100 years ago

An advertisement suggested: “Have Your Umbrella Kendall-Covered”. “Every new cover Kendall’s put on an old umbrella is an effort to win a constant customer.

Just as much care is taken in executing repairs as is exercised in making a new Kendall, and no umbrella - new or otherwise - leaves a Kendall shop that is not worthy to uphold the reputation of the house. Your old umbrella will look like new after we have done with it. Kendall’s have been making and repairing umbrellas for 50 years and today they are the largest manufacturers dealing direct with the public.

They buy materials in enormous quantities, therefore at reduced prices, of which you get the benefit. Kendall Umbrellas, 7 Blake Street (opposite garage) and Coney Street (opposite Black Swan Hotel). All silk umbrellas 15/6, “Eclipse” small folding, 10/6 for Ladies and Gents. Umbrellas covered from 1/6 to 17/6. Repairs of all kinds. Send card for the “K” Illustrated Catalogue and Price List.”

 

50 years ago

The sale of Aintree racecourse, home of the Grand National since 1839, to property developers for a housing estate had been stopped by Mr Justice Stamp in the High Court in London. The judge had granted an injunction to the Earl of Sefton to stop Mrs Mirabel Topham’s company carrying into effect the £900,000 sale agreement with Capital and Counties Property Ltd.

Immediately after he had given his reserved judgement, eminent personalities in the racing world were talking of plans to improve the course and keep the “National” there. The judge ruled that the proposed sale must not take place because it would be in breach of a restrictive covenant on the land.

He said that Tophams had failed to satisfy him that racing could not profitably be carried on at Aintree, or that some persons or body could not be found to use it for the purpose of horse racing.

 

25 years ago

More students than ever before were competing for places at the University of York. The University had just come out seventh in a survey of the country’s 55 universities. Applications for 1989 were up 23.8 per cent on the previous year, and the trend for the next academic year seemed to be the same.

The poll indicated that northern universities were winning favour over those in the south, mainly because of differences in accommodation costs. But it also showed that campus universities like York were becoming more popular with students, who were increasingly preferring green surroundings.

“This survey is good news for the University. It clearly shows that we are among the ten most popular universities in the country,” said Mr Simon Willis, admissions officer at the university.