From our archives:

85 years ago

The Sunday cinema bill was once again up for discussion.

An estimated quarter of a million communications had been received by MPs, mostly postcards with 200 members promising to oppose any bill which would increase Sunday trading at the next General Election.

Also mud baths had become all the rage in Harrogate, with mud usually imported from Battaglia known as ‘Fango’.

Now the mud could be locally sourced, which helped with the huge demand.

White walking sticks were becoming increasingly fashionable among blind people thanks to the York Rotary Club and their generous gifts.

According to club “the object in using the sticks was to indicate clearly to passersby that the user was a person who was blind or partially blind and might be in difficulties and requiring help in crossing a road.”

50 years ago

The RSPCA had put out warning about a “Killer disease” which sweeping through the dog population in York and unless unchecked it was thought it may wipe out most of the non-inoculated dogs in the city.

Warming himself before an open fire in the living room of one of the first old people’s bungalows to be built in Bishopthorpe, the Archbishop of York, Dr Donald Coggan, said that “he would like to possibly go on the waiting list for one.”

Dr and Mrs Coggan were among VIPS and villagers who had popped in for the speeches and a cup of tea, after the keys had been handed over to tenants of the first six bungalows completed in a new development of 32.

20 years ago

Pantomime favourite Berwick Kaler announced he would be back leading the laughs at the Theatre Royal as Widow Twankee.

And York RSPCA’s animal shelter was so full of homeless pets that it had launched an appeal for foster owners.

The animal charity had 70 adult dogs and 20 puppies and many more waiting to come in.

Supporters of Malton Hospital’s charity shop left the sorting and pricing behind to celebrate the venture’s fifth anniversary.

The shop in Newbiggin, Malton, had successfully raised about £10,000 a year for hospital equipment.

And scores more Nestle Rowntree customers had won a “dirty day out” thanks to a competition blunder by the York chocolate giant.

Two more batches of Yorkie bars had been discovered with every wrapper proving to be a winner.