1931

On 14 July Illtyd Harrington is born in Merthyr Tydfil. Harrington was deputy leader of the Greater London Council (1981–84). He was openly gay and lived for fifty years with his partner, Christopher “Chris” Downes, who worked as a theatrical dresser for Laurence Olivier and Maggie Smith.

1933

Stephen Spender (1909–1995), was an English poet, novelist and essayist whose work concentrated on themes of social injustice and the class struggle. In 1933 he fell in love with Tony Hyndman, an unemployed working-class boy from Cardiff who became his secretary and travelling companion. They lived together from 1935 to 1936. Spender is candid about his relationship with Hyndman, or ‘Jimmy Younger’ (T.A.R. Hindman) in his memoir, World Within World (1951).

1934 

Richard Hull (1896-1973) writes The Murder of My Aunt

1935

Swansea-born novelist, businesswoman, and social benefactor, Amy Dillwyn, dies on 13 December.

1936

Mary Louisa Gordon writes Chase of the Wild Goose, a novel based on the lives of the Ladies of Llangollen.

1939

Peter Gill, a Welsh theatre director, playwright, and actor is born in Cardiff on 7 September. Described in The Guardian as one of British theatre’s unsung heroes.

Gwen John, the bisexual Welsh artist dies on 18 September.