows their drink-fuelled relationships, with the two women eventually becoming best friends.

The first section of the South Wales Railway, operated by the Great Western Railway, between Chepstow and Swansea, was opened on 18th June 1850  

The connection to the Gloucester and London Paddington line was then completed in July 1852, with the opening of the bridge at Chepstow. Construction of the line west of Swansea to New Milford (Neyland)  was completed in 1856. 

The Welshman who founded the Ukranian city of Donetsk.

John Hughes  was born in Merthyr Tydfil in 1815, where his father was an engineer at Cyfarthfa ironworks.  John also became an engineer, working in Ebbw Vale and Newport, where he  patented inventions in armaments and armour plating.

Hughes later moved to London, where he became a director of the Millwall Engineering and Shipbuilding Company who specialised in iron cladding the wooden warships of British Admiralty.

When the company  received an order from Russia in 1870 to plate a naval fortress  at Kronstadt on the Baltic Sea, Hughes went out with eight shiploads of equipment and specialist ironworkers and miners, mostly from south Wales, to build a rail producing factory and metallurgical plant.

The settlement which grew in the shadow of Hughes' was named after him and hence, the town of Hughesovka (now called Donetsk) was born.  The town grew rapidly and Hughes provided schools, a hospital, tea rooms, bath houses, a fire brigade and an Anglican church dedicated to St David and St George. 

Hughes died on 17th June 1889 and the company was taken over by his four sons.  They rapidly expanded the works, especially with the need for artillery shells  at the outbreak of the First World War in 1914.  However, the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917 led to the departure of almost all the company's foreign employees, but the works prospered under Communist rule.

House of the Long Shadows  was released on 17th June 1983 

Set in a remote Manor House in the heart of Wales, the film is of historical importance in  that it is the only co-starring effort of the four masters of terror: Vincent Price, Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee and John Carradine.  This is also the last film in which Cushing and Lee appeared together.  An American writer goes to a remote Welsh manor on a $20,000 bet: can he write a classic novel like "Wuthering Heights" in twenty-four hours, however,he discovers some rather odd inhabitants on his arrival. 

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This was the day in 1282 that the Battle of Llandeilo Fawr took place.  In 1282 Edward I, was attempting to subdue Wales by surrounding the armies of Llywelyn ap Gruffydd in Gwynedd.  His plan was to invade Wales on three fronts.  In south Wales, Edward ordered Gilbert de Clare to hold that area and to prevent Welsh forces travelling to reinforce Llywelyn in the north. De Clare’s army of 1,600 infantry and 100 cavalry had just taken Carreg Cennen Castle and were returning with the spoils when they were ambushed by the Welsh at Llandeilo Fawr destroying most of the English army.  The Welsh victory stalled Edward’s plans and de Clare was replaced by William de Valence 1st Earl of Pembroke.

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Born this day 1773 in London

William Madocks , the Georgian entrepreneur who built the Cob across the Glaslyn Estuary and who was also instrumental in creating the communities of Porthmadog and Tremadog

Madocks's connection with Wales had begun when his father had inherited property at Llangwyfan and Wrexham and he would have spent time there in his childhood, he later became an MP in Lincolnshire and Wiltshire, but when he inherited his fathers lands, his interest turned to Wales and especially improving its road and communication links.  To this effect, he proposed an embankment (later known as the Cob) across the Glaslyn estuary, which would connect Mid-Wales and the Llyn Peninsula.  Its contruction was long and difficult and had put Madocks into considerable debt, but it was completed in 1811 and Maddocks organised  a four-day feast and eisteddfod in celebration.

The diversion of the river caused a natural harbour and a new port  at Ynys y Tywyn (renamed Port Madoc) capable of handling ocean going sailing ships became established as the demand worldwide for Welsh slate began to grow from the nearby Blaenau Ffestiniog's slate quarries,  Maddock died in France on 17 September 1826, whilst on a family holiday and this coincided with the start of the decine in the use of Porthmadoc, because of the development of Aberystwyth and its better rail links and then when World War One broke out in 1914, the lucrative German slate market totally disappeared. 

Born this day 1983 in Lisburn, Northern Ireland  (she and her mother moved to Hayscastle nr Fishguard when she was four and she now considers herself Welsh and is a fluent Welsh speaker) 

Connie Fisher, winner of the 2006 BBC talent contest,  How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria? subsequently playing the part of Maria von Trap in The Sound of Music in London's West End and has gone on to star in many varied singing roles, even though she suffers from "congenital fusion anomalies" which resulted in her having to undergo an operation on her vocal cords. .  She has also been in a recurring role as Amanda in the TV drama series Casualty and starred in her first TV drama. Caught In A Trap.   In August 2009, she was made a member of the Gorsedd at the National Eisteddfod in Bala.

A research study  by Peter Donnelly, professor of statistical science at Oxford University and published on 17th June 2012, concluded that the Welsh are among the "most genetically distinct" inhabitants of Britain.

500,000 points in the DNA of, 2,000 rural dwelling people who had all four grandparents born in the same area were tested, with the results showing that the Welsh carry more DNA  dating back to the tribes that colonised Britain after the last Ice Age 10,000 years ago, than most other parts of Britain.  However, the most genetically distinctive were the people of the Orkneys, whose genes show them to be of mainly Scandinavian origin.

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Born on this day 1886 in Staylittle, near Llanidloes

Sir David Brunt - regarded as the "Father of Meteorology".

During military service in the First World War, Brunt first got involved in the practicalities of weather forecasting,  following concerns about the irresponsible use of poison gas as no one at the time knew how winds would disperse it.

After the war, he joined the Met Office at a time when the use of aircraft was rapidly increasing and the need for detailed weather forecasting was paramount.  Brunt was a brilliant mathematician and excelled at the collection and analysis of the highly complicated and vast amount of data regarding the temperature, pressure and wind strength of atmosphere. He served as President of the  Royal Meteorological Society  from 1942 to 1944

When nearing the end of his career, Brunt tried to link weather conditions and human health and concluded that the ideal climate for healthy humans is in New Zealand.

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.