1981 THIS WAS THE WEEK THAT... Time traveler Vicious attacks on lone women and a bus driver made the news 27 years ago.

Byline: ANDREW MELVIN

WOMEN pedestrians were warned to be vigilant following a spate of violent late-night attacks.

A 20-year-old student who was robbed in Roath was the fifth victim of muggers in one month.

The police warned women, especially the elderly, to realise that if they walked alone at night they were potential targets for the "despicable" muggers.

Officers issued safety tips, including: in darkness, avoid alleys and side streets, and when followed, cross the road, and if the pursuers continue, run to a house.

After widespread criticism of his leadership of the Labour Party, Michael Foot made it clear he had no intention of quitting.

Former Goon Harry Secombe was knighted by the Queen, and said: "When she smiled, I could have climbed Everest." The Welsh singer was honoured for his outstanding performance in the entertainment field and years of work for charity.

A retired teacher from Porthcawl offered to pay for the release of a South Wales mother from jail.

The teacher said she would pay so the 34-year-old, who had been sentenced to six months inside for shoplifting, could be with her children at Christmas.

However, her offer was rejected by the courts because there was no alternative fine to the jail sentence that had been handed out.

The drug "speed" was widely available in South Wales pubs and clubs and was being supplied to children.

The news came as a 32-year-old who became addicted to heroin at 14 told Echo readers about the dangers of drugs.

The cash value of a wife's housework was pounds 204 a week, a leading insurance company said.

A wife with young children might work 14 hours a day on a range of jobs including nursing and cost-budgeting, it said.

Bute Park in Cardiff would become the site of major tourist attractions including new lakes, an animal enclosure and aviary and life-size models of dinosaurs, according to a new scheme being considered by councillors.

The plan also featured barge trips along the dock feeder, a children's adventureland and a model railway.

Bus drivers went on strike following what they said was a lack of action after a driver was assaulted in Cardiff's Central Bus Station.

The victim, Kenneth Sheen, said passengers on the bus walked past him as blood poured down his face.

Cardiff magistrates heard how a wife cut the hair of a woman with scissors because she suspected her of having an affair with her husband.

Miss UK Michele Donnally saw red after a bookmaker labelled her a sulk.

She hit out after Coral rated her as second favourite to win Miss World.

The 20-year-old Cardiff secretary, who missed out on the prize, said: "What do bookmakers know about beauty contestants? All they are good for is eyeing up horses."

Two Ely gardeners appealed for MP George Thomas to help over claims their social security had been stopped for doing someone a good turn.

The prize-winning unemployed pair helped dig over a friend's garden, little knowing they were being spied on by benefits staff.

Their fortnightly payments of pounds 106 were suddenly withheld, and the couple believe it was because the DHSS wrongly thought they were paid for digging the garden and laying a lawn.

Petrol prices at scores of garages across South Wales soared by up to 10p overnight following the end of a price war at the pumps.

A huge open air mass would close Pope John Paul's visit to Wales the following June, it was confirmed. Up to 350,000 people were expected to attend.

Radioactive uranium gases leaked into the atmosphere during a fire at the Royal Ordnance Factory, Llanishen, Cardiff, which helped make nuclear weapons.

Nineteen children were taken to hospital after their school bus collided with a lorry on the A470 while they were being driven to Afon Taf High School.

BODIES RIDDLED WITH BULLETS

DRAMATIC scenes in the Middle East proved unforgettable for Echo reader Granville Davies.

Mr Davies, secretary of the South and East Wales Branch of the Canal Zoners, got in touch following our report of the fighting that broke out between Egyptians and British families in 1951.

He and his members have vivid memories of the rioting which engulfed alarge number of Britons.

The story of two families, led by a Major Wharton and Flying Officer Snelling, illustrates how violent the situation became for British residents.

The two armed men, plus their wives and children, were shopping when bullets began whistling over their heads.

As the women and youngsters ran for cover, the men realised the gunfire was coming from anearby police station. As the two officers fired back with their own weapons, they could hear maniacal laughter inside the station.

Their families managed to take cover in ahouse but the gunfire was so intense that the two men were unable to reach them.

After anight spent without their husbands, the women were greeted by aBritish patrol which broke the news that their husbands had been found riddled with bullets. Their medal ribbons had been torn off and their weapons stolen, and their bodies had been dragged down the street for propaganda pictures.

However, news of the murders was kept from local troops, in order to avoid inflaming the situation any further.

Mr Davies of Hengoed said: "Thousands of Welsh servicemen and women were part of the reinforcements drafted into the Canal Zone.

"Service families who were abroad at the time deserve recognition, especially at this time of year."

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 1981. Please drop us a line by writing to Andrew Melvin, South Wales Echo, Six Park Street, CF10 1XR, or e-mail [e-mail]

CAPTION(S):

Royalists in South Wales were clearing a space in their diaries after the announcement that Princess Diana's dress and around 150 presents from the royal wedding were to go on display in Cardiff Castle. Around 2,000 people a day were expected to visit when the memorabilia from the big day went on show in two rooms - with one room solely for the dress - in December.