100 years ago

The annual “demonstration” which had for years been a yearly event in the lives of members of the Lancashire and Cheshire Miners’ Federation and their wives – and incidentally of whatever place was chosen for the day’s proceedings – would not be held this year.

Various reasons had caused the executive to take this step, possibly not the least important being connected with finance. Usually the demonstration had been held at Blackpool, though once or twice it had gone to Southport, and it had always made the day one of great importance to the tradesmen – and especially the caterers – of the place visited.

 

50 years ago

The latest index to be issued by the Borthwick Institute of Historical Research, York, had just appeared. It was part one of a subject index of the records at St Anthony’s Hall.

It was proposed to issue further sections of this index as they could be compiled. The new index was a massive work giving many thousands of references to matters mentioned in the documents, so that a student could find out what material there was on a subject which he wished to study. This index revealed the extraordinary range of subjects to be found in the archives.

In fact, there seemed to be very little in Tudor or mediaeval life which did not find a reference, down to details such as embroidered bedspreads, racks for drying dishes after washing-up and prices of various commodities.

There were many thousands of references to all sorts of matters connected with churches, their furniture, their services, and the behaviour of both clergy and people; there were full sections on clothing, trades, ships, books and dialects, among many other matters.

 

25 years ago

The fifth Great Yorkshire Bike Ride got under way from Wetherby with a record number of cyclists taking part. More than 600 riders from all over Britain set off on the 60-mile cross-country journey to Scarborough.

The ride, Yorkshire’s biggest sponsored cycling event, was fast becoming a northern rival to the London-to-Brighton trip. The previous year’s Yorkshire event raised more than £12,500 for charity and organisers hoped for even more this time, with more riders taking part than ever before. Money in 1988 would go to York and District Mencap, the Save the Children Fund and the Yorkshire Association for the Disabled – specifically helping St George’s Home for the disabled at Harrogate.

The riders would take an off-the-beaten track route via York Road to Cattal, Whixley, Little Ouseburn and Coneythorpe. In the afternoon, their journey would continue via Malton to Scarborough.