From our archives:

85 years ago

The 30th annual dance of the officials and clerical staff of John Smiths, Tadcaster Brewery Co, took place at the Riley Smith Hall.

A grand evening was had by all thanks to the kind donation of flower decorations from Toulston Lodge.

“It’s A Girl,” an amusing farce from the Strand Theatre, London, was making its way to York Theatre Royal.

The farce written by the past master of fun, Austin Melford was a sequel to his uproarious production, “It’s A Boy” with an all-star cast including the unforgettable Leslie Henson and the equally robust Sydney Howard.

And the Hull trawler Lord Bradbury had returned to Hull in a terribly damaged condition and with two members of the crew injured.

50 years ago

Another Hull trawler was lost, with a crew of 19, off the Icelandic coast, the third ship from the port to go down in a week.

Mr J P W Mallalieu, Minster of State, Board of Trade, stated that news of the loss of the Hull trawler Ross Cleveland was still reaching him.

“It would be wrong to hold out hope for the vessel or crew.”

An articulated lorry had skidded on ice in Holgate Road, York, and jacknifed into petrol pumps at Lister and Edmunds garage.

York Fire Brigade rushed immediately to the scene using water jets from two tenders to put out a blaze which had started from the spilled petrol.

And the Archbishop of York, Dr Donald Coggan officially opened Bishopthorpe parish church’s new prefabricated wooden church room.

20 years ago

Titanic was on course to be the biggest ever movie hit at the Warner Village Cinema in Clifton Moor, York.

Traffic queues had formed on the road leading to the cinema, while tickets had been selling out up to four hours before each show.

“Playing in three of the 12 screens, offering a capacity of 1,100 with 53 screenings a week this was certainly the most popular film we’ve had since we opened here in 1990,” said manager Andrew Josephs.

And firefighters condemned arsonists after petrol was poured on the doors of a York church and then set alight.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, in Acomb Road, was only saved from being engulfed in flames thanks to a nearby house alarm.