From our archives:

80 years ago

Two Spanish children, a girl and a boy, who were spending the weekend in the York district, attended and spoke at a meeting at the York Educational Settlement.

The meeting had been convened to consider an adoption scheme for refugee Basque children.

The Archbishop of York sent a letter in which he warmly commended the scheme proposed for the adoption of a number Basque children by well-disposed people who would undertake financial responsibility for a child and could have the opportunity of getting to know them, admitting them into their own family life.

Several offers had been received to adopt some of the children, and further offers to adopt one or assist in adopting one or take others for short periods.

And Mr Bertram Mills, the famous circus king, paid a visit to York, accompanied by Mr James Ellis, of Dringhouses, the noted judge of horses.

Visiting various farms in the area Mr Mills had hoped to secure a few horses suitable for training.

50 years ago

Some of Yorkshire’s fastest cars were helping to restore York Minster on Filey Beach. Organised by Scarborough 62 Car Club in conjunction with Filey Lions Club and Filey Rotary Club the production cars were taking part in the first speed trials to be held on the beach for over 30 years.

The event had been marred by an unimaginative and badly marked-out course, a small entry and a late start.

Robert Kennedy had taken the lead among aspirants for the US Democratic presidential candidate, since President Johnson’s withdrawal, with an estimated 858 prospective delegate votes.

And York firm Armstrongs Patents Co Ltd, where a strike by 50 clerical workers over improved overtime rates had been settled, were now facing more strikes after banning Saturday overtime working.

20 years ago

The Duchess of York boosted a campaign to help a four-year-old leukaemia victim from Harrogate get a bone marrow transplant.

The Duchess took time off from her busy schedule to give three vials of blood which was tested to see if her bone marrow matched that of India Farmer, who had acute myeloid leukaemia and desperately needed a transplant.

And Tammy Wynette who rose from beautician to become America’s “first lady of country music” with hits including Stand by Your Man, had died at her home in Nashville aged 55.