YESTERDAYS 1978

OLYMPIC gold medallist Lynn Davies has spoken out in support of the Welsh Amateur Athletics Association’s training centre on the sand dunes at Merthyr Mawr, threatened by a decision by the local council.

An application to extend training facilities and accommodation for athletes using the Candleston Farm Centre, near Tythegston, has been rejected by Ogwr’s development control subcommittee.

Unless its decision is reversed by the full committee, the future of the centre where top British athletes have trained, will be threatened, according to Dr Bill Evans, secretary of the Welsh AAA.

Mr Davies, now a technical officer with the Sports Council for Wales, used the dunes regularly before his successes in Olympic, European and Commonwealth Games.

“I benefited tremendously using the centre as have other athletes. We have so few national athletics resources in Wales and not to recognise the Merthyr Mawr centre as such would be a tragedy.” HUNDREDS of people turned out to watch the American balloon Double Eagle II as it made its way over South Wales after the trip across the Atlantic.

The crew of three became the first to cross the Atlantic by balloon and are now heading for France in a bid to break the record of 2,740 miles for a manned flight set by fellow American Ed Yost in 1976.

The balloon had travelled 2,300 miles when it reached the Irish coast, and set telephone switchboards in South Wales buzzing in the early hours when it was sighted at Strumble Head, Dyfed. It later drifted towards Port Talbot, over Nash Point and skirted Cardiff before crossing the Bristol Channel. A HIGH Court judge has given latenight curries in Merthyr the go-ahead.

Bengali restaurant proprietor Mr Monir Meah has won his appeal against Merthyr Borough Council’s ban on late-night meals at his Halal Restaurant. Mr Meah has successfully fought off the council’s attempt to restrict his opening times late at night.

The local authority argued residents in the centre suffered disturbance because the Halal was open until 2am. Westgate Street on Thursday and head straight for his public house.

Don Best, landlord of the Queen’s Vaults, said: “I am not tarring everyone with the same brush. I have allowed in some people who have probably been unable to find a job. But there is a certain element, who can cause the trouble.”

Mr Best added: “I found – and I think this is something totally wrong with our system – that people left the dole office, went to the Post Office and cashed their Giro cheques and then came straight here ordering their double vodkas or Bacardis. The basic problem was their appearance – they looked undesirable and often made a mess. It was going to stop clientele that I wanted to attract coming in here.” a grandfather twice over – has become a father for the third time.

His third wife, Thailand-born Malinee, 23 – who he married last year – presented him with a 7lb 14oz daughter, Emily Margarita, seven weeks ago.

“We have virtually kept Emily’s birth a secret,” said Ivor, aged 49, the former Land of Song singer and one of the stars of the hit film Zulu. ROBERT CLARKE spent hundreds of pounds making his South Wales council house a home to be proud of, through years of do-it-yourself sparetime work.

Finally, the family home in Byrd Crescent, Penarth, was redecorated from top to bottom, complete with all the extras he paid for himself.

But when he moved out, officials moved into his former home and ruled the transformation was out-oforder.

Down must come a fitted three-corner wardrobe he made and fitted into an upstairs bedroom.

Up must go a partition wall he tore down to increase the size of his hallway.

Out must go a garden shed which was not in the plans the officials had for the premises.

And a door he re-hung to open outwards, giving better access to a boxtype bedroom, must be put back the way it was.

Now, Mr Clarke faces a bill for repairs to the house from the Vale of Glamorgan Borough Council.

“It’s absolutely crazy,” said father of two Mr Clarke, an electrician foreman in a Cardiff factory.

“I know my tenancy agreement said a house must be left in the condition I took it in, but they are now working to the letter of the law, not the spirit, it’s lunacy.

“I can understand them making a fuss if someone leaves a council house in a worse condition than when they