From our archives:

85 years ago

In York the military funeral took place for the late Mr Edward Wilcock.

Born in Ossett, Mr Wilcock had fought in the Boer War at the age of 17, and had consequently taken a keen interest in the York Branch of the British Legion.

Beautiful floral tributes had been laid alongside his Union Jack covered coffin, as over 300 people paid their respect at the funeral at St Clement’s Church.

Due to heavy rains many parts of York’s suburbs were starting to resemble a Dutch town, as thoroughfares in Tang Hall had become more like “canals”.

According to Olga Wright’s column in the Yorkshire Herald, “a new wallpaper was like a tonic, giving the house a different atmosphere, but choice is not easy when utility as well as art is to be considered”.

50 years ago

Pope Paul addressed Vietnamese pilgrims in a Vatican audience, calling for an end to every form of violence, and outlining immediate action he felt should be taken to bring peace to Vietnam.

In his speech he stated “It is necessary that the bombings should cease at the same time as the infiltration of arms and war materials into the south.”

York travel agents were following a “wait and see” policy after the Government warned travellers not to visit the Middle East.

There had been no rush to cancel holidays in the crisis area but according to the Cooks’ manager Mr A S Rolls, the situation looked changeable that anything could happen in the next 25 hours.

In the charts it was a Top Ten first-timer for The Beach Boys with Then I Kissed Her; also in for the first time with his new disc was Jimi Hendrix.

20 years ago

Stand-up comedian Jo Brand paid a visit to Petergate’s Oxfam store on her way to perform at the Barbican.

Snapped by photographers shoving chocolate in her mouth she declared: “I hate chocolate.”

Like everything at the Petergate outlet, the confectionery was Fair Trade, meaning its Third World makers get a fair price for their labour. But for Jo, it was one bar too many.

“I like the Milk chocolate but I’m not eating the dark,” she said. “Everywhere I go, I am greeted by people offering me chocolate or cake.”

And shoes that once adorned the feet of legendary screen goddess Marilyn Monroe were on show at the international antiques fair in Harrogate, although they were not for sale.