From our archives:

 

85 years ago

Eighty four year-old Field-Marshal Von Hindenburg, had been re-elected President of the German Republic after winning the second ballot by a majority of 6,000,000 votes over Herr Hitler, and by more than 2,000,000 votes over the combined totals of Hitler, the Nazi chief, Herr Thaelmann, and the Communist candidate.

According to reports from Hollywood, April was producing an unusual spate of Hollywood romances.

The “New York News” announced the engagement of Miss Sally O’Neill, the blue-eyed brunette star, whose hobby was dolls, to Mr Arthur Loew, of Loew’s Incorporated Motion Picture Company.

 

50 years ago

British born actors took most of the honours at the 1967 film academy award presentations in Santa Monica, California.

Elizabeth Taylor, who had won her first Oscar in 1960 for Butterfield 8, gained a second Oscar win for her performance in Who’s Afraid Of Virginia Woolf.

Paul Schofield won the best actor award for his portrayal of Sir Thomas More in A Man For All Seasons.

And York-born John Barry, who wrote the Born Free music score, took away the award for best song and best music score.

The evening was considered as an all-round triumph.

Actress Jayne Mansfield had filed a £32,140 breach of contract suit over her cancelled tour in England.

The Archbishop of York, Dr Donald Coggan, had officiated the marriage of the daughter of his lay chaplain, Mr David Blunt, at St Andrew’s Church, Bishopthorpe.

 

20 years ago

York was experiencing an unusual heatwave which was sending temperatures soaring higher than those in Greek and Turkish resorts.

As spring was briefly transformed into summer, hundreds of sun seekers took the chance to work on an early tan.

A popular retail complex on the outskirts of York had changed hands in a £1.5 million deal. Ryedale Shopping Court, Haxby, had been bought from private investors by Yorkshire Co-operative Properties.

The property, which dated back to 1948 and had an annual rental value of almost £170,000, had nine tenants and was anchored by a food store operated by the Yorkshire Co-op.

A safety investigation was under way after a builder was trapped on a roof holding a 12 stone slab to stop it crashing 20 feet to the ground with him attached.

The only option the poor builder had was to stay put and call for help.