From our archives:

85 years ago

Malaria mosquito discoverer Sir Ronald Ross had died at the age of 75 after a very long illness.

Born in 1857, at Almora, India, he studied medicine at St Bartholomew’s Hospital, and in 1881 entered the Indian Medical Service.

It was in 1892 that he then began a series of investigations into the causes of malaria and other tropical diseases saving millions of lives.

Negotiations for the purchase of Fulfordgate, the old ground of the York City Football Club, were practically completed.

The intending purchasers a Manchester greyhound syndicate planned to adapt the ground for the purpose of greyhound racing.

Fulfordgate was bought by the York City club in 1922 when the club was formed, and a considerable part of the original ground was subsequently sold for building purposes and the laying out of lawn tennis courts.

50 years ago

A big air-sea search had started off the Yorkshire coast for a small yellow boat, with two Leeds men on board, which had not been since it left Whitby Harbour at noon.

The alarm was raised by the mother of one of the two men.

The Duchess of Kent paid a visit to Bishopthorpe Palace to attend York Civic Trust’s garden party in aid of the York Minster Appeal Fund.

Presenting a bouquet of chrysanthemums to the Duchess was three year-old Rachel Turnbull, who was so overawed by the occasion that she nearly forgot to let go of the flowers.

Disabled York swimmer Billy Thornton, winner of gold and silver medals at the Paraplegic Olympic Games in Tokyo in 1964, and host of other national and commonwealth honours was married at St George’s Church, York, to Miss Joyce Anderson.

20 years ago

Campaigners against York’s controversial Northern Gateway park and ride scheme were poised to win a dramatic reprieve.

City of York Council was expected to defer the plan for a 1,000 vehicle car park at Rawcliffe after a big display of people power, culminating in protest during a visit to the site.

Protestors also picketed the Royal Academy Exhibition containing a controversial portrait of Moors murderer Myra Hindley on its opening day.

The protesters were urging art-lovers to boycott the exhibition, which included a 9ft by 11ft portrait of the child killer made up of hundreds of prints of youngsters hands.