From our archives:

80 years ago

Councillor A G Watson, chairman of the Park Committee at York City Council, had hinted at the possibility that York could be further beautified by the erection of more flower standards, except for St Helen’s Square, where flowers had been very scarce owing to the drought. The death of Alderman C W Shipley had created a vacancy on the aldermanic bench and caused a major rivalry among the other parties. Voting would commence at the end of the month between Councillor Mrs Crichton, Councillor H E Harrowell and Councillor J Hargrave. Alderman Shipley had been a member of the Conservative group, which was the strongest section of the Council in point numbers, having a clear majority over the other parties combined. And York parents got a surprise this week at Tang Hall Senior Mixed School, thanks to the introduction of the new Handicraft course as part of its new curriculum.

50 years ago

People swam for their lives in the West Country and the Midlands after floodwaters from torrential rain swept down valleys and rivers. Two people had already died in the floods and at least three others were missing. The floods, the worst for 20 years had sept away bridges, cut of road and rail links, and isolated towns and villages. Selby Urban Council members had expressed their concern that if British rail did not soon settle its “domestic difficulties”, the town may lose a £1 million factory. Danepak Ltd, the Selby firm which wanted a site for a new factory, might lose interest if British Rail did not settle the future of a loop line around some land in the town. And despite protests from two local butchers, Kirkbymoorside Rural Council had banned slaughtering on Saturday afternoons. The new fixed hours were 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday and up to noon on Saturday.

20 years ago

Skipper Tony Barras was in the middle of a ‘nightmare’. Barras had now been ruled out of York City action until at least a month into the new 1998-99 season as he recovers from major surgery to his damaged right thigh. And a Tadcaster newsagent had been ordained as a church of England deacon. Diane Westmoreland, who ran a business in Commercial Street, was one of 10 deacons ordained at York Minster for the York diocese.