BARRY’S unemployment figures announced this week were the highest in an annual period since 1946.

But this news was countered when assurance was made that there would be continued employment in the foreseeable future at the RAF station in St Athan.

The assurance was given by air commodore J.W. McKelvey when he spoke at a lunch given by the mayor J.E.O. Morgan to mark the exercise by the RAF station of the Freedom of the borough accorded to them eight years ago.

There had been some speculation about the future of the station in view of the pruning down of commitments, but air commodore McKelvey was able to give details of a continued building programme which would do much to scotch rumours.

He hoped defence cuts wouldn’t affect them because they were still pursuing a modernisation programme.

The new training wing headquarters had been completed and taken over a fortnight previously; two new barrack blocks would be occupied by the RAF and there was going to be a large extension of the senior officers’ mess and a modern stock control and accounting block had been built.

Before the end of the year 61 civilian houses would be taken over in Bridgend and they would complete the extension of the social club at the camp and take possession of a fully automatic telephone exchange for the station.

Early next year they would complete a running up platform for the ground testing of aircraft.

STARTLING figures revealed this week showed that the unemployment rate in Barry was higher this month than it had been for the past 20 years apart from the severe winter of 1962 to 1963.

Numbers out of work in the week ending October 9 showed an increase of 111 people, consisting of 87 men and 24 women.

This made a total of 768 unemployed (643 men and 125 women). In June 1946 there were 777 out of work.

The month’s high figures were due mainly to increased unemployment in the bricklaying, painting and plastering trades.

On October 4 there were vacancies outstanding for 21 men and 31 women, mainly in construction, hotel and catering and ladies hairdressing.

A register was now being maintained at Barry Employment Exchange of local men and women who would like to be considered for full-time or part-time employment at the Butlin’s Holiday Camp.

COINCIDING with the third anniversary of the opening of the Bryn Sion Hall, in Court Road, in 1964, was the opening next week of an extension to the headquarters of the Barry Society for Mentally Handicapped Children.

With growing numbers of children from Barry and the surrounding district, it was soon found that the hall was not large enough.

An approach was made to Mr L.Coles, the manager of Romilly Bingo Hall, and he agreed to sell the raffle tickets for the society at sessions.

£3000 was raised which was sufficient to build the extension.