100 years ago

AT the fortnightly meeting of the Norton Rural District Council the Medical Officer, Dr Shaw, reported that there had been a case of diphtheria at Menethorpe.

He had visited the place and carried out an inspection. He found that the child had been attending Huttons Ambo School, and upon visiting there he discovered that there had been 13 other cases of suspected diphtheria.

These had been sent to their homes. He considered that the outbreak was due to some very insanitary and defective houses and these would have to be attended to.

The Sanitary Inspector reported having inspected 71 cottages, and had found that of these 36 were defective from various causes.

Two cases of overcrowding were reported. In one case there were two adults and six children occupying two bedrooms, while in the other there were two adults and seven children, the ages of the children in each case ranging from 12 downwards. Notices had been served.


50 years ago

THE temperature at Scarborough had reached about 63F by midday, and there was some cloud. The North Bay pool was open for the first time this season.

Visitors were sea-bathing and sun-bathing and pleasure boats were out on a calm sea. Traffic was heavy and parking places were at a premium.

Local traders said beach equipment was in great demand, the teenagers buying up anything to do with the Beatles.

Shortly before noon there had been a queue of vehicles at Malton a mile-and-a-quarter long. There were rumours and reports that “Mods” and “Rockers” were likely to invade seaside resorts. Extra police were on duty on approach roads to watch for any build-up in “Mods” and “Rockers” traffic.


25 years ago

STRICT new Common Market health warnings on cigarette packets had been agreed by EC governments despite fierce opposition from Britain.

Health Secretary Kenneth Clarke was outvoted 11-1 at talks in Brussels which agreed precise details on all warnings and tar and nicotine content messages in a bid to discourage smoking.

Mr Clarke told the talks that such legislation was outside Community competence and launched a lengthy tirade against the weight of rules cascading from the Brussels Commission. But after three hours Greece, the only other member state opposed to the new regulation, gave in and joined the majority in forcing the tobacco industry to give smokers strict warnings of their possible fate.

The new legislation was specific. From 1993 all European cigarette packs would carry the agreed health warnings and indications of tar and nicotine yields. The compulsory general warning, to be carried on the front of the pack, was “Tobacco seriously damages health”.