From our archives:

85 years ago

It was good news all round as plans to extend York College had been revealed during a reunion of students from St John’s Training College.

During the announcement the President Mr Whitehead commented on the society’s gratitude towards retired treasurer Sir Wilfrid Thompson for his guidance in making this venture possible without a huge sum of debt.

Sir Percy Jackson, chairman of the West Riding Education Committee was bestowed with the great honour of formally opening the new Aldborough and Boroughbridge Council School, which had been erected at a cost of £11,950 and was considered one of the most modern schools of its kind in Yorkshire.

And it was a unique moment in history for hotel Newton House and its management after a successful air race to mark the formal opening of the first air-landing station attached to a hotel in this country.

50 years ago

The Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, and the Duke and Duchess of Kent had all made donations to the York Minster appeal fund.

Officially launched on May 11, the fund had now reached the £1m mark.

Acropolis Coffee Bars, Ltd, in Lendal, York, announced it was to take over the lease of the De Grey Rooms at a rent of £2,500 a year.

The new owner’s plans for the building, which had been unoccupied for several months, included a coffee lounge, pub, restaurant, banqueting room and international entertainment.

Visiting pubs was apparently the main reason why York University students came into York, according to a survey published in the ‘Perspective Journal of the York East Yorkshire Architectural Society’.

And a cheque for £1,000 was presented on behalf of the Musicians’ Union towards the York Theatre Royal redevelopment.

The money was to be used to redecorate the green room and the theatre’s relaxation lounge for both musicians and actors.

20 years ago

York was preparing a bid to become the home for a Yorkshire Regional Assembly after Scotland voted overwhelmingly for a tax raising Scottish Parliament.

In an historic referendum in which 60 per cent of Scots took part, there was a 74.3 per cent vote in favour of a Parliament and 63.5 per cent voted for it to have tax raising powers.

A greasy chocolate paste had spilled out on to Bishopthorpe Road in York after a leaking truck lost its sticky load on its way into Terry’s factory.