Portal:Wales

Mwng (pronounced [ˈmʊŋ]; English: Mane) is the fourth studio album by Welsh rock band the Super Furry Animals, and the first by the group to have lyrics written entirely in Welsh. It includes the single "Ysbeidiau Heulog", and reached number 11 on the UK Albums Chart following its release – the first Welsh-language album to reach the Top 20. This success lead to Mwng being mentioned in the House of Commons by Elfyn Llwyd, who described the record as a celebration of a "new wave of confidence in the Welsh nation".

Mwng is an understated rock record inspired by the band's love of "Anglo-American pop culture of the 60s, 70s and 80s". Singer Gruff Rhys feels that the record marks the first time the band managed to escape their influences and clearly establish their own sound. The album's lyrics deal with a diverse set of subjects, such as the death of rural communities, old school teachers and Sarn Helen. Mwng was included in both the Melody Maker and NME "Best album of 2000" lists, with the latter calling the record the band's best release.

The Super Furry Animals had written several Welsh-language songs during sessions for Guerrilla, and opted to release them as a coherent album rather than issue "token Welsh songs" as B-sides. Rhys stated that, although the decision to release a Welsh language album was not an explicitly political statement, he does feel the record is a "stand against globalisation". The "lo-fi" album cost just £6,000 to make, and was recorded almost entirely live.

Credit: Frank Brangwyn

Sir Frank William Brangwyn RA RWS RBA (12 May 1867 – 11 June 1956) was an Anglo-Welsh artist, painter, watercolourist, virtuoso engraver and illustrator, and progressive designer.

• ... that Wales international footballer Alexander Jones was killed in a shooting accident on board a train?
• ... that St Edwen's Church, Llanedwen, is one of the few churches in Wales to be lit only by candles?
• ... that although St Cynfarwy was active in Anglesey, in the 7th century, the age of the church dedicated to him cannot be ascertained due to extensive rebuilding?
• ... that one 19th-century writer condemned the partial demolition of the old church dedicated to St Nidan in Anglesey, saying that its replacement (pictured) was "a painfully impressive example of architectural bad taste"?

Tommy Cooper (19 March 1921 – 15 April 1984) was a British prop comedian and magician. He made an art form of getting magic tricks wrong. However, despite his purported inability to perform conjuring tricks, he was in reality an accomplished magician and member of The Magic Circle. Famed for his red fez, his appearance was large and lumbering at 6ft 3ins (1.91m) tall and over 15 stone in weight. He had a range of facial expressions and would also say things like, "I must say you've been a wonderful audience" or "Have we got time for more?" immediately after he walked on stage that would convulse audiences with laughter. He had a host of other catchphrases such as "Spoon, jar, jar, spoon!!" and "Whisky, sample, sample, whisky, sample...". His most often quoted catchphrase "Just like that" has never been heard on film. Famously he was once standing for several minutes behind the curtain at the start of a televised show, and the audience, knowing he was there, was in hysterics before he even appeared. "People were laughing, just standing in line, for the tickets to see him" has often been quoted. Born Thomas Frederick Cooper, in Caerphilly, Wales, he was delivered by the woman who owned the house in which the family was lodging. Cooper's parents were Welsh-born army recruiting sergeant father Tom, and his English-born mother Gertrude from Crediton, Devon.

• March 1: Wales widens smoking ban, includes at hospitals, schools and playgrounds
• June 6: Fire at historic Welsh ex-hotel Bontddu Hall kills one
• June 5: Face coverings to be mandatory on public transport in England from June 15, transport secretary declares
• January 17: British surfers catch more than waves: Scientists find antibiotic-resistant bacteria