These were the stories hitting the headlines in the South Wales Guardian on April 23, 1964.

A BEAT group called Dave Dee and the Bostons – later to become Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mich and Titch – played their first gig in Britain at Ammanford's Regal Ballroom following a long stint in Germany.

Labour members of Carmarthenshire County Council were elected to all nine vacant aldermanic seats on the authority.

The enrolling member of the Mothers Union of Brynaman expressed concern that some of the members were attending bingo sessions.

A National Coal Board chief hit back at critics who had labelled the giant showpiece colliery at Abernant as "a white elephant".

The world-famous Coco the Clown opened the new Spar stores grocers shop in Ammanford's Wind Street – with 400 people people crowding through the doors in just two hours.

Guardian editor David Thomas donned overalls, boots and a helmet prior to becoming the first newspaper reporter allowed beneath the surface at Cwmgwili Colliery.

Ammanford and the surrounding areas was eagerly anticipating the visit of Sir Robert Fosset's circus and zoo featuring sea lions, elephants, clowns and Arab stallions which was due to arrive at Ammanford AFC's Rice Road headquarters in Betws.