From our archives:

80 years ago

A Gloster Gladiator single-seater fighter machine from the No 72 Squadron Royal Air Force, stationed at Church Fenton Aerodrome had crashed in Selby, a foot away from the main London and North Eastern Railway Doncaster to York main line, killing the pilot. According to one eye witness, the plane which was carrying out a formation flight with three other machines, had touched one of the others in the formation and fallen from a height of 1,000ft. The other machine was able to return to the aerodrome with a buckled wing. And perhaps the most interesting sports news of the week had been the publication of the York City Football Club’s balance sheet, which had been eagerly awaited in view of the expected profit from the Cup ties. Shareholders and supporters of the club were not disappointed by the figures as the directors reported a net profit of £3,518, a record for the club.

50 years ago

Fifteen police frogmen from York, Bradford and Leeds, began a sweep of the Ouse in York, in search of Doreen Hepworth, missing for 10 days. A mobile police station had been set up near the Clifton Bridge, not far from where the eight-year-old had disappeared and 100 troops from Lincolnshire had carried out a ground search. Saturday evening dances at Monk Fryston Hall, near Selby, were not special occasions according to Selby magistrates. The special orders application had been refused by Chief Insp C E Clipston, who had objected, claiming the dances were held regularly, almost every Saturday night. And York spearfishermen had done well in the Northern Counties Spearfishing Duo Competition at Filey Brigg, taking first, third and eighth place.

20 years ago

A £50 million project to bring cable TV to York had been halted with thousands of homes still unconnected. Gangs of workmen who had become a familiar sight across the city, ripping up pavements to fibre-optic cables in special trenches, had all but disappeared. Only one gang was left doing reinstatement work, and no more trenches would be dug for at least the next three months. And comedienne Caroline Aherne, the Mrs Merton Show star found ill at her home after taking a suspected overdose, was “well on the road to recovery” in hospital according to her agent. The 34-year-old star had been treated in hospital after paramedics had been called to her home in Kensington, west London.