Hawker Hurricane fighter to go on show, and 5 other news snippets you may have missed

The Hurricane will be in St Sampson’s Square on Monday to mark the 73rd anniversary of the Baedeker Raid. when 40 German Luftwaffe bombers attacked York. The attack took place in the early hours on April 29, 1942. In total 95 people died, 212 were injured and 579 homes destroyed.

Ian Richardson, a spokesman for the Yorkshire Air Museum, said: “For over 90 minutes, the attacking German bombers rained down 84 tonnes of incendiary and high explosive bombs, setting the historic city ablaze.”

The Hurricane will be on display, along with an accompanying exhibition, until the evening of Monday, May 4.

A64 upgrade for Grid

WORK to upgrade the electricity network in North Yorkshire is taking place alongside the A64.

Two metal structures have been put up either side of the dual carriage and netting is now stretching overhead close to the A1M turn-off, as National Grid completes the £25million project between Monk Fryston and Poppleton.

The construction work close to York is part of plans to build ten new pylons and is expected to last until mid-June.

The work involves connecting a substation at Knaresborough to National Grid’s high-voltage electricity transmission network, constructing a short section of new pylons near Bramham and refurbishing the existing overhead line between the two locations.

The overhead line between the village of Scotton, near Knaresborough, and Bramham, near Wetherby, was built in 1963 and has never been refurbished.

Mark Brennan, project manager, said: “It is vital we upgrade this overhead line to cope with an increase in demand locally and secure a reliable supply.”

Soldiers’ VE Day march

More than 900 junior soldiers from the Army Foundation College at Harrogate will march through the town centre on Sunday, May 10, to mark the 70th anniversary of VE Day.

The parade will start from West Park at 9.30am and will be followed by a commemorative service at St Peter’s Church in Cambridge Road, at which the Mayor of Harrogate, Cllr Jim Clark, will repeat the statement made by his predecessor Cllr G A Spenceley after peace was declared in May 1945.

Chance for fostering

FOSTER carers are wanted to look after children aged from five to 15 in East Yorkshire.

Residents hoping to find out more can attend an event at Tickton Grange Hotel, Tickton, near Beverley, on Wednesday, May 6, from 6pm.

People will be able to talk to fostering social workers and discuss suitability, meet other carers and talk to children currently part of a foster family.

Dave Glenville, East Riding of Yorkshire Council’s fostering team leader, said: “Almost anyone can apply to be a foster carer.”

Prospective foster carers should ideally be over 25. They can be single, married or cohabiting.

People with or without families, heterosexual, lesbian or gay, can be eligible to be foster carers.

Anyone interested in finding out more can phone 01482 396673.

Pocklington leisure centre facelift

REFURBISHMENT work is about to start on Pocklington’s Francis Scaife leisure centre.

East Riding of Yorkshire Council is spending £120,000 on maintenance at the 50-year-old venue, meaning the pool will be closed from April 27 until May 26.

The work will also include improvements to the changing facilities, reception, and the function room.

During the closure, alternative swimming facilities will be available at East Riding Leisure Beverley, Goole, Bridlington and Driffield. The rest of the centre will be open as normal, although there may be some occasional changes to the normal programme.

Long-serving Scouts pick up their awards

FOUR Scouts were presented with awards at the St George’s Day service in Selby Abbey.

Brian Hirst and Mary Godwin were awarded 60-year long service awards and Derek Thompson received a 30-year award, with Andrew Powell being awarded his Queen’s Scout badge.

Andrew will be taking part in the annual St George’s Day parade for Queen’s Scouts in Windsor on Sunday. From left are Mary, Andrew, Derek and Brian.