EXTRACTS from the Barry & District News of March 22, 1962:

* This year's May Queen for the local Save the Children Fund's May Festival is pretty young Janet Williams of Evelyn Street, Barry Dock. She will be crowned by Irene Countess of Plymouth at the Memorial Hall on May 25.

* Despite the enthusiasm which the Barry Borough Council has shown towards building up the civic links with Fecamp, France, over the last two years, it is now alleged that they are the cause of a delay which might well cause the holiday plans of a local football team to go on tour to the Normandy town to be upset.

* Two challenge cups offered to pianists have been won by Barry-born Marilyn Powell - and she is the first competitor ever to win both cups in the same year!

EXTRACTS from the Barry & District News of March 19, 1987:

* Congratulations were the order of the day when Vale councillors gave their unanimous and enthusiastic approval to the Majestic Holidays takeover of the former Butlin's holiday centre at Barry Island (as exclusively reported in the "News" last week).

* The 33 per cent increase in Barry Town Council's rate-borne expenditure came under a withering attack from Vale Finance Committee chairman Cllr John Cotter when the borough council approved a stand-still rate of 22.5p in the pound.

* A full-blown promotions department with a marketing budget of £100,000 and headed by three senior officers to sell the tourism attractions of the Vale is believed to be one of the main recommendations in a £20,000 tourism strategy published by London-based consultants this week.