1975 THIS WAS THE WEEK THAT... In the first of a new series, we look at the events that made headlines this week in:.

Byline: ANDREW MELVIN

SQUATTERS had moved into 24 homes in Cardiff which South Glamorgan County Council wanted to sell cheaply to people on the housing waiting list.

The council was going to court to evict the illegal occupiers from the homes at Hook Road, which were due to go on the market at prices ranging from pounds 1,000 to pounds 12,000.

Emily and Peter Rattray in Pontypridd were preparing for a hectic Christmas - they had 15 children on their presents list.

Mrs Rattray had had 21 children, but six had died, and now there were 12 living at home along with three grandchildren.

Cash aid of more than pounds 18m had been offered by the Government to Welsh industry in less than a year, it was revealed.

The money had been used to save some firms from total collapse and preserve jobs, and in other cases to fund development projects that would create new posts.

Three South Wales rail unions were to join forces to "fight to the bitter end" the Government's proposed massive cuts.

Cardiff student Alan Clee, 19, was recovering in hospital after surviving a 600ft plunge from an isolated ridge in Snowdonia.

He was part of a 15-strong party from Uwist's mountaineering club when he slipped over the edge, suffering a broken leg and shoulder injuries.

Women described as gipsies fought with police and security men to stop their caravans being towed from council-owned land off Adelaide Street in Cardiff Docks.

Four caravans had been moved off 10 days earlier, but the women broke down a barricade and brought them back.

The new Bishop-elect of Llandaff, the Right Rev John Richard Poole-Hughes, criticised the Church for being too concerned with cash and protecting itself from inflation than Christianity.

Residents, industrialists, councillors and others were concerned about proposals to bring the M4 to Cardiff.

They were angry that Cardiff and Barry would have only 1 1/2 interchanges serving 400,000 people.

The county council's current plan involved a full or part interchange at Pentwyn with a link to Eastern Avenue, a full interchange at Capel Llanilltern with a link to Culverhouse Cross, and a full interchange at Thornhill, straddling the A469.

But only one of the junctions, and an entrance to the M4 at Castleton, were possible because the others had been rejected by the Welsh Office, leading local people to forecast traffic chaos.

Vandals left Cardiff ratepayers with an pounds 80 bill when they smashed a Llanrumney bus shelter just three weeks after it was painted and repaired.

Council inspector George Davies said the vandalism was being repeated all over the city.

He said other favourite targets Free car parking for workers in Cardiff was about to end.

In a blitz on commuters, the council said it was removing 3,000 spaces from motorists who parked for free all day.

Instead, in many city centre streets they would only be able to park for one hour in two or two hours in four.

Bus lanes and park-and-ride schemes would also be introduced as part of the effort to persuade people to use the capital's buses and trains.

were yellow litter bins attached to lampposts, with at least 50 to 60 being set alight each week.

University College, Cardiff, warned that students who failed to pay rents owed to the college would not get their degrees. The message came as 900 of the 1,500 in halls of residence planned a rent strike in protest against high charges.

An appeal was launched to replace the pounds 400 Christmas savings stolen from a pensioners' centre in Cardiff.

The money had been collected throughout the year by 300 people who used the Ely day centre.

They saved 3p a week to be given out at their Christmas lunch, but it was stolen from an office filing cabinet the day after it was brought from the bank.

Between 15,000 and 17,000 steel jobs faced the axe. Shocked unions said the posts were at risk at plants and offices across South Wales if the British Steel Corporation was allowed to go ahead with plans to save pounds 170m in the next financial year.

Iron bars and wooden stakes were among the "fearsome weapons"

seized by police who broke up a "terrifying" fight between two gangs in Cardiff's Queen Street. Six youths were sentenced for their part in the violence, which police said was part of a growing gang culture.

YOUR PART IN HISTORY WERE you involved in any of the events described here, or do you remember anything about them?

We'd love to hear your memories of this week in 1958. Please drop us a line by writing to Andrew Melvin, South Wales Echo, Six Park Street, CF10 1XR, or e-mail [e-mail]