Less than 40 per cent of Tenby’s 3,435 electors went to the polls in the municipal election - the lowest vote in living memory. At the last election in 1966, the percentage vote was nearly 58. In 1964, it was 65 per cent. It has been far higher even than that.

“The town has spoken once again - at least 40 per cent of it has spoken,” said the Mayor, Clr. W. Chris Jones, after the returning officer, Ald. H. G. Hart, had declared him top of the poll with 934 votes (out of the 1,350 valid votes cast). It was his third election success.

The sometimes controversial, always colourful Clr. W. S. John, who polled 70 votes less than the Mayor, declared: “I can only say this is probably only the town whispering.”

The actual counting of the votes look less than an hour, but it was nearing 10 o’clock when the returning officer appeared at the entrance door of the Guildhall to announce the result from the steps. This was a new departure - for some years, the result had been declared from a window on the first floor.

The result of the poll was received quietly. Some of the crowd moved off before the candidates were able to make their traditional speeches of thanks, which were one of the ordeals of a tiring day, particularly for a defeated candidate.

Hotelier Clr. Gilroy Phillips was third with 690 votes. The new member, replacing Mr. Tom Hughes, who did not seek re-election, was Mr. Denzil Griffiths, one of Tenby’s younger characters, successful at his first election. Sporting a light blue blazer, Denzil, well-known to holidaymakers as the Katafloat King and to rugby crowds as Tenby’s tracksuited touchjudge, received 427 votes.

Only 23 votes behind him was the youngest candidate in the field, 22-year-old Mr. Michael Williams. Mr. Williams, who wore a Plaid Cymru tie, was the nationalist party’s local secretary, although he contested his first election as an independent.

At the foot of the poll was another young candidate, Mr. James Titterton with 348 votes.

In other news, the Welsh Office issued a 75 per cent grant in respect of the scheme to place a footbridge alongside the Serpentine Road bridge at Tenby. The total cost of the scheme was £3,200.

Tony Morris, the Narberth middleweight, was selected to box for Wales against the West of England.

Plans to develop Tenby’s old Greenhill Grammar School into a more modern youth centre would open up a new chapter for the town of Tenby and the young people of the surrounding area. Mr. C. Davies, Pembrokeshire’s further education and youth services officer, told members of Tenby Rotary Club when he addressed them.

Tenby’s second Civic Week was to provide a full programme of events embracing sport, exhibitions, drama, variety and social functions.

Showing at the South Beach: Barbara Parkins, Patty Duke, Susan Hayward in Valley of the Dolls.