November

Richard France, the managing director of Oakgate, the developer behind the scheme, said the news represented a “massive vote of confidence” in York.

Jack Martindale, the student whose skull had been shattered in a car crash which killed his two friends, returned to his studies at the University of York.

Surgeon Simon Holmes had had to rebuild the 22- year-old’s skull, which had been broken into 30 pieces. “He did an amazing job,” a remarkably chipper Jack said on his return to university.

“He described it as like building a Meccano starfish.”

Dozens of motorists found themselves locked out of their cars after filling up with petrol at Tesco in Clifton Moor. The mystery later proved to be caused by a system which allowed disabled drivers to remotely contact the kiosk for assistance using a special fob. This had jammed and was blocking the frequencies used for central locking.

Brian Cox was sentenced to life in prison for murdering York father-offive Mark Webb. Cox, 29, apologised from the dock at York Crown Court as he was sentenced, but relatives of Mr Webb shouted abuse from the public gallery.

Meanwhile former postmaster Robin Garbutt, who earlier in the year had been sentenced to a minimum of 20 years for murdering his wife Diana, lodged an appeal against his conviction.

Robert Turnbull, the 19-year-old boyfriend of teenager Natalia Wiley, was jailed for five-and-a-half years for causing her death by speeding along the A170 near Pickering.

Natalia’s family issued a moving statement after the court hearing. “The fact is, speed kills,” it said. “So if you want to do something in the memory of a beautiful, happy, caring young woman, please drive carefully and stick within the speed limits.”

Cheap drink promotions were blamed for a 1,050 per cent rise in crime and disorder associated with The Gallery nightclub in York.

And in one of the saddest developments of the year, 26- year-old Holly Mills finally lost her fight for life. Holly, from Thornton-le- Dale, had suffered from CJD since 2003. She had been looked after in the family home by her parents Peter and Linda. “She passed away in her sleep, which is one comfort,” Peter said.

After Sir Jimmy Savile’s death, his coffin was encased in concrete as a “security measure” after the DJ and entertainer was laid to rest in a North Yorkshire cemetery.

The move followed media speculation about items placed in the grave at Woodlands cemetery in Scarborough. Funeral director Robert Morphet said: “He was wearing his medal that he got from the Marines, his cigars and his beret.”

Fears of a new recession deepened as the crisis in the Eurozone continued and the G20 summit ended with no solution in sight. And as the month came to an end, the promised ‘winter of discontent’ over plans to reform public sector pensions became reality. Nationally, up to two million workers went on strike during a ‘day of action’ on November 30.

In York, 27 schools closed, and hundreds of public-sector workers took part in a good-natured march from Clifford’s Tower to York Minster.

At the end of the month former Leeds United star, Gary Speed, was discovered hanged in his Cheshire home. Speed’s death came as a complete shock and triggered a huge outpouring of public sympathy