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

50 Years Ago The local Auxiliary Fire Service had started a recruiting campaign in Southampton with a free film show at brigade headquarters in St Mary's Road.

More than 300 London people joined a railway excursion to Southamp-ton to see the liners.

40 Years Ago Speculation was growing in Southampton that, when the liners Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mary were withdrawn from service, Cunard would build two 75,000-ton vessels with a top speed of 30 knots each.

Cunard said it would keep the weekly Southampton- New York service.

30 Years Ago Damage totalling £1 million was caused when fire broke out on board an Iranian destroyer, built by Vosper Thornycroft in Woolston, at Southampton Docks. More than 50 firemen fought the fire which badly damaged the vessel being prepared for sea trials.

20 Years Ago A nationwide industrial dispute resulted in no copies of the Daily Echo being available to readers in Hampshire.

Internationally, representatives from more than 100 countries, including the Duke of Edinburgh, attended the funeral of Yugo-slavia's President Tito.

10 Years Ago Southampton branches of the Mothers' Union, in Woolston, Weston and Peartree, all celebrated its centenary with a special tea party.

British Rail launched a new customer service campaign and promised safer, cleaner, neater stations for passengers.

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