100 years ago

AT the York City Police Court, John Dillon, 38, of 18, Long Close Lane, York, labourer, was charged with being in unlawful possession of a pair of boots, the property of the Secretary of State for War.

Sergeant A Bradley said that on Friday night he had been called into Mr Sharp’s pawnshop where the defendant had endeavoured to pledge the boots produced.

When questioned he said a man who came from Leeds but whom he did not know, asked him to pawn the boots for him. The defendant was taken to the police station.

Superintendent Woolnough said the boots were similar to those served out to the Expeditionary Force. He understood they cost the Government about 16s. On the application of the police a remand was ordered until Monday.
 

50 years ago

IT would clearly be right for Britain to join the Common Market when the opportunity occurred.

Mr Duncan Sandys, Opposition spokesman for Commonwealth and Colonies, said, and added that we should co-operate in developing closer political relations between the people of Western Europe.

Addressing a conference of Greater London Area Young Conservatives at Clacton, he said this would increase our prosperity, give us the economic strength to sustain our worldwide responsibilities, help to consolidate the Atlantic Alliance and make Britain a more useful member of the Commonwealth.

Mr Sandys continued, “In view of the circumstances in which the negotiations broke down in 1963, it is no good trying to reopen them until there is good reason to believe they will succeed. In the meantime, there is much to be done to prepare the way.”
 

25 years ago

A RADICAL plan to tackle Britain’s skills crisis was unveiled in York.

The National Curriculum Council, based in the city, called for all students aged 16 to 19 to learn six key skills – communication, problem solving, personal skills, numeracy, information technology and modern language competence.

Council chairman Duncan Graham, claimed that the gulf between education and training was still too wide and must be narrowed. He called for collaboration between all organisations involved in the education of post-16 students.

“There is a skills crisis in the UK which will cost Britain dear now and into the next century if it is not resolved,” he said. “While the gulf between education and training is narrowing, it is still too wide.

The lack of continuity leads to far too many youngsters leaving full-time education at the age of 16 and 17.” He said there was too rigid a division between academic and vocational qualifications.