100 years ago

What might easily have proved a very serious accident, but which had fortunately been accompanied by no broken limbs, had occurred in Micklegate.

The thoroughfare had at the time of the accident been in a crowded state, hundreds of people making their way to the Yorkshire Show, and vehicular traffic was also congested. A young farm hand, riding a practically new bicycle, was proceeding at a moderate pace towards Knavesmire when a man pushing a hand-cart crossed the street in front of the cyclist.

The machine, before the rider could possibly alter his course, collided with the hand-cart, and the rider was thrown violently to the ground. His face was considerably bruised and scratched, and the man was much dazed. The man with the hand-cart proceeded on his way.

Help was forthcoming from the crowd which quickly gathered, and the unfortunate young cyclist’s face was bathed with water. He was supported by two citizens until he had regained consciousness.

 

50 years ago

The Everest of Yorkshire. Such was one somewhat grandiloquent title that had been used to describe the plateau-shaped peak that was the county’s highest. But even many seasoned climbers and scramblers were hazy about which mountain was, in fact, Yorkshire’s highest.

Many plumped for one of the “three Peaks” – Ingleborough with its 2373 oft-climbed feet above sea level; Penyghent, 100 feet lower; or the highest of the triumvirate, the 2,419ft Whernside. But Yorkshire’s “king” was situated further north. Near the Tees, above Brough, and near Durham’s border was the lonely and apparently little-known Mickle Fell, rising to 2,591 feet.

 

25 years ago

The Ministry of Defence had admitted it had blundered by saying the famous Fylingdales “golf balls” were for sale.

In a surprise admission the MoD said the radomes, which housed a sophisticated early-warning defence system, actually belonged to the Americans. And a spokesman admitted that information from the MoD saying the radomes were for sale was “duff”. “They are not for sale,” he stated. “The land and the buildings are owned by the MoD, but the radar equipment and the ‘golf balls’ belong to the Americans.”

But Scarborough entrepreneur Mr Nick Robinson, whose bid to buy the radomes had been revealed, still hoped his ambitious plan to use them to cover his seaside amusement complex would be successful. It was understood the Americans could dismantle the “golf balls” and take them back to the States once a new radar system had been set up at RAF Fylingdales by 1992.