50 YEARS ago

Extracts from the Barry & District

News of December 17, 1964:

l At last the tension is over – the minister of transport has decided that Forrest Drive at Barry Island can be closed and the way is now clear for the construction of Butlin’s Holiday Camp.

The “News and Herald” understands that Butlin’s intend to make a start as soon as possible after Christmas, and they have high hopes that the camp will be open some time during the 1965 summer season, though this will be conditioned upon the weather and the supply factor.

l The Barry Philharmonic Choir made an auspicious debut at the Barry Memorial Hall on Saturday. It was near capacity audience to hear a quite promising performance of Handel’s “Messiah”.

l The 18th annual first aid competition between the teams of Aberthaw Cement Company’s and Rhoose Works was held last week and won by Aberthaw with 325 points against Rhoose’s 310. Aberthaw have now won the Beynon Cup on 11 occasions and Rhoose on seven.

l At the Memorial Hall on Thursday the Barry Welsh School presented its annual Christmas concert which brought home the message of Christmas to an audience of 650 parents and friends who attended.

One of the highlights of the show was the pantomime, “The Christmas Pudding,” which was presented by the young children who were clad in delightful and colourful costumes made by the parents.

l The Austin/Riley dealers for Barry – Coppins Motors Ltd, of Brook Street – have once again, by their policy of forward ordering, been able to build up stocks of Austin and Riley vehicles so that most of the models in the range are available for delivery to customers on January 1. Since this time last year a number of models have received their annual “facelift” and, of course, the fabulous Austin 1800 has been introduced.

l Barry Grammar School pupils, twisting and shaking in the Lesser Hall at the Memorial Hall on Saturday nights, have raised £200 since August on behalf of local and national charities.

l On paper the Newport side were quite the strongest team to visit Barry this season. Included in their line-up were two former Welsh internationals and six of this very team figured in the Newport’s senior side’s annihilation of the powerful Bristol side the previous Saturday.

Coupled with this, the visitors came to Barry with an unbeaten record, but a try scored in the first five minutes spelt immediate disaster for them.