From our archives:

85 years ago

The Dean of York, the Very Rev H N Bate, had opened the Clifton Home for Girls annual sale, held at the St Michael-Le-Belfrey Parish Room, Stonegate, York.

With a large number of attractive stalls ranging from confectionery, stationery, toys, leather work to fancy articles, The Archdeacon of York proudly announced that of all the activities that went on in the world he was grateful to be connected with the work at Clifton Home.

He also recalled that the Committee had faced a debt of £2,800, but since then miracles had happened and for the first time in 10 years, they were able to pay their own way, and have something in the bank.

Poultry sales at Darlington Market, were showing the prospect of cheaper turkeys for the residents of York.

The supply of turkeys was larger than usual with wholesale prices ranging from 1s to 1s 2d a pound.

50 years ago

King Constantine of Greece had fled to Rome after his attempted counter-coup against the Greek military regime had collapsed less than 24 hours after it started.

The 27-year-old King, haggard and with tears in his eyes, flew into Rome with his family and Greece’s former Prime Minister, Constantine Killias.

Asked if he had any statement to make, he told reporters at Ciampino Airport: “None at the moment.”

The East End of York Minster had been found to be in worse condition than first feared.

With equal priority given to the Central Tower the programme of emergency repair work continued, whilst remedial work was being carried out on the East End, where one of the four buttresses was two feet out of position and another 18 inches out.

Special precautions had also been taken to protect the priceless stained glass.

20 years ago

Pirated Teletubby videos had been seized from Rufforth Car Boot Sale, along with mugs, posters and puzzles.

Trading standards officers who had seized the fake Teletubby merchandise during a routine visit warned the public to avoid being ripped off by the pirates when searching for Christmas presents.

And HM Bark Endeavour bid an emotional farewell to Whitby as she set sail on the next leg of her historic voyage, with skipper Captain Chris Blake, promising she would return.