100 years ago

Corporal J Read, of a signal section at the front, writing to the secretary of his Lodge of the Ancient Order of Free Gardeners, at Liverpool, said, as a Liverpool resident:

"I was deeply pained at the reproof which Lord Kitchener was under the necessity of administering to some of the workers in Liverpool around your particular district, and as one of the rank and file I would like you all to remember that a slight cessation in the transport of provisions to us out here means half rations. If the cessation be of war stores it means possible death or disaster to scores for want of particular things. I wish you people at home would realise things as we see them.

"This is no picnic. This is horror, carnage. Your men out here are keeping the shores of England undefiled; try to imagine what happens when we have to cut down the food supply of thousands of men wet, cold, and angry because they blame those people, chums of their own who can go to a warm bed after arguing about the war all evening."


50 years ago

Fairfax House, the Georgian property which York Corporation had bought next to St George's cinema, should be preserved as a show-place.

This comment was made by Mr William Lee, chairman of the council of the Yorkshire Philosophical Society, speaking at the annual meeting.

Referring to the recent acquisition of the cinema by the Corporation, Mr Lee said that he was more concerned about the future of Fairfax House, the Georgian house of considerable merit. There had been talk that the two properties were to become a concert-cum-conference hall.

If that was so Fairfax House, built in the middle of the 1700s would be an ideal place in which to entertain VIPs.

It should, he said, be retained as a showhouse, furnished with period pictures and furniture and an admission charge could be made for viewing it as was done with the Treasurer's House by the National Trust. He did not want to see "another Blossom Street," when action was taken when it was too late.


25 years ago

The lion leapt back into shops today in a patriotic blaze of red, white and blue - to help the humble egg.

After 25 years the old symbol which denoted the British egg was back. But it was only on packaging, not stamped on each egg.

Another change was that "British" would be boldly emblazoned below the red lion against a white background.

The lion's £1 million relaunch was aimed at boosting sales, still 6 per cent down on figures before the "salmonella in eggs" row erupted.