From our archives:

85 years ago

The East Riding farmers’ war against wood pigeons had intensified with the addition of Friday evening shoots.

Additional shoots were also due to take place on Tuesdays for a total of six weeks.

With hundreds of extra pigeons shot, there was however no reduction in price at market.

The Malton branch of the Junior Imperial League held its second dance of the year, at the Milton Rooms.

With over 300 guests present, the function was a great success.

And for £3 16s you could leave York on Friday, catch a holiday cruise train at Liverpool Street Station at 7.42pm, go for a cruise on the SS Vienna and be back in London by 8am on Monday morning, thanks to the LNER.

All 14 organised weekend cruises included all meals, from early morning to dinner, no passports were required, and the services of a doctor and hairdresser were at everybody’s disposal.

50 years ago

Rex, a three-year-old grey sable Alsatian, was the latest addition to Selby’s crime-fighting force.

Selby’s first resident police dog, kennelled by handler, PC David Teasdale was to undertake the normal duties of patrol and assist in arrest.

Selby was the only town in the area to have a dog as a permanent member of the force.

Prince Bender Al Faisal son of King Faisal, of Saudi Arabia, paid a visit to Slingsby’s factory.

The prince currently training on Hunter and Lightning jets with the RAF, inspected both the production lines of Slingsby gliders and the recently developed system homes.

And Sgt Lynch of the television series Z-Cars, announced he would be coming to York, to help with the city’s three-week crime prevention campaign.

20 years ago

Tory chairman Lord Parkinson pressed the flesh of a faithful few over tea during a flying visit to a former North Yorkshire heartland.

Dropping in at the home of County Councillor Margaret Hulme in Carlton, near Selby, Lord Parkinson sounded upbeat about the prospect of winning back seats like Selby from Labour, stating: “All the big revolutions start in the country, and this is where ours is going to start.”

And cut-price factory clothes outlet FOSC at Clifton Moor, had crashed leaving £394,000 worth of debt and a loss of 14 jobs after disastrous Christmas takings.