From our archives:

80 years ago

A new page in the history of New Earswick had been turned when the Dean of York, Dr H N Bate, laid the first corner stone of the Church of St Andrew, to meet the steadily growing needs of the Huntington Parish. Serving a population of about 3,000 it wasn’t an entirely a new church, but an extension of St Andrew’s Mission Church to be known as St Andrew’s Memorial Church. The estimated cost of the scheme was £4,000, £1,000 had been contributed from the Archbishop’s Appeal Fund, while £600 had been raised by various social functions. Flying Officer Denys Edgar Gillam, from North Grimston, had been awarded the Air Force Cross for landing an aeroplane on Rathlin Island, off Northern Ireland, a feat never accomplished before, to deliver supplies to 300 islanders. And gin once classed as a farmer’s drink, and the most frequently ordered tipple in 1868, was now making a return in popularity because of a new cocktail vogue.

50 years ago

Two raiders had broken into the home of actress Mia Farrow, wife of Frank Sinatra, at St George’s Hill, Weybridge, Surrey, and tied up Miss Farrow’s mother, actress Maureen O’Sullivan. The men who had ransacked two bedrooms, taking jewellery and passports, were apparently looking for Miss Farrow’s engagement ring which wasn’t even in the country at the time. The Bosun’s Chair, Bishopthorpe’s popular riverboat cafe, together with boats, marquees and over two acres of land, were now up for sale, less than a year after being bought by their present owner Mr Pollard. According to his wife the business bought by her husband as a hobby was now booming, leaving them no spare time to enjoy their retirement. And although 68 cases of measles had been reported there was no real cause for concern, said York’s acting Medical Officer of Health, Dr Emily Simon. Measles epidemics break out, usually every two years, and this outbreak was expected.

20 years ago

York’s own pop giants Shed Seven gave a boost to an up-and-coming student band by headlining a special concert in the city. The charity event at York University also featured The Dandy’s, a York band who had already had several Top Ten hits and Bell Curtis, who were managed by England footballer Teddy Sheringham. And the Three Tenors were all set to release the World Cup anthem to end them all, a version of You’ll Never Walk Alone.