From our archives:

85 years ago

More than 2,000 people attended a service held in the ruins of Rievaulx Abbey to hear a special preacher, the Archbishop of York.

Massed choirs from Helmsley, Kirkbymoorside, Ampleforth and other local churches all took part in the historic service.

In accordance with the long-established custom, Holy Communion was celebrated in the nave of Rievaulx Abbey in the morning and in the afternoon the Archbishop addressed a large congregation assembled on top of Newgate Bank overlooking Bilsdale and Hawnby.

York City Fire Brigade had been called out to an outbreak of fire at a painter and decorators shop in Castlegate, York.

It was found that the outbreak had originated in a box of waste, and had been extinguished by a first-aid apparatus before much damage was done.

50 years ago

Mrs Barbara Castle, Minister of Transport, presented a new safety plan, entitled “Road safety – A Fresh Approach” warning: “Pedestrians may have to accept some restrictions on their freedom to cross the road where and when they like.”

Other new measures included, minimum age to ride two-wheel motor vehicles over 50cc to go up from 16 to 17 and compulsory safety belts in 1965 and 1966 cars.

Moves had been put in place to rid St Sampson’s Square of the pigeon nuisance by prosecuting people who continued to be careless with litter.

And it was a hold up for York City’s new £5,000 signing due to the player being on holiday in Majorca.

The 6ft tall Liverpool player had become so impressed with Majorca that he had found a job there and was working for the holiday season.

20 years ago

Actor Bob Hoskins knew it was good to talk, but could the Cockney character actor swap the southern strains for a Whitby accent, by taking on the part of Whitby Skipper Jack Lammiman in the new film An Inch Beyond the Horizon.

Whitby residents were not holding their breath as the film had been in the pipeline since 1992.

The musicians of Yorkshire Baroque Soloists and Yorkshire Bach Choir opened the 20th festival with a performance of Bach’s B Minor Mass.

And a Pickering hotel had won the right to hold wedding ceremonies.

The Forest and Vale, in Hungate, which had recently been bought by John and Gill Smith could now provide civil ceremonies for more 100 guests.