This pioneering source of basic factual information about Wales is designed to be a valuable reference tool for students, teachers, academics, business people, journalists, politicians, and the general public. The detailed and extensive information provided in the book fills a major gap in the reference literature on Wales. The contents are arranged under subject headings which span all main aspects of Wales and the Welsh, past and present.
CONTENTS
Acknowledgements
1. Physical Characteristics and Features
Geology; Areas; Coastline lengths by counties; Natural features: highest and largest; Recent earthquakes; Rainfall, snow, temperature and sunshine; Inland water; Wind; Nature reserves and protected areas; National trails; Land use
2. Population
Population from Roman times to the 1800s; The population of Wales, 1801-1991; The populations of Welsh districts in 1991; Age distribution of the population; Deaths, births, marriages and divorces, from 1980; Populations of the largest cities and towns, 1991
3. Government and Politics, Law Courts, the Police
Dates of significance and interest; Party leaders and prime ministers; The Welsh electorate since the first Reform Act, 1832; Unopposed elections; Speakers of the House of Commons from Wales; Ministers for Welsh Affairs; Secretaries of State for Wales; Devolution; The Welsh Office; Parliamentary committees; Welsh Question Time; Quangos in Wales; Welsh representation in the House of Commons; General Election results in Wales this century; General Election results, 1992; Smallest majorities and fewest votes since 1832; By-election results since the 1945 General Election; Women parliamentary candidates; Wales in the European Community; Welsh members of the Privy Council; Welsh Lord Chancellors; Welsh peers active in the House of Lords; County, district and community councils; Local government commissioners; Responsibilities of elected councils in Wales; Party political control of county and district councils; New Welsh councils from 1996; Welsh twinning arrangements; Law courts; Crown Prosecution Service; Police forces; Penal institutions; Fire services
4. The Welsh Language, National and Urdd Eisteddfodau, Welsh-language Organizations, Place-names
The smaller languages of Europe - how Welsh compares; Dates of significance and interest; Welsh-speakers in Wales aged three and over; Welsh-speakers by county and district; Language surveys; The National Eisteddfod and the Gorsedd - dates of significance and interest; Locations of the National Eisteddfod since its inception; Winners of the Chair and Crown at the National Eisteddfod; Winners of the Prose Medal at the National Eisteddfod; Official archdruids of the Gorsedd of Bards; Bardic orders of the Gorsedd of Bards; Urdd Gobaith Cymru - dates of significance and interest; Locations of the Urdd National Eisteddfod; Winners of the Chair and Crown at the Urdd National Eisteddfod; `Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau'; Organizations concerned with the Welsh language; English and Welsh place-names in Wales; Welsh names for places outside Wales; Some common Welsh place-name elements
5. Religion
Dates of significance and interest; Membership of Christian denominations and other religions; Organization and hierarchy of Christian denominations; Cytûn (Churches Together in Wales); Welsh saints; Sunday opening of public houses
6. Education
Dates of significance and interest; School pupils; GCSE and A level results; Schools in Wales; Leading independent schools; Schools which have opted out of local education authority control; Further and higher education; University education
7. Health Services in Wales
Dates of significance and interest; District health authorities; Family health service authorities; Personnel in the NHS; National Health Service hospitals in Wales; Community health councils; All-Wales bodies; National Health Service trusts; Fund-holding practices; Private health care, 1993
8. The Media
Dates of significance and interest; English-language newspapers published in Wales; Free newspapers published in Wales; Welsh-language newspapers; Broadcasting; Broadcasting in Welsh
9. Transport
Dates of significance and interest; British Rail stations; Lengths of railway; Narrow-gauge railways; Standard-gauge privately preserved railways; Lighthouse construction around the Welsh coast; Lifeboat stations around the Welsh coast; Coastguard marine rescue centres; Wales-Ireland ferry services; Ports; Airfields available for civil use; Roads; Deaths and injuries in road accidents; Road vehicle licences issued; Canals
10. The Welsh Economy
Dates of significance and interest; Stages of Welsh economic development; Welsh production figures; The civilian workforce; Employment opportunities; Government agencies; Privatization of nationalized industries; Training and enterprise councils; Assisted areas; Organizations concerned with employment; Chambers of commerce; Unions affiliated to the Wales TUC; Trades councils affiliated to the Wales TUC; Housing; Banks
11. The Armed Forces and Wales
The Welsh Regiments; Holders of the Victoria Cross from Wales; The Royal Navy and Wales; Royal Air Force flying stations; Areas owned by the Ministry of Defence; The Territorial Army in Wales
12. The Arts
Dates of significance and interest; Welsh periodicals concerned with the arts; Theatres and concert halls; Symphony orchestras; Cinemas; Museums; Art galleries; Festivals; The Arts Council of Wales; Welsh Arts Council expenditure on the arts; Winners of Welsh Arts Council prizes for books in English and Welsh; American literary awards won by writers from Wales; Major British literary awards won by writers from Wales; Fellows of Yr Academi Gymreig/The Welsh Academy
13. Sport
Angling; Association football; Athletics; Baseball; Billiards; Bowls; Boxing; Commonwealth Games; Cricket; Cycling; Darts; Fencing; Figure skating; Golf; Greyhound racing; Gymnastics; Horse racing; Ice hockey; Olympic Games - medal winners from Wales; Paralympics - medal winners from Wales; Powerboat racing; Rowing; Rugby league; Rugby union; Showjumping; Speedway; Squash; Tennis; Formation of Welsh sporting bodies and developments in Welsh sport; Welsh sporting honours
14. Disasters, Battles, Deaths and Disturbances
Coal-mining accidents; Maritime tragedies; Railway and railway engineering accidents; Aircraft accidents; Fatalities in German air raids on Wales; Natural and man-made disasters and epidemics; Welsh battles, skirmishes and engagements; Wars, battles and campaigns involving the Welsh outside Wales; Riots, civil disturbances, mutinies and escapes; Notable Welsh executions
15. Wales and the Welsh in Europe and the Rest of the World
Facts about Wales and the World; Dates of significance and interest; Wales in the Roman Empire; Wales in modern Celtic Europe - some significant dates; Countries with consulates in Wales; Welsh societies and twinning associations
16. Wales and the Welsh in Britain
Facts about Wales and the Welsh in Britain; Dates of significance and interest; Princes of Wales
17. Wales and the Welsh
Welsh firsts and lasts; 1995 anniversaries; 1996 anniversaries; 1997 anniversaries; 1998 anniversaries; 1999 anniversaries; 2000 anniversaries; Notable people from Wales; Women and Wales - dates of significance and interest; TravellersÕ accounts of tours in Wales; Formation of Welsh national institutions, pressure groups, political bodies and other organizations; Consumer and advisory bodies; Early closing days and market days in 90 Welsh towns; The twenty top tourist attractions; Structures of interest; Animal extinctions in historic times
Select Bibliography