The Cardiff Book of Days (30 page)

1994:
Operatic tenor Jose Carreras performs at a sell-out concert at the Arms Park. (
Western Mail
)

1645:
King Charles I was still at Cardiff, having arrived on July 29th and leaving on August 5th for Llancaiach. Matters discussed at various meetings during his time in the Castle included the removal of Papists and the replacement of the English garrison at Cardiff with a governor and garrison drawn from the locality. Charles appointed Sir Richard Stradling as Governor and, at a meeting at Cefn On, it was agreed that the Cardiff garrison be replaced by local men under Sir Richard Bassett. He left Cardiff, deeply dejected at his uncertain future. With his departure virtually all South Wales passed into the control of Parliament. Charles later observed that ‘the hearts of the people of Wales are as hard and rocky as their country'. (William Rees,
Cardiff: A History of the City
, Cardiff Corporation, 1969)

1951:
The aircraft-carrier
Campania
, which had been launched in 1943, arrived in Cardiff and stayed until August 11th. During this time 104,391 people visited her at her berth in the Queen Alexandra Dock. This visit was part of a tour of major coastal ports as part of the Festival of Britain celebrations. In all, the ship visited ten ports in five months that summer. Other Festival of Britain events in Cardiff included a ‘Pageant of Wales' and a folk festival at St Fagans. (Stewart Williams,
Cardiff Yesterday
)

1871:
‘The Council of the Borough of Cardiff is desirous of appointing a Crier for the Borough. Applications for the appointment in the handwriting of the Candidates with Testimonials to be sent to my office on or before Saturday, the 12th day of August, endorsed “Town Crier” – George Salmon (Town Clerk).' The first known mention of a Town Crier in Cardiff was in 1772 but the history of the post probably goes back much further. Traditionally the holder was supplied with an impressive uniform and cocked hat. In 1922 the Council decided to combine the job with that of Macebearer with an allowance of £10 5
s
per occasion but also to appoint another full-time macebearer with both officers to receive a uniform and boot allowance of £1 per year. (Stewart Williams,
Cardiff Yesterday
)

1948:
Andy Fairweather-Low was born at Ystrad Mynach. He was to become the lead singer of the Cardiff band ‘Amen Corner' which took its name from a weekly session at the Victoria Ballroom (later known as The Scene Club) where every Sunday night DJ ‘Doctor Rock' would play the latest American soul music. The group began playing mainly blues and jazz standards but when they changed record labels they were steered in the direction of more commercial pop songs. This policy paid off financially because in early 1969 they reached No.1 in the charts with a song somewhat convolutedly titled ‘(If Paradise is) Half as Nice'. This was followed by another top five hit ‘Hello Susie' but at the end of the year Amen Corner disbanded. Fairweather-Low went on to a successful solo career in the 1970s, including another No.1 hit in 1975 with ‘Wide-Eyed and Legless'. He was much in demand as a musician and played regularly with such rock stars as Eric Clapton, George Harrison, the Strawbs and the Bee Gees. (Wikipedia)

1914:
With the declaration of war against Germany imminent, Cardiff General Station was crowded with sailors responding to the summons to report to naval bases. The sailors and the crowds of relatives and friends sang patriotic songs with great gusto. There were so many people in the station that the gates had to be closed. (John O'Sullivan & Bryn Jones,
Cardiff: A Centenary Celebration
, The History Press, 2005)

1874:
Twenty-two men of Lord Bute's household played a three-day challenge match against an All England XI on the cricket ground at Cardiff Castle. The chance to see some of the finest cricketers in England take on the local men drew a large crowd. The
Western Mail
set up a printing press on the ground so that the spectators could have up-to-date scorecards when they arrived. Sadly things did not go to plan. Heavy rain held up play on both the second and third days. Sections of the crowd got distinctly unruly, abusing the Englishmen vociferously. The Glamorganshire Militia had to be summoned from the docks to restore order. After all that, the match ended in a draw. (Andrew Hignell,
From Sophia to Swalec: A History of Cricket in Cardiff
, The History Press, 2008)

1914:
Four German vessels berthed at Cardiff Docks were seized following the declaration of war. One of them was the
Rickmers
, a five-masted barque which had just discharged her cargo of grain and had been about to load coal. She was renamed
Neath
but was sunk off Fastnet in March 1917 by a German submarine. (John Richards,
Cardiff: A Maritime History
, The History Press, 2005)

1956:
‘I weave through the crowds in the station concourse. The scene can be summed up in one word – bedlam. The time is August Bank Holiday 1956, the place is the down platform of Cardiff General Station. The island platform is crammed solid. Never before or since have I seen so many people crammed onto it. Before I have moved a yard, I am besieged on all sides. “When is the train to Tenby?” “Has the Birmingham train arrived yet?” “When does the Swansea train leave?” It is standing at platform 4 and should have left by now.' (James Page,
Rails in the Valleys
, David & Charles, 1989)

1992:
The Welsh Heart Research Unit opened at the University (Heath) Hospital. (
Western Mail
)

1944:
England test cricketer and former Glamorgan cricket captain Maurice Turnbull was killed in action in Normandy. A talented all-round sportsman he played in nine Test matches and captained his county for ten seasons. In his final year at Cambridge he was captain of the University XI. He played rugby for Cardiff and had two games for Wales. He also played hockey for Wales and Cambridge. He is still the only person to have played cricket for England and rugby for Wales. He was also South Wales squash champion. A Major in the 1
^st
Battalion. Welsh Guards, he was killed instantly by a sniper during intense fighting near Montchamp after the Normandy Landings. Glamorgan were playing in a fundraising match at the Arms Park when news of his death reached Cardiff some days later. Shortly after the announcement was posted on the notice-board in the pavilion, the crowd spontaneously rose and stood in silence in tribute to one of their own. (T.D. Breverton,
The Welsh Almanac
, Glyndwr Publications, 2002 / Andrew Hignell,
From Sophia to Swalec: A History of Cricket in Cardiff
, The History Press, 2008)

1910:
Ernest Thompson Willows was just 19 when he designed and built his first airship. Four years later his second one was constructed at East Moors and in June 1910 he caused a sensation when he flew it over the centre of Cardiff. Overnight on August 6/7th Willows flew this craft from Cardiff to the Crystal Palace, a distance of 140 miles, in ten hours. (Stewart Williams,
Cardiff Yesterday
)

1914:
William Welton, a stoker on board the HMS
Amphion
, became the first Cardiff man to die in action in the First World War. His ship sank with all 130 hands after she hit a mine in the North Sea. (J.H. Morgan, ‘Cardiff at War' in Stewart Williams (ed.)
The Cardiff Book, Vol.3
, 1974)

1926:
The Cunard Liner
Scythia
, sailing from New York to Liverpool, diverted to Cardiff to allow Welsh-Americans travelling from America for the Royal National Eisteddfod at Treorchy to disembark. They were ferried ashore by Campbell's steamer and continued their journey by special train from Bute Road station. It was worth their while making the trip – the Scranton Male Voice Choir from Pennsylvania won First Prize! (John Richards,
Cardiff: A Maritime History
, The History Press, 2005)