50 years ago

Extracts from the Barry & District News of May 14, 1964:

• The decision of the Wyndham Conservative Club to allow women guests in the new lounge was commended by the Countess of Plymouth when she performed the opening ceremony on Friday. She pulled aside a blue cloth to reveal a portrait of Sir Winston Churchill after whom the lounge will be named. The lounge with new entrance, etc, has cost £8,000.

• The news that the Barry Town Council had taken “immediate action” to invite an outside company interested in building a hotel at Barry Island to inspect suitable sites has evoked reaction from Nicholas Morgan, proprietor of the Old Harbour Club, Barry Island. The news was given at the last meeting of the Barry Town Council. Mr Morgan has been waiting for months for approval for an outline plan for a 60-bedroom hotel on a site already in their possession at Plymouth Road.

• British Railways have given notice that from June 15, they intend to discontinue their passenger services between Barry and Bridgend. The Western Welsh Omnibus Company has introduced one alternative bus service, this being mainly for the benefit of workers at the Aberthaw and Bristol Channel Cement Works.

• Roger N P Griffiths, son of Mr and Mrs W T Griffiths, of Park Road, has been appointed headmaster of Hurstpierepoint Public School, near Brighton, at the age of 32, and is believed to be the youngest man in the country to hold such an appointment. Educated at Lancing College and King’s College, Cambridge, Mr Griffiths had been an assistant master at Charterhouse.

• “We do not believe that Barry Docks will be closed. We think that it will remain open as a thriving port.” This was the welcome assurance about the future of Barry Docks given by Sir Arthur Kirby, chairman of the British Transport Docks Board, in Cardiff on Tuesday week.

• David Thomas, a Barry schoolteacher, makes his television debut in the BBC Wales programme, “People’s Ballads,” which will be shown on Sunday evening. Featured in the programme will be many popular and not-so-popular Welsh ballads.