100 years ago

IMPORTANT extensions were planned for Newport Corporation’s new power station, in order to meet with the new demand.

Following a conference on the safety of life at sea, new rules were laid down regarding the dangers of fire and also regarding the qualifications of boat hands.

An inquest at Tredegar Police Station heard how a three-year-old died when he was engulfed by flames after striking a match which in turn had alighted his clothing.

At a meeting of the Newport Watch Committee, it was agreed that unused cabstands in the town should now be abolished.

50 years ago

THE three Newport people who were aboard the stricken Greek cruise liner Lakonia, that had become engulfed in flames off the coast of Madeira, were safe in spite of 400 passengers still being unaccounted for.

Blaina-born opera singer Parry Jones, who had started work in a Western Valley mine before rising to international fame, died in London at the age of 72.

The mayor and mayoress of Newport, accompanied by a party of officials, toured the Royal Gwent, Cefn Mably and St Woolos hospitals with get-well wishes for patients on Christmas Day.

The lamp room roof at Big Pit Colliery was destroyed by a fire that had broken out on Boxing Day. Most of the contents of the room were destroyed also.

25 years ago

It was revealed that more than 240 Gwent children were registered as at risk of sexual or physical abuse or neglect, according to new official statistics.

The first ever Santa’s grotto in Nantyglo opened, in a family-owned shop in King Street.

Christmas spending on Welsh high streets had failed to live up to expectations, with traders suffering the effects of high interest rates.

Heartless joyriders severed a lifeline for dozens of Gwent pensioners after writing off their Cwmbran Salvation Army minibus by crashing it and burning it out.