From our archives:

80 years ago

Mr Geoffrey Lloyd, Under-Secretary to the Home Office, paid a flying visit to the Government’s civilian anti-gas school at Hawkhills, Easingwold, where 60 policemen and other officials were being trained as instructions in air raid precautions. Mr Lloyd flew from Hendron to Linton-on-Ouse, where he was met by Wing-Commander E J Hodsoll, Inspector-General of Air Raid Precautions, before being driven to Easingwold. Wearing tinted glasses to protect his eyes, Mr Lloyd was then shown how an incendiary bomb was ignited, which didn’t go all too well, as a shower of molten metal spluttered in all directions. HRH the Princess Royal was pictured in the “Yorkshire Herald” presenting a cheque to Huntsman Gulliver, who was retiring from Bramham Moor. And actor Arthur Tracy, was appearing with Arthur Riscoe in “The Street Singer,” at Easingwold Cinema.

50 years ago

York confectionary firm Rowntree had announced it was to market a new product, Matchmakers, described as a “high quality product whose sophisticated presentation would create an image of luxury.” Matchmakers were crisp sticks of carefully blended chocolate, laced with tiny crystals of orange, coffee or peppermint flavour to provide a crunchy texture. Support for Mr Enoch Powell and his Birmingham speech, and a warning to Mr Heath, had been declared by York Conservative Association. Mr Powell was due to visit the university and speak at one of the association’s meetings the following year, but the students had no intention of withdrawing their invitation. And Clarkson (“Clarkie”) Rose, the concert hall artist and actor had died at his Eastbourne home, after a short illness. He was 77.

20 years ago

Coronation Street’s eco-warrior Spider had arrived at York’s National Railway Museum to help launch the ongoing work on its new wing. Spider, real name Martin Hancock, turned demolition man by sitting at the controls of a digger to knock down the first wall of the old maintenance depot. And the Evening Press had launched a campaign to close a lethal gap on the A64 near York to traffic. Supporting the Close the Gaps campaign, Selby MP John Grogan, said he hoped the Highways Agency would close at least one gap in the central reservation. Meanwhile hundreds of readers had signed forms and written impassioned letters pleading for the immediate closure of all gaps between York and Tadcaster.