Thousands of Welsh men and women have shaped history. Many are famous for their roles in science, art, sport and politics. Here is a list of some inspirational men and women from Wales who are admired worldwide.

This list is clearly open to debate as several names from history are not included. The list is in alphabetical order by family name and not popularity:

• Shirley Bassey (born 1937) The singer’s voice has captivated millions, celebrating Wales as a multicultural country on the world stage.
• Aneurin Bevan (1897-1960) The Labour icon fought for the creation of the NHS with passion and tactical genius, breaking the link between illness and poverty.
• Richard Burton (1925-1984) At one time probably one of the world’s most famous Welshman thanks to his tempestuous marriages to Elizabeth Taylor, Burton possessed a rare genius as an actor.
• Tommy Cooper (1921-1984) The fez-wearing comedian who fused the musical hall tradition with absurdities with inspired results
• Roald Dahl (1916-1990) A Cardiff-born author who reinvented children’s literature and blended the marvellous, macabre and the magical with humour.
• Donald Davies (1924-2000) Born in Treorchy, this computer pioneer developed packet-switched networking, paving the way for the internet.
• Gareth Edwards (born 1947) Arguably the greatest rugby player of all time, a tactical genius combined with athletic prowess.
• Sir Martin Evans (born 1941) The Nobel Prize-winning Cardiff University professor has made breakthroughs in stem cell research.
• Roy Jenkins (1920-2003) As a Labour Home Secretary he spear-headed the liberalisation of Britain and as an SDP founder he redrew the political landscape.
• Augustus John (1878-1961) Born in Tenby, Augustus John was an acknowledged master of post-impressionism painting.
• David Lloyd George (1863-1945) The last UK Liberal prime minister, Lloyd George was a wartime leader and champion of social reform.
• Megan Lloyd George (1902-1966) In 1929 Megan became Wales’ first female MP, campaigning for a Welsh parliament and a Secretary of State for Wales.
• Ryan Giggs (Born 1973) – Cardiff-born Giggs’ made 960 appearances for Manchester United as a midfielder before becoming assistant manager at the club until the arrival of Mourinho in 2016. Giggs became the most successful footballer of his era.
• Tanni Grey-Thompson (born 1969) A Paralympian who changed the public perception of disabled athletes forever.
• George Herbert (1593-1633) The Powys-born writer ranks is one of the greatest metaphysical poets.
• Anthony Hopkins (born 1937) A great theatre actor, he is best known for his Oscar winning role as psychopath Hannibal Lecter in The Silence of the Lambs (1991).
• TE Lawrence (1888-1935) Born in Tremadog “Lawrence of Arabia” played a key role in the World War I Arab revolt and demonstrated the power of guerilla operations to change the course of a war.
• Rhodri Morgan (born 1939) Devolution in Wales was approved by a small majority, yet Rhodri won support for a much more powerful Assembly and embedded self-government at the heart of national life.
• Jan Morris (1926) who covered the first successful Everest expedition and shaped the idea of travel writing.
• Robert Recorde (1512-1558) The 16th century mathematician introduced the “equals” sign (“=”) to the world and pioneered algebra in the English-speaking world.

Rugby is considered the national sport of Wales. The game was introduced to Wales at Lampeter College in the mid-nineteenth century using the Rugby School rules. The governing body, the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) (Welsh: Undeb Rygbi Cymru) was formed in 1881 and is recognised by the sport’s international governing body, World Rugby.

National Team

The national team play at the 74,500 capacity Millennium Stadium. In 2016 a new sponsorship arrangement means a renaming to Principality Stadium. The national team compete annually in the Six Nations Championship, as well as having competed at every Rugby World Cup. Wales are ranked as a tier-1 nation by

World Rugby.

Domestic Competition

The main domestic competition in Wales is the Guinness Pro12 (formerly the Celtic League), in which Wales have four sides in the competition that include Irish and Scottish and since 2010, Italian clubs. Top-level Welsh teams also compete in the European Rugby Champions Cup and European Rugby Challenge Cup and alongside the teams of England’s Aviva Premiership in the Anglo-Welsh Cup.

Beneath the Pro12, club rugby is represented by over 200 WRU affiliated clubs that play in the Welsh Premier Division and the lower Welsh Divisional leagues. Wales rugby regional teams such as the Scarlets, the Ospreys, Newport Gwent Dragons and the Cardiff Blues continue to compete at the highest level of Rugby

Union.

Four Welsh teams compete in the British and Irish Cup, a competition for semi-professional and developmental sides. They are usually the top Premier Division clubs of each region, although the reserve sides of the Pro12 teams were entered in 2015-16.

Victories

In the last decade Wales have won the RBS 6 Nations Championship 4 times and the Grand Slam in 2005, 2008 and 2012. In the IRB Rugby World Cup, Wales made it to the semi-finals at the 2011 and to the quarter-finals in 2014, when they were in the ‘group of death’.

 
The British and Irish Lions test side is selected from players eligible for England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales. The Lions tours every four years to New Zealand, South Africa and Australia in rotation. The 2013 Lions tour to Australia was dominated by Wales, captained by the Welsh captain Sam Warburton, with fifteen of the original touring party being Welsh, more than any other nationality in the squad. The Lions went on to record an historical 2-1 series victory.

Whether you want an intimate wedding with a few guests or a large gathering with extended family, Wales can offer you some unique places to celebrate your wedding. Below are 5 wedding venues to suit all couples.

The Orangery, Margam

Built between 1787 and 1793, the Orangery in Margam Park is a prestigious Grade I listed building in South Wales.
With its monastic ruins and Gothic style mansion house nearby, this 18th century Orangery is steeped in history and is one of the finest classical buildings in Wales.

With its wonderful setting within more than 850 acres of beautiful parkland, the Orangery is a delightfully romantic and elegant venue that will provide you with the style and surroundings to enhance your wedding.

The Orangery are renowned for creating unique and memorable weddings (for all the right reasons!) and their experienced Chef and Banqueting Team can offer you a comprehensive service package to suit your wishes.

A Talyllyn Railway Wedding, Tywyn

The Talyllyn Railway’s tea room at Abergynolwyn Station is licensed to hold civil marriage ceremonies, catering for wedding groups up to forty people. Hire a steam-hauled train to collect you and your guests from Tywyn Wharf station for the forty-five minute journey to Abergynolwyn.

For you wedding the tea room will be reserved and prepared with flowers, table and seating for the formal ceremony. Afterwards, light refreshments can be served followed by photo opportunities around the station and train before you return to Tywyn in your special train. The total time taken being about three hours. Your unique, personalised headboard for your train is yours to keep.

Caerphilly Castle

Caerphilly Castle is the largest castle in Wales. It has a magnificent moat and impressive 14th century great hall to create a magnificent atmosphere for your special day. The Great Hall is available for both a civil ceremony and a reception or evening event.

The Great Hall holds a maximum of 200 people, or up to 150 for a formal seated wedding. Once your booking is secured, you can begin to make your own catering arrangements using the Great Hall annexe that is fitted with modern kitchen facilities and a bar area.

Other castles you might like to consider are: Chirk Castle (up to 80 guests); Castell Coch, Cardiff (up to 30 guests); Fonmon Castle; Ruthin Castle (up to 140 guests); Craig-y-Nos Castle and Carreg Cennen Castle (up to 150 guests)

Nash Point Lighthouse, Vale of Glamorgan

Nash Point Lighthouse is the only working lighthouse in the UK that is licensed to hold weddings in the lighthouse tower, as formal or informal as you wish, with a maximum of twenty-five guests.

Whilst a reception cannot be held here, there are facilities for Champagne toasts and snacks for the wedding party, a tour of the lighthouse and group photographs with the tower as a backdrop.

The lighthouse is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest due to the rare Tuberous Thistle that grows there. This means that no marquees can be erected in the grounds and explains why the grass is only mowed at its edges.