REWIND: cats were feline newsy

In one the feline was a villain and in the other a hero.

“Sassie the cowardly pet kestrel got the fright of her life when she saw a cat,” we said.

“She flew away and landed on a nearby roof – but got mobbed by jackdaws. So the young bird disappeared and now her owner fears she could be starving to death.”

Sassie was one of two birds of prey kept by 15-year-old falconer Roger Weeks, of Old Town, who had been given the creature by another falconer after she was injured by a lorry.

The teenager was helping the bird to recover, and was teaching her to fly. His other bird was a buzzard called Nibbler.

Roger said: “If those jackdaws had mobbed Nibbler they would have ended up with its claws in their heads, but Sassie is a bit of a coward and she just fled.

“I’m hoping someone sees her and tells us where she is.”

We can find no further mention of the story in our files, so can only hope Sassie returned.

The other story involving a cat was good news – unless one happened to be a mouse in a certain museum not far from Swindon.

“Ginge the marmalade tom cat is mouse catcher supremo,” we said.

“He has very good reason to lick his lips in satisfaction… for in less than four months he has nearly annihilated the entire mouse population at the Great Barn, Avebury.

“Wiltshire Folk Life Society curator Ian Edelman began to get very concerned earlier this year when mice began nibbling at the exhibits and craft goods.

“So he appealed for a champion mouser. In return he offered free board and lodging at the barn and dinner thrown into the bargain.

“Ginge fitted the bill a treat. Farm bred and born, he knew a mouse or two and wasted no time in setting into the problem.”

Cat-related stories weren’t the only ones which came in twos that week.

Both of Swindon’s major leisure centres, one of which hadn’t even been built yet, were causing concern.

A large patch of land in West Swindon where the Link Centre would begin to rise a couple of years later stood empty, and there were fears it would remain that way.

“A multi-million pound sports and social complex planned for Swindon’s westward expansion area may be axed,” we said.

“Total cost of the complex, one of the most ambitious undertaken by Thamesdown Council, was expected to be more than £5m.”

However comments by Environment Secretary Michael Heseltine threw the future of the project into doubt.

We added: “In effect, Mr Heseltine told councils to cut spending.

“If they do not, they will get less money from the Government.”

The Oasis, which had opened five years earlier, was very much in business but concerns were raised about safety that week 36 years ago:

“Children at Swindon’s Oasis pool are at peril because of its luxury facilities.

Forty-four rescues were made during the August holiday period – compared with none at Milton Road Baths.

“Most were for children using the glassfibre fun chute in the 6ft deep end.”

Admin manager Reg Scarth said: ‘Despite warning notices children who are not competent swimmers go down the slide and get out of their depth and then panic.’

“He praised his lifeguards, who had to be particularly alert because of the design and facilities of the family fun pool, and the numbers attending.”

There was a lighter mood at a leisure venue of a different kind.

Miss Thamesdown 1981, Angela Brooker, was invited the official opening of new Swindon nightclub Solitaire at what is now Level Three, in Commercial Road.

She was joined on stage for the ceremonial champagne cork popping by Lesley Sears, wife of proprietor Dave Sears.

Over the ensuing years the club would host numerous major acts of the era including The Sisters Of Mercy and Hanoi Rocks.

With Christmas only about a fifth of a year away, it was high time for businesses to begin laying claim to people’s festive cash.

Leading the charge was Zodiac Toys, which occupied the Canal Walk shop which is currently home to phone shop EE.

The firm took a full-page advert full of names to delight the nostalgic toy fans of today.

“Save pounds on your Christmas toy bill,” said the blurb next to a picture of classic family nose-lighting human dissection game Operation, which was priced at £4.99.

The shop also had Ker-Plunk at £3.45, Mouse Trap at £5.25, Buck-a-roo at £3.25 and Connect 4 at

£3.99.

Higher-tech toys were becoming prominent, and Zodiac’s selection included Electronic Intercept – a battery-powered search-and-destroy game – at £9.99 and Computer Battleship at £23.99.

Lucky children whose parents had very deep pockets could ask for Tin Can Alley, an electronic shooting game, which came in at an eye-watering £43.99.