Two lifeboat rocket flares signalled the arrival of Father Christmas at?Tenby harbourside. Because of difficulties in rehousing the lifeboat in the heavy swell, the distinguished visitor travelled in the Caldey Island boat Lollipop. It was a rough trip as the Lollipop, her navigation lights piecing the gloom, rounded Castle Hill in a choppy sea which caused the hundreds of children on the pierhead to express concern for the old man’s comfort. In fact, he looked a little paler than usual as he stepped ashore accompanied by an impressive civic escort. It was led by the mace bearers in their purple and black robes., The Mayor,?Clr. Harry Eastlake wore his full scarlet robes and gold chain. A leading figure of the official party was Mr.?David Phelps, president of Tenby?Chamber of Trade, who arranged Santa’s visit. Father Christmas greeted many children as he made his way across the harbourside to a waiting motorise ‘reindeer’ sleigh.

On the eve of The Commons debate on the White Paper proposals for local government reorganisation in?Wales, the Lord Lieutenant, the Hon. Hanning Philipps, of Picton Castle, announced that he had agreed to head an action committee in a last-ditch fight to preserve the independence of Pembrokeshire.

Tenby’s Mayor-designate was a 44-year-old hotelier, Clr. Gilroy Phillips.?A Cambridge MA, he had served on the borough council since 1965.

Rents of Tenby’s council houses were to be increased by 6s 9d from April.

A 50-year-old Tenby man was fined £5 by magistrates on each of two charges of stealing a bottle of milk.

Pembrokeshire schoolchildren were to get a holiday to mark the investiture of the Prince of Wales, the county education committee decided.