100 years ago

In a little humble cottage off Walmgate there resided a couple of whom the citizens of York should, it was stated, feel immensely proud and who furnished a bright example to the whole country.

They were modest and retiring people, born and bred in the city who, often against the forces of hardship and privation, had brought up and devoted to the service of their King and country no fewer than ten sons, a record for York and in all probability for the county as well.

These soldiers, all of whom were engaged in the great task before the nation had one sister, and even she, so far as opportunity lay, desired to follow in their wake, for her paramount desire was to become a Red Cross nurse.

50 years ago

Panda crossings were to be scrapped and replaced by a new “flashing men” system.

The new crossings, which would show the figures of men to pedestrians and almost conventional lights to motorists, would go on 90 sites all over the country.

But Transport Minister, Mr Ernest Marples was keeping the sites secret until they went into operation early the following year. Mounted on the signal pole and facing the pedestrian who wished to cross the road would be two shaded lights, one showing, when lit, the silhouette figure of a red standing man, the other a green walking man.

25 years ago

The Queen had made a surprise £5,000 donation towards restoration work at Knaresborough Castle.

The money had been given by the Queen as head of the Duchy of Lancaster estate, which owned the castle.

It would go towards an estimated £20,000 upgrading programme on the castle’s rare sallyport, which was due to get under way on October 1. The sallyport was a tunnel extending from the outer wall of the castle into the moat.