From our archives:

80 years ago

Another successful year had been reported at the annual meeting of the Derwent Club, at Stamford Bridge. Mr Richard Hotham, of Skirpenbeck, vacated the chair for the ensuing year in favour of Mr Robert Gofton. Six members had successfully reared 30 pigs for the Malton Bacon Factory and a new poultry section had been formed and was making a satisfactory profit. However, for others a recent drought was causing major problems. For the stock farmer, the prolonged drought and dry cold weather had resulted in a scarcity of grass making the feeding of dairy cows very expensive and difficult. In theatres, York Repertory Company presented the brilliant comedy “Wise To-morrow” by Stephen Powys. The leading roles of the young actress and the old actress was played by Joan Playfair, a newcomer, and Blanche Fothergill with Dudley Relton taking on the role of the fiancé.

50 years ago

Left-wing students at York University held a 12-hour sit-in at Heslington Hall until midday, in protest at “attacks on the liberalisation” of British universities. Between 70 and 80 students took it in turns to lounge in jeans and coloured shirts, listening to a chain of speakers criticise action taken or threatened against left-wing students at Bradford and Leeds universities. Staxton county primary school’s new ‘pop group’, The Sneakers, finally got the opportunity to play their very own newly created National Savings tune to the chairman of the Malton, Norton and District Savings Committee, marking the 50th year that the school had operated a savings scheme. And York Minister Appeal Fund, had almost reached threequarters of its £2 million target. The latest figure showed that a total of £1,481,000 had been raised.

20 years ago

Wetwang residents had got their own back, following a comment by Countdown host Richard Whiteley, live on air, that he wouldn’t mind being mayor of the tiny village, by challenging him to take up the role. Complete with chains and red robes borrowed from Driffield Town Council, the former presenter made history by becoming the first mayor of the village, near Driffield. And singing Christmas carols in June may have been jumping the gun a little, but members of the Malton based Chanticleer Singers had already recorded two tracks for a new Christmas album, which was due to be released in October.