From our archives:

85 years ago

Reports were flooding in on the amount of increased entries for the 25th Eskdale Tournament of Song, in Whitby, and in York plans for a new football ground had been approved by York Football Association by a majority of three to one at a special meeting in St George’s Hall.

The directors’ intention was to take on the lease of the Bootham Crescent ground and negotiate for the sale of Fulfordgate.

Features writer Madge Whiley wrote that “Everyone who is fond of fripperies seems to have a special weakness for silk hose.

Yet they do not by any means get the careful attention they deserve.”

“Therefore to save on your stocking bill,” she suggested, “that the cleverest way is to choose your new spring outfit, and then buy hose that tones exactly. Buy as many pairs as your dress budget will stand.”

50 years ago

Police investigating a basement fire at No 7 St Mary’s feared it may have been an arson attack by a group opposing the activities of the York Vietnam Group.

The ground floor tenant Mr John Shanks, secretary of the group, had only the day before written a letter which had been printed in the Evening Press advocating Britain’s acceptance of U Thant’s proposals in Vietnam.

York Autolectrics opened its new premises in Layerthorpe and rehearsals continued for Rowntree Youth Club Drama Group who were presenting Rodgers and Hammerstein’s musical Oklahoma at the Rowntree Theatre.

Music for the show, in which had a total cast of over 50, was undertaken by Clarry Clay, set was designed by Patrick Olsen and the painting was in the capable hands of Roger Firth from St John’s College.

20 years ago

Guests at a charity night out were left in a state of shock as organisers of the fundraiser had called in a stripper to entertain the “pillars of the York community”.

An erotic dancer was called to perform at short notice when some amateur boxers failed to turn up for a charity boxing night at York Racecourse organised by York County 65 Round Table.

Plans had been announced that Railtrack was to spend £1.5 million to modernise five level crossings on the Selby to Hull Trans-Pennine line.

Automatic half barriers were to replace manually operated gates at Hagg Lane and Woodhall and the new-look crossings would have road traffic signals and audible warnings.