That was life in 1932 ... the day before Budget Day and two days after Bristol played a dull goalless draw against Stoke. 'The fourteenth game played by the City this season in which the Bristol club failed to score yet the vagaries of professional football are such that the players got a bonus of a pound apiece for their successful failing' wrote Half Back.

Mr Chamberlain looked unlikely to offer good news in the next day's Budget . . and good news was badly needed to lift spirits in the Depression. 'Taxpayers are awaiting with keen anticipation tomorrow's Budget, and various sections are hoping for some alleviation of their burdens.

Many hopes, it is to be feared, however, may be dashed'. In Bristol the anticipation was keener still and no hopes were dashed when the cheers rang out in Silver Street. Day One, Bristol Evening Post No 1 and the paper looked a hit from the moment it appeared on the streets of the city.

picture left: Press time at the old Evening Post building in Silver Street, as delivery men rush to get papers on the streets of Bristol.

The crowds outside the Silver Street head-quarters who snatched the first copies the moment the newsboys ran out, the excitement at the news-stands and in the news-agents' shops when the Post first appeared and the look and feel of the paper felt right.

Everyone knew the Evening Post for what it was. It as the good old Times and Mirror with the same staff, the same layout and the same appeal.

The line under the smart new Bristol Evening Post masthead read: 'The Paper You Have So Eagerly Awaited'. It would shortly read 'The Paper All Bristol Asked For And Helped To Create', still carried in the Post 60 years later.

It might have read. Welcome Back The Paper You Always Loved. - Day One carried two pages of tributes wishing the venture well. The Lord Mayor of Bristol, John H. Inskip, put it clearly enough. ' 'Every Bristolian is greatly interested in the birth of their new evening paper, or, rather, in the revival of an old friend which we shall all welcome.'

' And the editor's first editorial column boasted: 'Being owned, directed and produced by men of the West—the vast proportion of them born and bred in Bristol we believe no one can rightly claim that he or she should be able to appreciate and share so entirely the feelings, aspirations and desires of our fellow citizens or so thoroughly supply their needs'. The Evening Post had arrived.

The Post's front page was dominated by one story - the crisis in Australia. - 'Australia's Full Reply To MCC—Unnecessary To Cancel Tour—Committee Appointed To Consider 'Body Line' Bowling Question.' The sports story of the season came as a welcome relief to the news from Europe and it gave the paper a chance to brighten up page one at an anxious time.

One much darker event than the Body Line row was foremost in most people's minds that Tuesday, and by the time the Post's first edition appeared on the streets,the paper had had time to mull over events in Germany the day before—and to give the Post's view on the rise to power of a new figure on a troubled world scene.

At the University Settlement's Venture Club for the unemployed in Barton Hill: ' 'He saw examples of their workmanship including tables and wireless cabinets,rug making, cleverly designed coloured posters and the decoration of metal trays with enamel.

' 'I like that very much' the Prince said,grasping one of the trays to give it closer inspection and at once finding his fingers adhering to the sticky surface. 'He burst into laughter and said: 'This is what happens when you touch wet paint'.' 'It is true blue, anyway' called one of the men.

'In conversation he expressed satisfaction that employment was a little better this year and remarked that Bristol had the advantage of having so many industries where as bad times were especially hard in a place where there was only one industry.'

Then to the Dings in St Philips Marsh.'A large crowd which had gathered at a convenient vantage point at the end of Dings Walk gave a rousing cheer as his car came near. 'The Prince showed evident interest in the houses and first talked to occupiers who were waiting at their front gates.'He went into Mr H.J. Jenkins' house at 7 Dings Walk and saw the living room. He told Mr Jenkins it was a nice place. The Prince was informed that the houses had baths, in reply to his queries.

'Mrs Jenkins was asked how many children she had and replied there were two who were at school. Mr Jenkins is an unemployed man.

'A visit was paid to Mr and Mrs G.H.Poole at Number 8. The Prince was told that Mr Poole's wages were £2 6s a week and he had three children and the Royal visitor inquired as to how he managed to keep going.'Mr Poole replied that he lived to the best of his ability. Mr Poole said the Prince remarked it was hard lines in the circumstances.'

Then to Knowle and the new council housing estate built as part of Bristol's slum clearance scheme. Hundreds of cheering schoolchildren lined Broad Walk.'The Prince, smoking a pipe, leaned forward in the car and waved his acknowledgement.

'With characteristic thoroughness, the Prince proceeded to inspect one of the Corporation's model houses, 4 Lurgan Walk occupied by Mr and Mrs William G. Bailey and their family of eight, the eldest of whom is 13, the youngest nine months. 'The Prince inspected every room in the house. Mr Bailey, an unemployed builder's labourer, was asked bv the Prince how long he had been out of work 'Eight months, sir' replied Mr Bailey.The Prince expressed the hope that Mr Bailey would find employment very soon.

Mrs Bailey,who was carrying her youngest child in her arms, was highly delighted by the Prince's visit . She said to an Evening Post reporter: 'The Prince soon put us at ease. He asked how I liked living in a council house and? I told him we were comfortable indeed. He then asked us how much rent we paid and I was able to tell him we paid less than when we lived in a slum district.' '

1935 Saturday December 21st - When the winter mists came down and mingled on still nights with Bristol's polluted air, it could produce the fatal recipe of fog and smog. The city's homes, rich and poor, were warmed by open coal fires which sent smoke spiralling up the thickets of chimneys above every street. The factories belched out great clouds of smoke to add to the haze. Natural mist and still weather joined this man-made cloud to create a blinding fog that was so filthy that a white handkerchief worn mask-like over the mouth to protect the lungs would be stained within minutes. And so dense could the fog become that it was common for a pedestrian to become completely disorientated even crossing his own road.

The fog came down with a vengeance the night of December 20th and 21st as Bristolians had been preparing for Christmas. The Post's dramatic front page report of a drowning, rescues and accidents began: 'The worst fog for 50 years ... the coldest night of a severe winter . . . chaos on road and rail ... the Christmas trade cut down. . .Mails late. . .a procession of injured at the hospitals. 'That is the weather story to be told today. 'An amazing succession of rescues—and one tragedy—occurred in Bristol Harbour during the night. 'Five men, lost in the fog, fell into the icy water. One, Mr J.B. Norris (19) a bus conductor of Nailsea Close, Bedminster Down, was drowned. Another man who fell in the dock at Avonmouth was rescued. 'A splash and a cry for help revealed the tragedy which befell the young bus conductor.

It is thought that after having a cup of tea, he groped through the fog towards his bus and fell over the quayside. 'Directly the alarm was given, fellow employees dashed to the quayside and made desperate efforts to locate him. 'A lifebuoy was thrown in the hope that he might be able to seize it and a life hook was used. With the help of electric torches the police succeeded in finding Morris.

Artificial respiration was tried but it was unavailing.'While taking part in the rescue Mr T.M. Harrison, a bus driver, fell over the quayside. He was rescued within minutes. He was thrown a lifebuoy and was able to grasp it.

'Mr Arthur Lifton (50) of Dongola Road, Bishopston, had an amazing escape when he fell into the harbour after leaving his car near the Cooperative Wholesale Society's premises on Broad Quay. 'He pulled up his car a very short distance from the edge and when he got out, apparently to see where he was, he fell in. 'Luckily he could swim and he managed to make his way to one of the chains hanging from the quay and he was pulled out by the ferryman and another man.

'The fourth man who fell into the harbour was Mr William Morgan (51) of St John's Lane, Bedminster. 'Mr Morgan, who is employed at Bristol Aeroplane Works at Filton,got off the Filton tram at the Tramways Centre,walked towards Prince Street and losing his bearings, found himself in the water.'Though not a good swimmer, he managed to keep afloat and shouted, with the result that someone threw him a lifebuoy, only just in time. He was rescued by the River Police who rushed to the spot in their launch and took him to the General Hospital.

'Another who fell in was Mr T. Giles of Castle Street, Trowbridge. 'He had parked his lorry and was directing another driver by Y and Z shed on Canons Marsh when he walked over the edge of the quayside wall. 'Fortunately he is a strong swimmer and was able to keep afloat. After swimming for about ten minutes he found an iron ring on the quay wall to which he clung until he was rescued.'

1936 Friday December 11th - Britain Enters New Era Of History - The Bristol Evening Post announced in a heading above the day's five-strong stack of front page headlines announcing the story of the year. King Edward had renounced his title to become, at least for the moment, plain Mr Windsor. The Duke of York would be King George VI. The British monarchy had been turned upside-down in just a few days.The Post had reported the mounting crisis over King Edward's attempts to marry Mrs Simpson and keep the throne. Now it was all over following Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin's announcement that he would move an Abdication Bill Edward was leaving for exile in France where he would rejoin his lover.

By tacit consent, the subject was not mentioned. 'Yesterday, however, opinion hardened rapidly.

'Yesterday's demand for the Evening Post recalled that memorable day in 1932 when the paper appeared on the streets of Bristol for the first time.'Yesterday's large sale of newspapers has to be set against the suspension and cancellation of national advertising due to the uncertainty of the situation.

'The only people who can reasonably be expected to have reaped a real harvest are the newsboys.' And it was the 'King has abdicated, Long live the King ... and the new Queen.' Queen Elizabeth won special praise from Bristol's ex-Mayoress Mrs C.T.Budgett when she talked to an Evening Post reporter that day. She told one of the very first tales that would become part of the legend of the woman who was to be Britain's most popular Royal of them all, the Queen Mum.'Mrs Budgett recalled the happy incident when the new King and Queen visited the Royal Show at Ashton in Bristol on July 1st and the then Duchess handed a sum of money collected in the Royal Box to an exhibitor who had had £9 10s stolen from him.

'The exhibitor was Mr Davis who had been working as a clogger for over 50 years. 'He had just been fitting the Duchess with a pair of clogs for her to walk around in the mud and she had been most charming to him when the Duchess of Beaufort told her the man had had £9 10s stolen from him. 'The Duchess immediately suggested a collection should be made for the man and asked the Duke of Beaufort to give her his hat.

He did so and she walked around the Royal box begging contributions. 'Everyone present put a note into the hat and the money was soon made up. 'The man was called to the Royal Box and the Duchess of York presented the money to him and with the most charming smile told him she hoped he would have better luck with it than he had had with the last. 'The Duchess added: 'You presented me with a beautiful pair of sandals which are very comfortable. I present you with money equal to the sum you have lost.' '

The cinema reigned supreme in Bristol in 1937 and even the city's biggest theatre,the Hippodrome on the Centre, had been converted into a sumptuous 'picture palace' for the hundreds of thousands of film fans who flocked to the beloved 'flicks' at least once a week. There were two kinds of cinema. There was the 'local', and almost every neighbourhood in Bristol could boast its own picture house with its week-long programme of the main feature film, a B movie, a newsreel screen advertising and a thrilling trailer tempting film fans to make a date for the next week's attraction.

Then there were the bigger, smarter cinemas in the centre of town.They were the ones which tended to snap up the best of the new Hollywood releases first . . .and so charged customers that little bit more for the privilege of seeing the new Clark Gable, Bette Davis or Gary Cooper movie first.

A night out at the central cinemas meant hopping on a tram or bus from the suburbs, a thrilling evening of screen entertainment and then a return journey on a bus or tram full of other pleasure seekers chatting about the entertainment they'd just seen.

The movies ruled the roost and each Saturday's Evening Post had a full page of film news, of reviews and a full, up-to-the-minute, film-by-film guide of what was on offer for the following seven days.

'On Bristol's Broadway'. On Saturday, November 6th Bristol's own Cary Grant took starring role on the film page.The Post's movie correspondent wrote: 'Bristol's film star Cary Grant is in the news.'He had intended to take a vacation at Tokyo, travelling incognito with his friend and stand-in Mel Merrihue, but the Far Eastern crisis has caused him to change his mind. 'Instead he may go to the Bahamas or to Rio de Janeiro.'Gary's current release For You Alone comes to the Regent Cinema on November 15.

In this merry musical he appears with opera star Grace Moore. 'He has been cast opposite a number of singers, including Irene Dunne, in his 23 screen productions. 'It is stated that he has been signed for another role with Katherine Hepburn in her next starring feature. Bringing Up Baby. 'Cary, who recently completed Topper and The Awful Truth, supports Miss Hepburn in Sylvia Scarlett.'

And from that day's 'On Bristol's roadway', some of the current releases to be seen in town: Bristol Hippodrome: The Show Goes On(U). 'Gracie Fields as a mill girl singer who reaches for the top.'

Empire,Triangle; On The Avenue (U).'A real treat of songs, dances, fun,romance. Dick Powell,Alice Faye,Madeleine Carroll and the Ritz Brothers.'

Embassy: Prince And The Pauper (A).'Fate made one lad a king and the other a beggar. Erroll Flynn, Claude Rains . . .spectacular.'

Stoll, Bedminster: Platinum Blondell (U).'The star the world mourned in the role that made her famous. Jean Harlow and Loretta Young.'

Ambassador, Winterstoke Road: Gold Diggers Of 1937 (U). 'Dick Powell, Joan Blondell and Glenda Farrell in a bright musical show with romance and fun.'

Carlton, Westbury: A Day At The Races(U). 'The Marx Brothers in one of their funniest comedies.'

Daredevil Albert - His pals called him Dare because of his recklessness . . . and 17-year-old Albert Gourd lived up to his reputation in a spectacular manner in the skies over Bristol that night. The teenager chose a clear summer's evening to scramble out of a plane flying over Bristol and free-fall and then parachute his way down to a bumpy landing on a Clifton roof-top watched by tens of thousands of anxious onlookers below.'' I put my feet on the cockpit and sat on the back for a minute to get used to the feel of the air.

The plane, about 4,000 feet up,was travelling at between 120 and 160 miles an hour and the rush of air was terrific. ''Then I went over the port side head first. The rush of the propeller carried me down and behind the tail of the machine.' 'When I had fallen to about 1,500 feet I could see people running about in all directions shouting and wondering where I was coming down. I would have liked to have come down in the Centre if it had not been for the live wires.'

'That is part of a remarkable story told to the Evening Post - Today by Albert Gourd, 17, of Easton Road, Bristol who thousands of people saw leap from an aeroplane whilst it was flying high over the Avon Gorge at about 8 o'clock last night.

'At first they could only identify what looked like a black object falling from the machine. 'It dropped sheer for some hundreds of feet, then a parachute opened and they saw suspended from it a man.'In the strong breeze he was carried quickly over the city.'Motorists dashing after in pursuit saw him dropping towards the university.'Suddenly he seemed to swoop down-wards and was lost to sight.

People in Park Row saw him descending rapidly. He skimmed the roofs and landed between two houses in Woodland Road.'Rushing to the spot, they found the parachute entangled in the chimney stack of No 86 and the parachutist hanging by the ropes down the side of the house.' The daredevil was rescued by a man who found a builder's ladder, climbed up and unhitched the teenager from his 'chute.

The 17-year-old calmly climbed down the ladder, nodded to the astonished onlookers . . . and lit up a cigarette before leaving. The Post was quickly on to the story and tracked him down, discovering that young Gourd worked in the building trade and was, in his spare time, serving with the Reserves in 501 Bombing Squadron based at Filton. That was how he'd managed to get airborne.

The lad told the Post's man:' 'I was flying in a Hawker Hart piloted by Flying Officer Rayner and occupying the air gunner's seat.' 'There was nothing the matter with the aeroplane when I jumped. I did it for bravado and a ten bob bet. The pilot did not know anything about it, you bet! ''I was not scared you silly bugger I never get scared of anything. I have not been scared about anything that I can remember except having two teeth cut. My nickname is Dare because I am usually ready to dare anything. I have been in hospital several times as a result of escapades.''

Bristol and the blackout - It was the first full day of the war following Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain's radio announcement that black Sunday. Theatres closed, cinemas were shut, motorists were warned once again that their headlights must be dimmed to the lowest light possible. The drama company due to stage the play The Corn Is Green at the Prince's theatre in Park Row, arrived in Bristol the night before and then left for London.

'At the Bristol Hippodrome, the scenery for the new musical show / Can Take It arrived at the end of last week. The company, including the stars Jessie Matthews and Sonnie Hale, have not left London, although the scenic staff were in possession of the theatre at the weekend.'Patrons who booked seats for the showing advance are asked to note that the money will be refunded to them as soon as sanction for the repayment has been obtained from head office.' And the blackout came . . . and stayed.

'Although there was some improvement in the 'blackout' in Bristol last night, the Chief Constable, Mr C.G. Maby, emphasises that it is still very far from satisfactory and much more attention to windows is necessary in order to comply with the regulations which are being strictly enforced.

''We have found,' said the Chief Constable in a statement today, 'that many people seem to think that the same care is not needed with regard to their rear windows as with those facing the highway. ' 'That is an entirely wrong idea. It is important, in their own and the general public interest, that ALL lights should be effectively screened, whether at the back,front or side.

' 'We have found, too, that there is a certain laxity in the screening of lights at public houses. Some are adopting measures which are not sufficiently effective.''People should also remember that when they open their doors rays of light must not be allowed out.'

'An Evening Post reporter's impression of the black-out last night was that road-users were much at fault, particularly on the highways outside the city. Some were using un-obscured sidelights, some fog lamps and some even beam lights without any screening. Many cyclists were seen without shielding on their lamps and some motor-cyclists with lamps as strong as car's beams were particular offenders.'As was to be expected, there were crashes, but mostly with damage limited to the cars involved. In one, just beyond Redhill, three cars were involved.

'One motorist halted to look for a side turning; another overtaking failed to see the stationary car in time, struck it a glancing blow and went across the road to the verge on the offside and a third car following behind swerved but had a sideways bump, and finished up side by side with the other on the bank. 'Fortunately there were no personal injuries.'The white centre line is proving a real boon.'

'Herr Hitler, who leads the strongest party in the Reich stag and obtained nearly one third of over 35,000,000 votes in the last election, now has the opportunity to demonstrate that he can be something more than an agitator and orator.

He has a chance to show he is at least a Mussolini.'Foreign states, and particularly France, will watch the sequel with some anxiety. Though France appears to have accepted the appointment of Hitler as Chancellor with calmness, Paris was taken by surprise by the suddenness of the happening and already there is a feeling that more difficulties can be expected in Franco-German relations.

'Yet there is reason in the French view that now Hitler is in power his hectic demands for all kinds of reform in foreign affairs will be kept under control by Von Papen and others in the Cabinet. 'The results of his Chancellorship can alone show whether Hitler is a constructive power or is merely a man of sound and fury.

'The communists have already declared war on him and the first 24 hours of his 'reign' did not close before there had been fatal clashes between the communists and his troops. It is obvious that whatever emerges, quiet days for Germany are not just yet.'

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