From our archives:

85 years ago

The Lord Mayor of York Alderman R H Vernon Wragge had received letters from the pupils of the York Blue Coat School expressing appreciation for the interest the Lord Mayor takes in the school, and for organising a visit to the Bertram Mills Circus.

According to Mistress Pepys and her diary, “for any who through over-smoking or other causes, have reason to be worried at the stained condition of their teeth, I would advise the following paste. For it squeeze all the juice from a lemon, and boil with the yellow part of the rind. Add to it 1oz of powdered charcoal, 1oz of pure salt, and a pinch of powdered pumice stone.”

And York Theatre Royal had pulled in a large audience for the amusing St John Ervine play “Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary.”

50 years ago

Land owners, tenants and officials of the Duchy of Lancaster including its Chancellor, Mr Fred Lee, MP, attended a dinner at Scarborough’s Crown Hotel to celebrate the 700th anniversary of the Honor of Pickering and Scalby.

Pictured in the York Press was headmaster Mr Edward Evans wincing as a practice shot hit home after he had volunteered to take turns in a pillory a target for wet sponges and squashed tomatoes to raise money for a swimming pool for Stockton Hall Approved School.

York’s development and planning committee had turned down a suggestion from the library and friendly relations committee that roller map guides should be on show at key points in the city and a drugs charge trial continued for Rolling Stones lead singer, and guitarist.

Up on the stand was one of the guests from Keith Richard’s house who had been arrested wearing only a fur-skin rug.

20 years ago

A York woman needed all the puff she could muster to blow out the candles on her birthday cake after celebrating her 103rd birthday.

Madge Marsden celebrated the occasion with friends and staff at Fulford Nursing Home, where she was a resident.

York Theatre Royal was desperately seeking budding actors aged between 13 and 15 to appear in Lawrence Till’s musical production of Kes, based on the Barry Hine’s novel A Kestrel For A Knave.

Marketing officer Michelle Roberts announced “Please note the play contains a small amount of strong language.”