From our archives:

80 years ago

An aerial bomb with detonator, had been found in the ground at Bagby, near Thirsk, by William Plant, a hedge cutter. The bomb, which had been handed over to Thirsk Police, was thought to have been dropped by a Zeppelin which had passed over the district in 1916. An open verdict had been returned on a case known as the local torso mystery, after the remains of an unknown male person had washed ashore at Cayton Bay. According to the Coroner Dr Elvins, it was impossible to ascertain the cause of death, and a post mortem would be useless as the body lacked head and legs and the remains were in advanced state of decomposition. And York Store Cattle Market resumed trading after being closed for two weeks owing to foot and mouth restrictions. The continued drought was also having an adverse effect upon business, but there were a good number of customers present and a lot of sales took place at late rates.

50 years ago

The Lord Mayor of York had accused the press and television of presenting a bad image of England to the world. Speaking at a St George’s Day banquet of the York Branch of the Royal Society of St George, he stated “We are still a great nation, it is through them and the television that such a bad image is given of England to visitors from abroad.” An electric cooker used by staff at Scarborough Ambulance station had started broadcasting. The cooker which had been connected for only six months had ambulance men puzzled as to why it could pick up the BBC Home Service. And pilots of the 16 jet Provosts from RAF Linton-on-Ouse flew over York in formation to mark the granting of the freedom of the city to the station.

20 years ago

Linda McCartney’s ashes had been scattered on the family’s farm after Ex-Beatle Sir Paul had brought her back to Britain by private jet. It was bad news for Woldgate School, in Pocklington, after tragic Linda McCartney had planned to lunch with the East Yorkshire schoolchildren as they launched a national vegetarian food scheme. And global media mogul Rupert Murdoch and his wife Anna had split after 31 years of marriage. Billionaire Mr Murdoch and his wife, who had three children, described their separation as amicable.