Charles to marry, Pope to visit, textbook ‘filth’ rebel fined, and much more made the news 39 years ago this week
1981 MONDAY FEBRUARY 24
Pope visit announced
THE Pope will visit Cardiff next year during his tour of Britain – and it is almost certain that he will be in the capital towards the end of May.
Hundreds of thousands of people who will flock into the capital will attend an open-air service – most likely to be held on the Blackweir sports pitches.
It was expected that Pope John Paul II would include Wales on his British tour and leaders of the Roman Catholic church have chosen Cardiff as their venue.
Rebel will not return
SCHOOL textbook rebel Mr David Grigsby, who will not return his son to a Cardiff school because of the bad language in an English textbook, has been fined £25 for his protest.
But he immediately told the city’s magistrates: “My conscience will not allow me to pay the fine because I feel that will be an admission of guilt. I’ll go to prison.”
The fine for not ensuring his son
Mark, pictured above, attended Howardian High School regularly between September 1 and January 16, follows a long dispute between Mr Grigsby, a devout Jehovah’s Witness and the local education authority.
The father of nine is annoyed because of the language contained in one English book, Of Mice And Men, by John Steinbeck.
Mr Grigsby refused to allow his son to go to English lessons unless he was given a guarantee that the language – which included phrases such as “bastard” and “crazy son of a bitch” – would not be included.
Royal wedding announced
PRINCE Charles is to marry Lady Diana Spencer, Buckingham Palace announced. They will wed in the summer, but no date or place had been decided, although the Prince has suggested late July as a possibility.
Messages of congratulations began to pour in soon after the engagement was announced.
One of the first was from Cliff Jones, president of the Welsh Rugby Union – who hosted the Queen and Prince Philip’s recent visit to the National Ground.
He said: “All of us in Wales and, naturally, the rugby world are delighted and thrilled with the engagement of our Prince in this, our centenary year.”
Chairman of Mid Glamorgan County Council, Coun Vernon Hart, said: “All of us in Mid Glamorgan are delighted with the news. He is held in very high esteem.
“We wish him and his future wife all the very best.”
Banned films may be shown
A CONTROVERSIAL nuclear war film – banned by television – may be shown in South Wales.
Torfaen Borough Council say they want to screen the War Game in local halls for ratepayers. The 20-year-old film was considered too frightening to show on television because it dealt with the after-effects of a nuclear bomb and what would happen to ordinary people.
Council members said local people could see what might happen in a nuclear war situation through the film.
There was also a surprise decision to lift the Cardiff ban on the controversial X film Caligula may be taken by the city council’s licensing committee.
Approval of the film, which caused such a furore, seemed likely as the council prepared to meet.
Some members of the authority’s ruling Labour group are known to be unhappy about censoring any film which has a certificate from the British Board of Film Censors.
Soundings of councillors indicated that a majority at the authority’s meeting would refuse to support the licensing committee’s recommendations to ban the feature, which places heavy emphasis on orgies, butchery and sex in First Century Rome.
Campaign for derelict buildings
A CALL for a campaign to find new uses for derelict old buildings in South Wales was made in Cardiff.
Speaking at a dinner for planners and landscape architects, Brian Lymbery, director of the Prince of Wales Committee called for a more imaginative approach towards restoring some of the historical buildings of South Wales.
There were many old buildings falling derelict through lack of use, he said. These are often attractive landmarks in a community and important for the history of the growth of South Wales.
Mr Lymbery appealed for co-operation between public bodies and community groups in tackling the problem.
He pledged the support of the Prince of Wales Committee for any schemes which came forward because he was sure that, even in times of recession, it could make economic sense to bring old buildings back to life rather than to always build.
Winner leaves money to charity
FORMER South Wales road sweeper Alf Pountain, who won £111,000 in a national spot-the-ball competition has bequeathed all the remains of his fortune – £59,807 – to charity.
In his will Alf, aged 55, has left £5,000 each to Dr Barnardo’s, the Royal British Legion and the Tenovus cancer fund.
After several other bequests, he granted the rest to the Guide Dogs for the Blind.
A one-time Salvation Army hostel resident, a 20p stake propelled Alf from rags to riches.
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