KEITH HAMILTON looks through past editions of the Echo and reviews the issues which made the headlines

50 Years Ago Nearly all the Saints professional players took to the pitch for a special pre-season football match at the Dell. Those taking part included Kelly, Ellerington, Kirkman, Curtis, Webber, Mallett, Day, Bates, Wayman, Stevenson, Jones and Stansbridge.

40 Years Ago The departure from Southampton of the Queen Mary was still delayed by unofficial strike action by some members of her crew, throwing passengers' plans into chaos.

Cunard said it would lose around £400,000 in passenger fares because of the delayed voyage.

30 Years Ago Crowds lined Southampton waterfront as a 120-strong civic procession went to the Mayflower memorial for a commemoration ceremony of the Pilgrim Fathers' voyage 350 years earlier.

The event included a display by the Army Air Corps.

20 Years Ago A blockade by protesting French fishermen off the Normandy port of Le Havre forced the Southampton cross-Channel ferry Leopard to remain in the city's docks.

Staff at Winchester jail talked down to safety a prisoner who threatened to throw himself off the roof.

10 Years Ago Many families across the South were anxiously watching the news as Britain's military task force headed for the Gulf crisis.

Soldiers, sailors and airman from the region played a vital role in the force sent to the Middle East.

Converted for the new archive on 25 January 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.