EVEN today, there is something exhilarating about hot air balloons.

Perhaps it is the idea of being suspended beneath a bag of hot air as you float in a wicker basket peering down at the world far below; or maybe - for those of us who remain earthbound - it is simply the roar of burners on a quiet summer's evening as balloons drift over the city.

If they can still retain some of their magic today, imagine how they must have drawn crowds 100 years or more ago.

Balloon ascents were a regular feature of the York Gala, which was held at Bootham Field without a break for 60 years from 1859 onwards.

We have published several photos of balloons at the gala over the years - but never, as far as we know, the one above.

It comes from reader Bryan Thornton's wonderful postcard collection, and is captioned simply 'Grand Yorkshire Gala'.

There is no date - but judging by the clothes (including the small boy in what looks like a sailor's costume in the foreground) we'd say it was taken in the Edwardian period, so early 1900s. We particularly love the giant helter skelter (or 'Alpine Glassade', as it calls itself) in the background.

We have several more photographs taken from Mr Thornton's postcard collection to kick off this week's Yesterday Once More.

York Press:

One shows the York Postal Band in the 1950s. There is no more information - so we'd be interested to hear from anyone who knows anything about the band.

Two more photos from the 1950s show York Criers at the 1951 York Festival and, from June 1953, children at a Queen’s coronation street party in Sutherland Street.

York Press:
The York Criers, York Festival in 1951

York Press:
The winners of the fancy dress competition at the Sutherland Street coronation celebration in June 1953 

Another street party off Scarcroft Road is captured, there is no date on this one but – judging by the clothes again – we’d guess it was perhaps one of the many street parties held in York in 1919 to celebrate the end of the First World War the year before.

York Press:
A street party off Scarcroft Road, in York, but what was the occasion?

If that is the case, however, who was the prince referred in the banner reading God Bless The Prince?

We particularly like the cheeky, flirty expression on the faces of the two young women standing with their arms akimbo in the front left of the picture – and the young man on the right of the photo dressed as Charlie Chaplin, tiny moustache and all.