100 years ago

The “Echo de Paris” said: “During the last few days some German prisoners have met all questions which have been put to them with an obstinate silence, only replying that they would not break their oaths.

There is no doubt that a new order has been given to German soldiers and that their officers make them swear to say nothing if they fall into the hands of the enemy.

The precaution is, however, vain, as many of the prisoners speak as freely as ever without any pressure whatever, declaring they have had enough of it, that their officers send them to slaughter and that their families are suffering from hunger.

Even those who were most immovable when first questioned became quite communicative when they are away from their officers and find themselves well treated by us.”
 

50 years ago

John Barry, Britain’s brilliant young composer-conductor, had earned his first Gold Disc. And he had done it with the music he wrote for the James Bond film, Goldfinger.

The musical Midas-touch that Barry gave to the Bond epic had meant a 1m dollars-plus sale in the United States for his LP album of music from the film.

This achievement — more out¬standing for an LP album than was normally appreciated — had also brought further recognition for the young man who had become an international name in the music world since he set out from York on a show business career back in 1958.

His Goldfinger score had earned John Barry a nomination for a “Grammy” award — American discland's equivalent of the film industry's “Oscar”.
 

25 years ago

Work was due to start this summer on a 10-year restoration programme for York’s medieval city walls.

Large sections of the walls, a popular attraction for tourists and residents alike, had been shown by a survey to be crumbling under the pounding of thousands of visitors’ feet.

Walmgate Bar, one of the four main gateways into the city and the only one with its original barbican intact, would be one of the first targets for urgent repair work.

A wall section between Fishergate and Walmgate, found to be in poor condition, was due for remedial work in May.

York City Council, which had received a major report on the fabric of the 13th century defences, had set aside £120,000 to start the ball rolling and cover first-year costs of a proposed 10-year plan.

Financial help was being sought from English Heritage, which provided money from central funds towards maintenance of ancient monuments and buildings.

The council had skilled stonemasons on its staff, some who had devoted their lives to maintaining the ancient walls.