50 years ago

Extracts from the Barry & District News of May 21, 1964:

• There were echoes of the teenage violence which has been so rife in the South Coast resorts over the Whitsuntide, at Barry Island on Monday night when only the timely action of Barry police prevented incidents developing into what could have been ugly scenes. But here the similarity ends for “the spasmodic outbreaks of violence,” as Supt Reg Jones called them on Tuesday, were in no way connected with the “Mods and Rockers” outbursts which have troubled Barry’s counterparts on the South Coast.

• The extent to which Barry Town AFC relies on bingo and other money-raising efforts to carry on is illustrated in the accounts for the two seasons ending May, 1962, and May, 1963. The balance sheet for 1963 shows that the club actually made a profit that year of just under £1,000 despite the atrocious playing record of the team. Expenditure exceeded income by £170, 1962, and this amount added to the accumulate losses of previous years made the aggregate loss of £11,429.

• A crew from the Reardon Smith Nautical College sailed their yacht Margherita to victory in the Bristol Channel race of 1964 concluded on Tuesday. To the victors go the Cock o’ the North Bristol Channel Challenge Cup and the Barry Yacht Club Burgee (a three-cornered flag) which they are entitled to fly at their masthead.

• Mr Ray Frampton of McQuade Place, Barry Island, a cashier at the Barry Office of the Refuge Assurance Co Ltd, has just completed a magnificent model of the mv Brunsbuttel, the former Geest banana ship, which has taken two years of painstaking skill and patience. The attractive scale model was made from plans and photographs which were kindly supplied by the Captain and chief officer of that vessel.

• In fine weather there was an improve attendance when the Glamorgan AAA Championships were continued on Saturday, but competitors still outnumbered those who were watching. The fact has to be faced that unless the top stars are competing, athletics cannot draw the crowds. Once again local athletes did well, led by 19-year-old Elizabeth Gill of Barry Harriers, who easily won the women’s 100 yards, once again stressing her superiority over her rival, Elizabeth Parsons, by a clear yard.