100 years ago

Henry Rhodes Brown, Lord Mayor, wrote: “In consequence of military requirements, nearly half of the elementary school children of York are excluded from their schools for an indefinite period.

"It will be universally agreed that at such a time as this is the children should not be left to roam the streets, but should be enabled to continue their education elsewhere, and indeed the Board of Education has already, by circular, directed that in all such cases temporary accommodation should be found.

"I am very glad, therefore, to hear that the Education Committee have a scheme already in preparation. I appeal with confidence in this national emergency to all owners and managers of Sunday schools, adult schools, and other suitable buildings, to assist in every way possible.”


50 years ago

Beatlemania had been very much in evidence at Scarborough when The Beatles had appeared for one night at the seafront Futurist Theatre.

Outside the theatre entrance about 5,000 screaming excited young people waited for the arrival of the famous quartet.

Twenty policemen and specials controlled the crowds and traffic. The group played to two full houses. At the end, police cordoned off Bland’s Cliff, behind the theatre, and the group made a quick getaway by car.


25 years ago

British Rail was to spend £500 million on high-speed trains which would link North Yorkshire to the European network.

The trains would travel at up to 180mph and be able to carry 800 people from York to Paris in just five and a quarter hours.

The first services would start as soon as the Channel Tunnel opened in 1993. Although full details would not be revealed until the end of the year, a British Rail spokesman confirmed that trains would use the existing East Coast main line.