100 years ago

A CHILD had been left on Saturday evening near the shore, at Bridlington. It was a six-month-old boy, and fully clothed.

He had been placed on the seat of one of the shelters on the sea wall. The cries of the infant had attracted the attention of some lads.

They called the attention of two ladies, who at once took charge of it. The baby was carried to the house of a member of the Board of Guardians, and the police immediately communicated with. The child was subsequently taken to the Union Workhouse, and was there well cared for.

The police had issued a description of the child, who had been dressed in clothing of fairly good quality, although much worn, mainly consisting of Japanese silk and cashmere.

During Saturday afternoon there had been trips to Bridlington from Leeds, York, and Hull. It was strongly suspected that the child had been abandoned by excursionists accompanying these trips.


50 years ago

CONSTRUCTION of a big electronic “eye” that could detect and identify orbiting satellites thousands of miles away at a “glance,” would be completed this summer and become operational about nine months later, said the United States Air Force.

The £10m radar facility, located at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, had passed its first inspection. A nine-month testing period would follow, with the full system reaching “operational completion” late this year or early in 1965.

The system scanned electronically, and its multiple receivers and transmitters made it possible to track many satellites up to heights of several thousand miles at the same time.


25 years ago

YORK was staging the RSPB’s Centenary Weekend, a celebration of the achievements of the world’s foremost voluntary bird conservation organisation.

One thousand members and supporters, from all over Britain and overseas, would assemble at the conference centre at the University of York.

Yorkshire had not always given such a warm welcome to birds and bird lovers! During Victorian times Bempton Cliffs had been the scene of some of the worst slaughter of birds ever seen in Britain.

A popular holiday sport involved the massacre of thousands of Kittiwakes, Auks, and other seabirds.

This was mainly carried out by water-born groups of gunners, who collected the shot birds and sold them to help fuel the prosperous London-based plumage trade.

Due to the efforts of local clergy, landowners and MPs, this was banned in 1869. However, egg collecting continued until 1954 when that too was outlawed. Since 1969 Bempton had been a major RSPB reserve visited by thousands each year.