YESTERDAYS 1977

FLYING Welsh full-back JPR Williams was on a real winning streak during an Easter week that was all go.

First, he turned out for the Barbarians on Saturday – and was on the winning side. Then, yesterday, he pulled on his Bridgend jersey and again came out on top.

And in the middle of his rugby-playing weekend, Dr John became the proud father of a baby daughter.

The baby, who has been named Lauren Louise, was born at the University Hospital of Wales, Heath, Cardiff, at 4am on Sunday.

JPR’s wife Scilla, said: “It was a rather hectic night. John had been at the Barbarians rugby dinner in Cardiff, and I had been out for a meal with some of the wives. Then we had to rush back into Cardiff in the small hours.

“John was with me when the baby was born, but just as a father and not as a doctor.” RESIDENTS of Mount Pleasant, Bargoed restarted their blockade against council workmen. The barricades went up at 7.30am after a break for the Easter holidays.

Residents, who began their protest last Tuesday, claim that their homes are in a “wicked” state of repair and say they have been neglected by the council.

Mrs Barbara Bevan said today: “Still no officer from the council has come to see us.”

The blockade is against the council workmen who were due to start on the outside of one house last week.

The people say the insides of the 26 houses should be made good first. COUNTY council candidate Mrs Janet Davies, right, has found a way to take the strain out of canvassing electors in outlying farms around her area.

For Mrs Davies, of Gwyndy, Llanharry, will be hoofing it on horseback.

The ward she hopes to represent on the Mid Glamorgan authority stretches from Llanharry to the outskirts of Thomastown, near Tonyrefail, and down to Llanharan and Brynna.

Mrs Davies, aged 38, a Plaid Cymru candidate said: “Canvassing on horseback is no gimmick. It is simply the easiest way to get around outlying farms in the area.”

Mrs Davies, housewife and mother of two, recently won a seat on the Llanharry Community Council. She has never stood for the county council before. RAY Richards starts looking for a job today – his career as a travelling lecturer over. As a career it didn’t last long. All of two days.

But that was long enough to convince 27-year-old Ray that a two-hour talk (with coloured slides) on his travels through seven South American countries didn’t have the pulling power of Coronation Street – which started simultaneously with his lecture.

After spending £1,200 on his trip, Ray thought it was time to get some money back , so he hired a hall at the back of Cardiff’s Blind Institute for £11, invested £13 in advertising, and waited hopefully for the crowds to roll up.

Chris Bonnington, he recalled, attracted almost 1,000 customers to