From our archives:

85 years ago

The annual dinner for the staff of York’s Prudential Assurance Co Ltd was held at the Grey Mare Hotel, Clifton.

After a Royal toast Mr Earnshaw, who worked for the company, gave a brief survey of their business operations and Mr Murphy read extracts from the balance sheet published that day, as guests suitably responded to the toast.

Mr Crabtree also a member of staff rounded the evening off with a speech regarding the well fare of his colleagues and his general trade experiences.

The annual Sunday School prize distribution took place in the Wesleyan Chapel, Easingwold.

Mrs Stanley of Thirsk, presented the prizes, and the Rev B Stanley, a former Wesleyan minister of Easingwold, gave an address.

50 years ago

Five people were killed and 18, including three from York, were injured when part of the London to Edinburgh mail express train came off the rails at 85mph.

Five rear coaches out of the eleven had been derailed during the accident which occurred at Conington, ten miles north of Huntingdon.

Ambulance men and other rescue workers operated by floodlight, searched for casualties among the wreckage whilst the three York passengers were taken to Peterborough District Memorial Hospital.

A brand new pattern for twice weekly serials began when Z Cars returned with a new serial format.

It was due to be screened every Monday and Tuesday while the Newcomers went out every Thursday and Friday.

A consignment of unsold foreign-made dolls had been withdrawn from the counters at Boyes Store, York.

This followed a complaint by a mother of a 20-month-old baby girl, who noticed the strong similarity between her baby’s doll and a long-legged doll which was recently banned by the Home Office.

20 years ago

An underground fire had cost a Selby pit about £1 million in lost revenue and coal-cutting equipment.

Production had to he stopped for two days at Riccall Mine while mines rescue workers sealed off tunnels leading to “heating” in the Barnsley seam.

Outspoken radio presenter Danny Baker was poised to join Talk Radio after being shown the red card by the BBC.

Baker was sacked from his BBC Radio 5 Live football phone-in show for making derogatory comments about the referee in a FA Cup tie between Chelsea and Leicester City.