From our archives:

85 years ago

Freemen of Walmgate Ward, during a meeting at St Denys’ School, considered the proposals of the York Corporation for town planning in the area which included Walmgate Stray.

The Corporation proposed to construct a new road from Heslington Road to Heslington Lane as part of the ring road scheme.

As the new road would affect a portion of Low Moor, the Corporation were willing to hand over a portion of land on the South side in exchange for a piece of land of similar extent on the east side to avoid a division of the Stray.

Despite the cold weather hundreds of York citizens supported a deserving charity fund for sending poor children to the seaside in the summer by patronising the film entertainment at the Electric Theatre.

The sum of £40 which was raised was a record for a Sunday concert.

Thanking the public for their support Alderman Sir William Forster Todd regretted that some hundreds had to be turned away.

50 years ago

Mrs Barbara Castle, Minister of Transport, continued her talks with the National Union of Railway men following the break-through in the liner train deadlock.

NUR last night decided to end its total opposition to the use by private road hauliers of the terminal depots of the fast freighter-carrying liner trains and agreed to negotiations on “open terminals”, subject to conditions.

The Beatles had made it to the number one spot, with Penny Lane being the most popular side of the single.

Mr Michael J Potter, of Escrick, had been appointed chief engineer at the Selby mill of BOCM in succession to Mr E R Ayres, who had retired the previous week.

20 years ago

River traffic on the Ouse near Goole was temporarily held up after a sand barge sank near Swinefleet.

The captain of the Cordale alerted the Humberside coastguard to report the engine room was flooding oil was leaking into the river.

Yorkshireman John Smyth had come home, thanks to the National Lottery, which contributed the majority of his £150,000 ransom.

Now the 18th century wool merchant could go on public display at York City Art Gallery after being sold to America in 1935.

North Yorkshire television viewers had another opportunity to see if they could receive Channel 5 without interference.

Test broadcasts began on January 5, following the broadcast on February 23, 4,500 viewers rang in to complain out of 1.82 million homes covered.