From our archives:

85 years ago

York was to greatly benefit from the will of the late Mrs J Ashton, of Kingthorpe, Pickering, widow of Dr James Ashton, who had left a sum of £126,886.

In her request to be cremated, with her ashes scattered among the stones of her late husband’s grave at Matlock, she also requested that £5,000 should be left for maintaining playing fields in memory of her husband.

The sum £1,000 was to be given to each, the Blind School of York, National Lifeboat Institution, Dr Barnardo’s Homes and the NSPCC, plus £500 each to York Hospital and York Cathedral.

All proceeds of her home in Kingthorpe, would go to the establishment “The Thomas Fothergill Homes for Working Man and Women”.

According to an advert placed by Robertson’s, Davygate, the baby’s first ride, should be in a “Silver cross” baby car.

The car with its fine finish, of exclusive appearance with its antiseptic upholstery was “the last word in comfort”.

50 years ago

Selby’s first ever night launch finally took place at the shipyard of Cochrane and Sons after being postponed recently due to low water.

The boat named Axel was the first of three tugs being built for the Red Tug Fleet of Sweden.

Housewives at Osbaldwick were being taught the kiss of life thanks to the “One-in-Five” first-aid classes planned at WVS and petrol ration coupons were being printed “as a precautionary measure”, according to the Ministry of Power.

At this stage it was hoped there would be no intention of imposing a petrol rationing scheme as a result of the Middle East War.

However oil companies in Belgium had raised the price of their petrol by almost a penny, due to the closing of the Suez Canal.

20 years ago

The Duchess of Kent’s office strenuously denied reports that her 36-year-old marriage was on the rocks.

The couple’s private secretary Nicholas Adamson told the Evening Press that a story printed in a Sunday tabloid was completely untrue and based on “regurgitated old gossip”.

The Royal Yacht Britannia sailed into a grey and rainy Hong Kong harbour today to mark the beginning of the end for Britain’s Asian empire and the 900-year historic Treasurer’s House in York was being enhanced by a blaze of colour as flower arrangers from 79 clubs descended on the National Trust property.