A new town centre development was said to be ‘quite hideous’ by a planning committee. The story appeared in the Weston Mercury and Somerset Herald 50 years ago.

%image(14258594, type="article-full", alt="A provisioal invitation has been received from the Randvijk Hockey Club of Amstelveen, Holland for a Weston team to play in Holland next Easter. Our photo shows some of the players who hope to be in the tour party. Picture: WESTON MERCURY")

A £30,000 wing for a primary school was opened.

An extension to St Joseph's Primary School, in Burnham, was celebrated after the semi-open plan extension was unveiled by Somerset's chief education officer.

n The plan for Nailsea's new centre development was described by one councillor as 'quite hideous' at a Long Ashton planning meeting.

Cllr D Atchley said it showed 'the typical square boxes piled one on top of another without any regard to modern overall design'.

%image(14258595, type="article-full", alt="Horlicks Dairies milkman Ron Symes, from Worle, has won his second regional champion salesman award in two years with an increase of 5760 extra pints to his customers. Picture: WESTON MERCURY")

He added there had been a 'golden opportunity' for Somerset County Council and the developers to provide 'something really worthwhile'.

The committee were told the present plans were not completely accurate and would have to be re-submitted.

n The secretary of the RNLI, Stirling Whorlow, wrote to two cousins on the Weston lifeboat crew to thank them for their efforts to try and save the reserve lifeboat which ran aground the previous month.

Stormy weather had blown the boat, which had been on loan to Weston RNLI, against rocks and had badly damaged it.

%image(14258596, type="article-full", alt="Somerset Junior Strength Championships were held at Banwell Youth Club. Members Clive Thomas, W. Holland and Alwyn Knight are pictured with (front) Dave Gibbs and Dave Ruby. Dave Ruby set a new record in the "right hand clean and jerk". Picture: WESTON MERCURY")

It broke from its moorings and passed under the old pier.

Michael Watts was the first to board the boat. He succeeded in starting the engines and tried to clear the rocks without success.

Later, he and his cousin Bernard boarded the boat together and attempted to recover the anchor.

n A Weston lorry driver was sent to prison after taking and driving a van without consent and crashing through a fence on the hump back bridge in Hutton Moor Road.

%image(14258597, type="article-full", alt="Members of local churches wore Eastern costume for a inter-denominational Eastern Evening at Waterloo Hall, Weston. Picture: WESTON MERCURY")

The van, which had four passengers, was en-route to a party when it crashed into a freezing cold pond on December 28, 1968.

One of the passengers drowned.

The defendant was also charged with causing the man's death by dangerous driving and was found guilty by a jury. He was handed an 18-month sentence in total.

n A procession of Rolls Royces, Bentleys and Daimlers rode into Weston.

%image(14258598, type="article-full", alt="Head of Milton Junior School Mr. P.R. Townsend pictured with pupils as they set off for their Week's holiday - a coach tour of Cornwall. Picture: WESTON MERCURY")

In total, 125 vintage and veteran vehicles and motorcycles stopped for a breather during the sixth South West coast run, organised by the Bristol section of the Vintage Motorcycle Club.

The 60-mile route took the band of cars through Portishead and Clevedon before finishing at Ashton Court.

%image(14258599, type="article-full", alt="Ads 16th May 1969 Edition. Picture: WESTON MERCURY")

%image(14258600, type="article-full", alt="Front Page 16th May 1969 Edition. Picture: WESTON MERCURY")