100 years ago AN abnormally acute sense of hearing was attributed to Major A Fair, of the Northampton Regiment, whose death had occurred at Teddington.

The gallant officer, it was reported, had claimed on several occasions to be able to detect, while at home, the rumbling of heavy artillery across the Channel, and in every instance it transpired that big battles had been in progress at the time.

When Antwerp was being violently bombarded Major Fair had been emphatic in declaring that he could hear guns, and subsequently it was found that his belief was borne out by the facts to the very hour. Major Adorn had previously claimed that when at Southall years before he had heard the guns firing at Spithead as Queen Victoria crossed from the Isle of Wight.

 

50 years ago

MRS Queenie Martin had to go without her morning cup of tea today, because for the eighth time in a few months, someone had stolen milk from her doorstep. “If they can’t pay the nine-pence for the milk, I’ll gladly invite them inside for dinner,” said Mrs Martin, who lived at 50 Garfield Terrace, York.

She had moved to the house just over a year before after her husband died, and ever since she had been plagued by the “whippa pinta” thief. “I’m getting fed up with it,” she said. “I even changed to another dairy, but they still seem to like my milk. They just seem to pick on me.”

So Mrs Martin had issued the “come inside and have a meal” invitation. And there would be a cup of tea afterwards – providing the milk wasn’t stolen again.

 

25 years ago

THE new royal baby had brought delight to rainy York. The city celebrated the birth of a second daughter to the Duke and Duchess of York, with messages of good wishes, loyal toasts and a special quarter-peal on the bells of York Minster.

A bouquet of white roses, the symbol of Yorkshire, was despatched to the Duchess’s bedside, on behalf of the city, by the Lord Mayor, Councillor Jack Archer. News of the birth had brought cheers in pubs and clubs in York. The Duchess gave birth to a 7lb 1oz daughter by caesarean section with her husband at her side.

She was the Yorks’ second girl and sixth in line to the throne, after her sister Beatrice. Both mother and baby were said to be doing well, despite the caesarean birth which was performed because the baby was in a breech position. The Duke was present at the birth after making a 200-mile dash from his navy base at Devonport, Plymouth.