From our archives:

80 years ago

Helmsley was developing a progressive spirit where public welfare and civic improvement schemes were concerned.

It’s go-head housing policy had been considered as a shining example to neighbouring authorities.

With plenty of new housing in the village the Parish Council was now on the case of securing an up-to-date fire-fighting appliance.

The fight to retain Love Lane, York, as a public right of way, had been successful during its hearing at the York Quarter Sessions.

The appeal had been made by two members of York City Council, one from the Clifton area, who was fighting on behalf of the residents against the application, and one from York City Council who had planned the closure.

And two “Yorkshire Herald” readers had discovered a quaint tombstone pegged on to a wooden framework in Seamer Churchyard. The date on the broken tombstone was 1814.

50 years ago

Five people, a man, a woman and three children were killed at a continental-type level crossing at Ramper Road, East Coast Road, near Gainsborough.

Their car had been struck by the 10 am York to Yarmouth train and carried over 500 yards, scattering wreckage all along the line.

Occupants of the car had to be freed from the demolished vehicle and the train was held up for a considerable time.

A three-acre Scouts water activity centre at the Old Mill, Aldwark Bridge, Great Ouseburn, had eventually opened at a cost of £10,000.

The site, which included the Old Mill and an area of river bank, was bought by the council, to provide training for scouts in sailing, canoeing and fishing.

The centre had been officially opened by former Central Yorkshire county commissioner Mr. Harry Stembridge.

20 years ago

An elderly couple had scooped £8.2m on the National Lottery while on an Easter break in Bridlington.

The couple on a break in their caravan had now moved to a hotel in Leeds to celebrate with National Lottery bosses.

York’s Millennium Mystery Plays had won prestigious backing from a Duke and two Dames.

The Duke of York had agreed to be patron of the plays, which were to be performed for the first time in the Gothic splendour of York Minster in the summer of 2000.

And York-born actress Dame Judi Dench, whose first acting role was as an angel in the 1951 Mystery Plays was also renewing her involvement by becoming a joint president.