WE'RE going back in time to recent history today to the Weymouth Quatercentenary Celebrations in 1971.

The celebrations, in June, which saw Princess Anne visit Weymouth, marked 400 years since Weymouth and Melcombe Regis joined together.

There was a union between the two boroughs in 1571 and the borough's present coat-of-arms was granted to it on May 1 1592.

Festivities were combined with the opening of the new municipal offices in North Quay, Weymouth and HRH Princess Anne performed the opening ceremony on Tuesday, June 1, arriving by helicopter at Redlands Sports Ground and driving by way of Dorchester Road, the promenade, St. Thomas Street and the Town Bridge to North Quay.

We've been into the archives to find out more about this special occasion. The June 1 1971 edition of the Dorset Echo reports that Anne was suffering from a heavy cold that day and had to cut short the Royal visit by two hours.

She left Redlands by helicopter at 2.30pm immediately after a 200-strong civic lunch at the Pavilion ballroom.

Unfortunately she missed a special performance of Tableaux Vivants - Mismatched - Now Mated at Weymouth Pavilion and missed taking tea with students at Weymouth College.

But despite suffering with the cold, this very paper reports that the Princess appeared 'neat and trim' and was wearing a 'fitted lightweight coat in chocolate brown matched by banded trimmings in her turquoise cloche hat. Black shoes, bag and gloves completed her outfit.'

Crowds greeted Princess Anne's helicopter with a cheer, the paper reports,although 'the whirling blades cause minor havoc among the ladies in the welcoming party. Hats were smartly clutched and a few yards of retreat were covered as the wind whipped newly-mown grass.'

The Princess was greeted by the Lord Lieutenant of Dorset, Col. J. W. Weld, who introduced Mrs Weld and the Mayor of Weymouth, Mr. A.D.W. Biles.

Also presented to the Princess were the Mayoress; Weymouth town clerk Mr E. J. Jones and Mrs Jones and the Chief Constable of Dorset and Bournemouth, Mr. A.N. Hambleton. The Princess and her lady in waiting were then driven off in a car bearing the Royal Standard, passing along streets bedecked with bunting and flags.

More than 100 extra police from throughout Dorset and Bournemouth Constabulary were drafted into the town to carry out traffic and crowd control duties.

We've managed to get hold of a copy of the official programme for the celebrations which shows a Quatercentenary motif which was designed by Caroline Hazell of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, a student at Weymouth College.

Besides the Royal visit there was a lot going on to celebrate this big occasion for Weymouth. People could enjoy a Flower Festival at All Saints Church in Wyke Regis, a ladies bowls competition at Greenhill Bowls Club, an industrial and trade exhibition at the Royal Hotel, an exhibition of photographs and slides at the Arts Centre in Commercial Road, five-a-side soccer at the Marsh Playing Fields, a table tennis tournament at South Dorset Technical College and a performance of Mismatched - Now Mated at Weymouth Pavilion.

And celebrations began as far back as May 10 when Merrie England was performed at Weymouth Pavilion, by Weymouth Operatic Society, May 28 when a special edition of Any Questions was broadcast by BBC Radio 4 from the Pavilion and May 29 and 30 when a Four Hundred Mile Relay was held from Weymouth Athletics Centre in Knightsdale Road.

More recently, in 2015, Arthur Sheppard was paid tribute to after he passed away aged 95. Mr Sheppard, a former mayor of Weymouth and Portland, was one of the organisers of the quatercentenary celebrations.

*If you know of anyone who was involved in the festivities or has any memories of it, do get in touch with Looking Back the usual way.