From our archives:

80 years ago

A special committee of the York Corporation had recently considered various matters regarding the new road from Pavement to Peaseholme Green. As a result, of their deliberations an amended line for the new road had been allocated to the proposed new swimming baths which, it was understood, would almost back up to Fossgate. At the same meeting the City Engineer had also been given the go ahead to purchase 100 sets of overall-jackets, aprons and gloves for men dealing with the collection of refuse at a cost of 10s each. And York competitors were again very much to fore at the 51st members show of the Scarborough and District Canine Association, with York’s very own Mr Smith winning the Corporation trophy for the best variety in the show with his rough-coated terrier, Florate Flutter.

50 years ago

Prepared for all weathers including umbrellas, a 17-strong party made their way to the top of York Minster’s Central Tower at the unearthly hour of 7am. to greet the merry month of May. And there, 213 feet up, they rendered five madrigals under conductor Mr Andrew Carter in a salute to May Day. York’s Head Post Office in Lendal was one of the many post offices up and down the country to be affected by the token one-hour stoppages by workers pressing for a pay rise. Closed between 11am. and noon prospective customers who had walked up to the building were met by nearly a dozen pickets handing out explanatory leaflets and waving placards. And Austin Reed, the London-based men’s wear chain who were considering a move to Thirsk, were happy with the response to a recent staff recruitment drive. Although availability of staff was the main question to be decided before a final decision, Thirsk still had to wait a little longer before hearing the full answer.

20 years ago

BBC weatherman Ian McCaskill was to be married at a church near Selby. The television celebrity due to marry widow Pat Cromack at St Mary’s Parish Church, South Milford, had forecast a dry day for the occasion. And Evening Press readers had given a resounding ‘No’ to child killer Mary Bell being paid for a book about her life. Of readers who voted in the phone poll, 88 per cent said she should not be paid for the book about her life and the killings of two boys in 1968.