Barley Studios, based in Dunnington, created two new handmade windows for the Lady Chapel at Westminster Abbey ahead of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee – the first commissioned for more than a decade.

The annual YO1 Micro Ale Festival got underway on the Knavesmire featuring local talents The Marzec Group and chart toppers Rudimental.

Descendents and supporters of King Richard III paraded through the streets of York demanding his burial in the city, and a lego mosaic of 50,000 bricks, created by visitors over the May half term, went on display at the National Railway Museum.

17-year-old Maryann Cunningham was crowned Miss York & District 2013 at the glittering finale held at York Racecourse, pledging to use her role to promote local charities and businesses.

The Duke of York attended the Battle of Kohima memorial service and laid a wreath in Dean’s Park, and the new Lord Mayor of York, Julie Gunnell was sworn in at the City of York Council’s annual meeting. She said she was proud to be an ambassador for probably the best city in the country.

Only 48 hours after the murder of Drummer Lee Rigby in London, 300 troops from the 2nd Signal Regiment were cheered back home following their latest tour of Afghanistan by crowds lining the streets.

Stuart Bedford, a terminally-ill resident at St Leonard’s Hospice, had his wish granted when he finally married his partner of 33 years, Michelle in a special ceremony held at the hospice.

The sun shone down on revellers during the bank holiday weekend Whippets and Wellies event at Castle Howard and choral singer Pat Adams sang on her 75th birthday with York Priory Ladies’ Choir… the same choir she had joined at the age of 15.

Firefighters spent seven hours tackling a lorry fire when it went up in flames on the A64, blocking morning traffic in both directions.

And the original Victorian roof at York Art Gallery was revealed after being concealed for more than 60 years, as the gallery prepared for its refurbishment.


In national and international news...

...Fears grew of an arms race in Syria after Russia revealed it had signed a contract to supply President Bashar Assad’s regime with sophisticated anti-aircraft missiles; former slaughterhouse worker Mark Bridger was jailed for life after being convicted of the murder of five-year-old April Jones in Wales; and Stuart Hazell also received a life sentence for the murder of 12-yearold Tia Sharp.

Three women – Amanda Berry, 27; Michelle Knight, 32 ;and Gina Dejesus, 23 – were rescued from a house in Cleveland, USA, where they had been held caprice for a decade by Ariel Castro. Castro, 52, was subsequently Castro was sentenced life in prison. He was found hanged in his prison cell in September.

A gang of men were found guilty of a catalogue of offences – including rape, trafficking and organised prostitution – against young girls in the Oxford area: they were later jailed for life. And Sir Alex Ferguson announced his retirement as manager of Manchester United, ffter winning his 13th premier league title with the club.

Drummer Lee Rigby was brutally murdered as he walked to Woolwich Barracks by Michael Adebolajo, 28, and Michael Adebowale, 22. The murder of the off-duty soldier both horrified and united the nation, as politicians, faith leaders and members of the community in southeast London came together to condemn the killing. Adebolajo and Adebowale, who claimed to be ‘soldiers of Allah’, were convicted of murder at their trial in December.


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